…it’s not too difficult to work out what lies behind the nicely-wrapped rectangular-shaped presents. Cricket books are particular favourites, but this year I was drawn to a book on the most inspiring moments in sporting chivalry by Max Davidson entitled “It’s Not the Winning that Counts.”
It is amazing with all the sport that has been played down the years, that we can recall with greater clarity infamous events rather than chivalrous events, and while I applaud the author for bringing together some of the nicer moments in sport, he struggles to get quantity and quality after obviously highlighting a few of better-known incidents.
It begs the question, has sport lost its sporting image over the years and has chivalry gone down the drain with so many other sporting virtues, or was it always this way?
Davidson recalls with some passion the lovelier moments of sport and incidents that will always have a place in true sporting hearts. From the world of golf who could forget the great Jack Nicklaus conceding a tricky two feet putt to Tony Jacklin in 1969 Ryder Cup to give Great Britain and Ireland an historic tie? Certainly not the recipient or the sporting world, who lauded one of the greatest competitors of all time, but who was also the epitome of sports chivalry in the Bobby Jones mould.
Who could forget National Hunt jockey John Francome’s refusal to pass Peter Scudamore’s total of 120 winners in 1982 after he had suffered the misfortune of a broken arm the year after he broke a leg when in a similar in pole position? Francome had won the Jockey’s Championship in 1981 as a result of that mishap, but he refused to repeat it in 1982 and when he rode the 20 more winners he needed to equal Scudamore’s total, he then retired for the season. It astonished the racing world, and although Scudamore went on the win the title seven times in later years, Francome never regretted his decision.
Peter Goss was the round-the-world yachtsman who unselfishly sacrificed his personal aspirations to answer a distress call from a rival in 1996, while Paolo di Canio was the controversial West Ham footballer who grabbed the ball in front of an open net in the dying seconds of a vital league game when Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard lay injured and unable to react.
Cricket has had its moments too, and while everyone would expect the much-loved Colin Cowdrey, Garry Sobers or Brian Lara, to top the list of chivalrous cricketers, some of the best examples have been the cut-throat Aussies!
In 1998 Mark Taylor reached 334 not out against Pakistan equalling Sir Donald Bradman’s fifty-year old record, but he declared overnight in the team’s interest and in respect for the great Don.
Adam Gilchrist was a rarity in modern cricket because he was a ‘walker.” In the 2003 World cup semi-final he edged a ball and was caught off his pads but given “not out” by the umpire. However, Gilchrist knew he had hit the ball and he walked off and into sporting history as a true sportsman.
I suppose we can all look back on our playing careers and identify similar incidents, but I suspect we remember the batsmen who didn’t walk more than the ones who did! Personally I will never forget the batsman who stole a run after the ball had been dropped by a fielder on its way back to me the bowler. The umpire was his friend he told me later, but although I’ve laughed it off with the beneficiary many times since, it was poor sportsmanship.
In start contrast three incidents stick in my memory as acts of chivalry of the highest order.
In a senior league game against Donacloney Ian Shields played a dead bat to five consecutive deliveries from David Carson and lifted the ball on several occasions and threw it back to the bowler in a friendly manner. He did the same with the sixth ball unaware that his batting partner John Gilliland was calling a run at the same time and halfway down the wicket! The frame froze as the ball gently landed into David’s hands and in those few seconds John scrambled back into his crease. Mark Harper the Donacloney West Indian professional went ballistic on the boundary and charged in demanding Ian was given out at which time umpire Murray Power’s head started to shrink lower and lower under his collar. Eventually Murray diplomatically asked David Carson if he was registering an appeal to which the Donacloney legend sportingly replied; “No, we don’t play our cricket that way.” It was a lovely moment of unforgettable sportsmanship, but probably lost on big Mark.
Herbie Parkhill was one of the most sporting players of his time, perhaps all time? He captained North of Ireland and Ulster Town with dignity throughout a distinguished sporting career. In the 1986 senior cup final Alan Waite was called away from the game after it had just started, but rather than take advantage of the situation, Herbie sportingly allowed Waringstown to substitute him with the indomitable Roy Harrison, who equalled the long-standing record of Willie Andrews for cup final wins. North subsequently lost the game, but their sportsmanship remains a special memory of that final.
Finally, big Raymond Moreland from North Down is one of the great characters of local cricket and has donned many roles over many years at the Green. He was umpiring his own team in a midweek match some years ago when David McVeigh was trapped leg before wicket. By his own admission, Raymond later said it would have knocked all three stumps down, but despite the vociferous appeal from the young Instonians bowler, the North Down stalwart turned it down. The young bowler was devastated by the decision and walking back past the imposing figure of big Raymond he tentatively asked “Why not?” Never one to be caught short of an answer, the big man waddled over to his young opponent and put a fatherly arm around his shoulders and calmly explained; “For two reasons son. Davy hasn’t scored a run all season and secondly, that’s his mummy who just walked into the ground and she came to see him batting, not you bowling!”
The decision was accepted without malice. There were no more appeals!
It was sporting chivalry a la Raymond Moreland at its best.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
