Apart from football what sports were posters good at?? I boxed winning a few losing a few I was serious about judo for years, and won quite a few bouts and doing well in two major tournaments and was on my way to a black belt before I started doing what many young men do drink. This expains why I got good at darts going one season unbeaten by anybody in the league as it was a sport I could practice while drinking. Summary I was good at drinking and fighting!!
NOW almost 65 years on from first boulder climbing / cheddar gorge I find a 60m single rope climb very difficult ... have to stop after 20m for a couple minutes then again at 30m/40/ 45m /55m then last 5m is easy!!!!
I would climb for weeks in Snowdon and along the Pembrokshire coast, as in weeks of days of of ten, twelve hours and more of climbing .. Now I look at the start of E1/2/3 climbs and know physicaly my knees (right knee) will be finished after metres.
I was up to what they used to call county standards in the 5/10 mile and cross country events in my teens, stood me in good stead in my latter years, now I can still enjoy a long drive to my little bolt hole in Perranporth, non stop in 3 hours and make a nice cuppa when I get there, still fit and active and am very greatful to be so.
Football was the only sport that I competed regularly in as an adult. As much as I loved playing, I was only able to achieve what people would class as 'average' ability - although I played on into my 50's I was proud to still remain useful and wasn't there to make up the numbers. Interestingly, although I have always absolutely LOVED playing football, I was never good enough during my school days to make any of the official sides. My footballing skills improved AFTER leaving school, when I learned to play to my own strengths and address my weaknesses. Other sports and activities I enjoy/have enjoyed: I played Basketball (which I enjoyed) for my school and Rugby (which I hated) for my house when I was at school. I've not played either of those sports since leaving school. I enjoyed playing Squash and Badminton in my younger adult years but was never any better than 'average' at those sports. I own a set of golf clubs which I used once about 10 years ago on the 'Pitch & Putt' at Coate Water. They now live in the corner of my garage. I enjoy sailing and I have my RYA levels 1 and 2 certificates - although I have never competed in it. I plan to step up to larger (cabin) yachts in retirement - I may even buy my own one day. In the pub I played a bit of darts and Shove-Ha'penny for my local when I lived in Bristol (not sure if Shove-Ha'penny counts as a 'sport'!!) but again to 'average' level - but I've kept my handful of trophies. I still like the occasional game of snooker or pool - but never at competitive level - although I did win free drinks for me and my mate in the Lord Nelson in Bedminster once back in the 1990's for beating their pub champion in a pool 'killer' knockout!!! I enjoyed horse riding and kayaking, but only for recreation, not competition - I once kayaked down the Danube in Germany which was an amazing experience. I would have dearly loved to have my own horse when I retire, but it will probably never happen as the wife and I plan to travel quite a bit when that time comes and it wouldn't be fair to have an animal when you aren't planning to be around much. There's an old Triumph sports car in my garage which I plan to get back on the road later this year - it was last driven 22 years ago.
I played Somerset and WEPL club cricket till I was 52, retired from 2nd eleven cricket 10 years later. Football Western League 72 - 84. Played 5-a side till Covid (indoors!). Golf - Came to it late but won boozy Corporate days off 8 at The Belfry, Wentworth, St Pierre during the 90's. Haven't played since 2008, now I couldn't hit a cow in the ass with a shovel. Skiing - Another sport I came to late but favourite pastime in the 90's. I liked cycling for a while but stopped - Lycra clad cyclists in their droves drive me nuts.
I love driving, have kept a log since the 60's of fuel I put in and the mileage ... dont keep all the books but occassionally find the odd one from the past found 1 with / included the trips I did to the Dachstein in 1977/78/79 ... that had cost of other things as well ...... I will soon clock 3,400,000 miles maybe next 3 years .... just done 2 journeys there and then back to NW SCOTLAND, stopped both times in Perth to refuel [ tesco ] going was 10 hours 45mins [20 min stop ] return was 10 hours 55 mins with a 10 min stop. I was so lucky with traffic no hold ups. Perth was about 6 1/2 hours drive [from eastville m32] ...no food no drink just 12 jelly beans !
I completely forgot about Skiing - I went for the first time in my life about 4 years ago when I actually WON an all-expenses paid skiing holiday to France for 4 people - I took the wife and my 2 youngest - after just 1 hour's tuition in Milton Keynes!!. Me and the kids absolutely loved it - the wife didn't sadly - but she DID enjoy the 'aprez-ski'.
Horse riding? Golf? Sailing?? Skiing?? No punching and choke holds? theres some posh bastards on here!!
I once ****ed 11 times if that counts as a success? I came third in a tennis tournament in Gloucester, as a child. The one that beat me in the semi hammered the winner of the other semi. And until about 7 years ago used to shock people at squash as the fat man beat them. I could have played football for schools, but was caught smoking so banned from taking part in sports as punishment for year. Never got back into then, and stupidly carried on smoking until 6 years ago after 36 years smoking. When younger ran cross country for school. Can do black runs skiing. Couldn’t ski for a few years due to my back. But hoping to go again next year. Went with a big group earlier this year so I just looked after peoples stuff drinking lager all day. Snow boarded once. I got the lesson day time wrong. I thought he said morning slot but he says he said afternoon slot. So I got my son to quickly show me as there was no way I went back down the ski lifts like a pleb. Done mainly reds without too much issues, but did not enjoy it like skiing.
