SPORT
HARPO’ s MARKS
Aussies have always loved handing out nicknames – to people, animals, sporting stars and just about anything else that moves.
Back when I was playing junior and senior rugby league with the Riverstone Butchers, some of my teammates included Michael“ Stitch” Britton, Robert“ Bob the Barrow Boy” Shea, Tom“ Hoppy Harry” Haines and Alan“ Big Allie” Watton.
Politicians have copped their fair share of nicknames too. I’ ve given a few of them nicknames over the years, although they’ re probably too rude to print here! In years gone by there was Billy“ Dirty Digger” Hughes,“ Pig Iron” Bob Menzies and Arthur“ Cocky” Caldwell. And no, Arthur wasn’ t especially well endowed – he simply had a nose that looked like a cockatoo’ s beak!
Then there were the bushrangers: Frederick“ Captain Thunderbolt” Ward, Andrew“ Captain Moonlight” Scott, Martin“ Gentleman Bushranger” Cash and John“ Bold Jack” Donohoe.
When I began my journalism career at the Daily Mirror, nicknames were practically compulsory in the sports department.
Among the colourful characters were Bill“ Bluegum” Mordey, Peter“ Chippy” Frilingos, Tony“ Magoo” Megahey, Ken“ Deafy” Callander, Ken“ Mungo” Irvine, Tom“ Beastie” Anderson, Tony“ Hotspur” Horstead, John“ Gus the Goose” Blanche, Phil“ Boxhead
NO LIMITS is an unraced 2YO by Exceedance Kris Lees stable. Showed ton of toe and raced away untouched to win 1000m, trial at Wyong on June 17. Don’ t miss this one!
HAWKER HALL is another out of the Lees stable. Has solid form to his credit and he looks primed to return with a bang. Wasn’ t under any pressure when 2 nd in 845m trial at Wyong on June 17.
SHAGGY showed vast improvement on his first up run this campaign in leading throughout and bolting away to win 845m trial at Wyong on June 17. Ready to fire.
Bluey” Moate and a fellow everyone simply called“ Harpo”.
And, of course, there was the legendary racing writer Tommy“ The Brown Blur” Brassel.
Every morning he’ d take off his sports coat and slip into an old, battered brown cardigan that permanently hung over the back of his chair. When he disappeared to find a beer or place a bet with an SP bookie, the cardigan was always left behind as a marker of his territory.
The Blur was later followed into journalism by several of his sons – Tony“ Young Blur”, Steve“ Big Blur” and Chris“ Christoblur”.
Over the past few years, I’ ve been a member of the Hawkesbury Rovers Social Golf Club, where I’ ve reconnected with a bunch of old mates I played footy and cricket against in my younger days.
Among them are Malcolm“ Choc” Hall, his brother Neale“ Bones” Hall, Paul“ Where’ s Wally” Wayling and Greg“ Shirl” Smith.
Anyway, all this talk of nicknames got me thinking, so I’ ve decided to launch the First Annual Harpo Sport Nickname Quiz!
The reader who gets the most answers correct will win a fabulous prize – a dinner for two out on the town with The Unknown Soldier’ s Mother. Ha ha!
Pssst! You can find the answers on page 26... Oi! Get back here!
Barrier with RiseTONY BRASSEL
ZOUME is an unraced Zousain 2Yo colt out of the Greg McFarlane yar at Gosford. Had first trial when showing a ton of acceleration after slightly miss the kick before racing away untouched to absolutely bolt in.
HOMEWARD and ONE
HARD LADY finished first and second respectively in 900m trial at Albury on June 16. Both are lightly raced and have shown ability in previous campaigns. Watch out for those down south of the state and in Victoria.
PANELLI is trained at Bathurst by Gayna Williams. Previously trained in Victoria where the 3YO had fair form. Showed pace and never off the bit when close second on home track over 1000m on June 16.
GOLF 1. What was the nickname of Mildred
Ella Didrikson Zaharias? 2. Who was“ Slammin’ Sam”? 3. Who was“ The Walrus”? ATHLETICS 4. Who was“ The Golden Girl”? 5. Who was“ The Lithgow Flash”? 6. Who was“ Deek”? BOXING 7. Who was“ The Great White Hope”? 8. Who was“ The Greatest”? 9. Who was“ The Maitland Wonder”? 10. Who was“ Young Griffo”? 11. What was James J. Corbett’ s nickname? 12. Which Australian boxer was known as
Geoffrey Murphy? 13. What was Tony Galento’ s nickname? 14. What was Joe Louis’ nickname? CRICKET 15. Who was“ The Don”? 16. Who was“ Whispering Death”? 17. Who was Pakistan’ s“ Sultan of Swing”? 18. Who was England’ s“ Beefy”? 19. Who was the West Indies’“ Master
Blaster”? RUGBY LEAGUE 20. What was Kevin Ryan’ s nickname? 21. Which three Rabbitohs were known as Lummy, Evil and Lurch? 22. Which four Saints were known as
Changa, Puff, Sticks and Poppa? 23. Which Eels were known as Thirsty, The
Mayor and Zip Zip Man? 24. Which Sea Eagles were known as
Bozo, Crusher and Fatty?
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25. What was Penrith great Zenon
Olejniczak’ s nickname? RUGBY UNION 26. What was Wallaby flanker David
Pocock’ s nickname? 27. What was Wallaby captain John Eales’ nickname? 28. What was All Black great Colin Meads’ nickname? 29. Which Wallaby legend was nicknamed Slaggy? AUSSIE RULES 30. Who was nicknamed Plugger? 31. Who was nicknamed God? 32. Who was Tasmania’ s Peter Perfect? SWIMMING 33. What was Ian Thorpe’ s nickname? 34. Who was“ The Baltimore Bullet”? 35. Who was Australia’ s“ Madam
Butterfly”? THE GEE-GEES 36. Who was nicknamed The King? 37. Who was the Red Terror? 38. Which pacing stars were known as the Temora Terror, Bathurst Bulldog and Steelo?
39. Which jockey was called The Professor?
40. Who was thoroughbred racing’ s Little General?
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30 ISSUE 133 // JULY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT