Amateur racing clubs thrived in country NSW during the early 1900s. Unlike the tightly regulated metropolitan tracks, amateur clubs accepted a wider range of weights, ages, and skill, thrilling spectators with predictably unpredictable outcomes. Unpredictability was not confined to the track at Lightning Ridge Amateur Race Club (LRARC). In a curious twist, there were not […]
How did motoring racing drivers Dick Johnston and John French feel that day in early October 1981 when they stood on the podium and accepted this ‘perpetual’ trophy, shiny and new? On top of the world! They had won the annual ‘James Hardie 1000’ touring car championship at Mount Panorama, Bathurst. But on lap 122, […]
Although this object may look like a giant’s bangle it is in fact an integral part of the mostly forgotten game of clay–end quoits which dates back to the 14th century and was most closely associated with mining regions. The game involved the throwing of metal rings, the quoits, up and down a pitch with […]
This would become Alec Mildren’s ultimate moment of glory – one he had been tirelessly working toward. Stepping up to the podium in June 1960, he accepted this trophy for his thrilling win of the 25th Australian Grand Prix (est. 1928). It was official, he had the fastest car in Australia. Engraved with his name, […]
This trophy was awarded to Swansea-Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club members who won marathon boat races between 1966 and 1968. The club, now known as Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club, has a proud history in this gruelling and demanding surf sport category. In the mid-1900s, marathon surfboat races were considered an ultimate test […]
It was a proud moment for Gordon Lindsay when he was presented with this trophy for breaking his schools’ record for the under 14 ‘hop, step and jump’ (triple jump). It was 13 December 1939, and though it was a hot evening, every seat in the West Maitland Town Hall was filled for the annual […]
On Easter Saturday in 1938 the Mount Panorama Circuit at Bathurst, in the Central West of NSW, was first used for motor racing. The inaugural event was part of the district’s 150 years of European settlement celebrations. The inaugural race was an Australian TT motorcycle race, two days later the Australian Grand Prix cars competed. […]
In the late nineteenth century ploughmen from the Millthorpe district and neighbouring colonies descended on the village to compete in its Champion Ploughing Matches, which returned generous prize money and a trophy to the best ploughman. Ploughing matches, first held at Millthorpe in the late 1880s, were organised by the Union of Farmers of Spring […]
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