Latest news with #sportsHistory
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The woman who snookered men for 64 years
"I've just lost to a granny with her arm in a plaster." Promising London amateur Roger Brown arrived at the 1976 Pontins Snooker Championship full of hope for a strong tournament. But he was sent packing in the first round by the aforementioned granny, Agnes Davies, a forgotten snooker legend from Saron, near Ammanford in Carmarthenshire. In a 64-year career spanning from 1937 to 2001, Davies amassed more than 20 ranking titles against men, women and in mixed doubles. Born Agnes Morris in 1920, she is now being remembered with a purple plaque, commemorating remarkable women in Wales, on a single-table snooker hall her father opened in a corrugated iron lean-to next to their family home. 'There is space for every girl and woman in football' Sign-language poet honoured with plaque Black activist and performer awarded purple plaque Davies' father opened a ramshackle snooker hall to provide income for his family with compensation after contracting a lung disease called silicosis while working in the coal mines. Her son, Eiddon Davies, said: "Mam was the youngest of six, so even though she'd wanted to carry on with her schooling, she had to drop out and help run the snooker hall and their little shop. "When there were no customers she passed her time by playing on the table, and became fascinated with the game. "She was completely self-taught and by the mid '30s she could beat anyone in Saron." Encouraged by fellow villagers, she won the 1937 Welsh women's championship at her first attempt, before repeating the feat in 1938 and 1939. In the same year of 1939, she also won the British amateur title - a de facto world championship at the time - and turning professional in 1940, Agnes narrowly lost in the equivalent world final. Giving birth to Eiddon in 1941, she thought she had hung up her cue but returned for more success on the baize. She won the women's world professional title in 1949 at a glittering ceremony at London's Leicester Square, in which all the women competed in floor-length gowns. The trophy was presented to her by actress Valerie Hobson, who would go on to become the wife of MP John Profumo, who later became embroiled in scandal. Snooker hit the doldrums soon after, but was revived in the 1960s by BBC Two commissioner David Attenborough, who used the sport as a way to promote the advent of colour TV. "In the '70s the invitations began to roll in again, and the likes of Guinness, Coral and Pontins began holding tournaments with prize money and free holidays etc," Eiddon said. "In '76 Mam broke her wrist vacuuming the stairs, but as we'd already paid for the week at Pontins Prestatyn she decided to compete anyway." It was here she beat Brown and went on to fall just before the round of 16, where famous male players entered the mixed tournament. She would go on to claim the Pontins women's title in 1982 and also became world champion for her third and final occasion in 1978, aged 58. Her competitive streak was not limited to tournaments, her son said. "Even playing with us you could tell she was a different, steely-eyed person as soon as she leaned over the table. "I didn't beat her until she was in her 80s, when she threw a strop and blustered 'look, you wait until you've had a heart attack. I've got angina, arthritis, and also got cataracts, so let's see how you'll play then'." She was still competing for Wales as late as 1999 in the Home Nations Championship, telling The Guardian it had helped her get over the death of her husband, Dick, three years earlier. Agnes played her final season in 2001, in the Gwendraeth League. She died a decade later, aged 90. Purple Plaques Wales honours outstanding Welsh women in a similar manner to blue plaques. Chairwoman Sue Essex said: "In common with many of the women who are represented with Purple Plaques, Agnes was champion among men and women - but her glittering career is little known. "She beat both women and men at their own game, once winning a game with her wrist in plaster and beating a man several decades her junior. "We take our hats off to her achievements." Welsh group makes suffragette sashes for every female MP Wales women's football - a 50-year ban to Euro 2025 Pioneering doctor honoured with purple plaque
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lenny Wilkens has statue unveiled outside Seattle arena where he led SuperSonics to NBA title
Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens looks on before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens, center, arrives for his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens smiles before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens smiles before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens looks on before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens, center, arrives for his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Former NBA basketball player and coach Lenny Wilkens smiles before his statue unveiling event outside of Climate Pledge Arena, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) SEATTLE (AP) — Lenny Wilkens couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he gazed at a bronze statue of himself at the site of his greatest coaching triumph. On Saturday, the former Seattle SuperSonics player and coach became the first person to have a statue unveiled outside Climate Pledge Arena. Advertisement Wilkens led the Sonics to the 1979 NBA title. But the 6-foot, 700-pound statue, sculpted by Chicago-based Lou Cella, depicts Wilkens as a player. Cella also produced statues of University of Washington football coach Don James and Seattle Mariners greats Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez. 'I've been blessed,' the 87-year-old Wilkens said. 'I'll be the first to tell you.' A point guard, Wilkens played 15 NBA seasons, including four for Seattle, and was a nine-time All-Star. He averaged 16.7 points and 6.5 assists. Climate Pledge Arena, home to the WNBA's Seattle Storm and NHL's Seattle Kraken, has never hosted an NBA game in its current incarnation. Known as KeyArena when the Sonics played there, it reopened in 2021 after a $1.15 billion renovation. The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder; that franchise won the NBA title this month. Advertisement Wilkens' statue won't stand alone for long. Longtime Storm point guard and four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird will have a statue unveiled outside the arena on Aug. 17. 'Lenny Wilkens' legacy in this city is undeniable — he helped lay the foundation for Seattle's deep love of the game. Both Lenny and Sue have brought home championships, inspired generations and helped shape Seattle into the incredible basketball city that it is today,' Storm president and CEO Alisha Valavanis said in a statement. 'The Storm are honored to be part of this monumental moment for Lenny, and we can't wait to celebrate Sue and all that she's meant to our city when we unveil her statue later this summer.' Wilkens, a three-time inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, was joined by SuperSonics greats including Spencer Haywood, Jack Sikma, Detlef Schrempf, Nate McMillan and coach George Karl. McMillan said Wilkens' impact on the Sonics was similar to that of Jerry West on the Los Angeles Lakers and Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls. Wilkens is third in career wins by an NBA coach at 1,332, trailing only Gregg Popovich and Don Nelson. 'He's one of the greatest leaders the NBA has ever seen,' McMillan said. ___ AP NBA:
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Rachael Blackmore retires from horse racing
Jockey Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement and said she was 'sad but grateful' to end a glittering 16-year career. Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021, and again made history by winning the Gold Cup a year later. She said: 'My days of being a jockey have come to an end. I feel the time is right. I'm sad but I'm also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years. 'I just feel so lucky to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible.'
