Almanac Pro-running: The Stawell Gift Monday program from 1961

Swish Schwerdt and JTH help Dips recover from the shock banning of bookies at the Stawell Gift by publishing this gem of an artifact [a holy relic no less] from 1961. Can you help build the story?

Almanac Life: Stawell and the Hand Gluers

Dips O’Donnell is a broken man. The Stawell Gift is on again this Easter, but bookies have been banned. And, worse, you can’t pitch a tent in the camping ground. Dips can see the writing on the wall.

Almanac Super Rugby Pacific: In the doldrums

The discourse around rugby is gloomy, and Brian the Ruminator senses the roubles. “But,” he writes, “it’s the sense of helplessness that many of us in the rugby fraternity feel. It’s hard to see a circuit breaker.” Here are his thoughts after the first round.

Almanac Poetry: Golf 1

Michael Pardy has returned to golf after a break of 20 years.  Beautiful game he says, and as a result, he has neglected his writing, so Michael has remedied that by writing golf poems. Here is his first golf poem.

Almanac Book Review: ‘Stories for Harry & Ray’ by Michael Sexton

Swish has had a read of Mike Sexton’s latest book ‘Stories for Harry & Ray’. He recommends it highly in this review.

Almanac Local History – Cazaly Rests in Coburg Cemetery

Allan Barden continues his series on the resting place of sports luminaries in Coburg Cemetery. Today’s focus is the Cazaly family.

Almanac Pro Running: The quick and the dead

Drizzle tells the story of Steve Brimacombe winning the Keilor Gift in 1994, and how the red lane proved to be the difference.

Almanac Jogging: Pavements and Ponderings – A Sunday Jog Through Adelaide’s Heart

It’s Sunday morning and Mickey Randall is out for a run through the streets of Adelaide, soaking up all the sights and sounds he experiences he shares with readers.

Almanac Swimming: Post Pier to Pub 2024 Reflections

The Pier to Pub 2024 is over and Col Ritchie reflects upon his satisfying swim.

Almanac NFL: The 2023 Jim Caldwell Cup – Week 18

Earl O’Neill updates all the NFL news in Week 18, highlighting the Detroit Lions, and sacked coaches.

Almanac Soccer: Auf Wiedersehen, Der Kaiser

Dennis Gedling pays a fitting tribute to former soccer great Franz Beckenbauer who passed away on Sunday.

Almanac Swimming: Pier to Pub 2024

Col Ritchie presents a few thoughts as he prepares for his 23rd Lorne Pier to Pub swim on Saturday.

Almanac Cricket: Yabba – A witty barracker

Yabba was a legendary barracker, heckler renowned for his witticisms from The Hill at the SCG in the early 20thC. [With the Sydney Test taking place at the moment it is an opportune time to reprise the story of ‘Yabba’, published on the site a few years ago. -Ed]

Almanac Golf: The Brown Slipper

This was published in 2012.

It tells the story of The Harms Family’s Brown Slipper in 2012.

The 2023 Brown Slipper is in Hamilton and Port Fairy next week.

Almanac Books: Best Sports Books I Read This Year

Peter Baulderstone nominates and reviews the best sports books he read in 2023. Add your own suggestions for Almanacker’s reading lists.

Almanac Yachting: The `87 Sydney to Hobart

Paul Nankivell was an international economist and Sydney knockabout when he found himself among the seafarers of the RANSA and crewing the Hornet to Hobart in 1987. [Nank at his story-telling best – JTH]

Almanac NFL: The 2023 Rodney Peete Cup – Week Fifteen

Earl O’Neill updates readers on the latest happenings in the NFL during Week 15, especially the Detroit Lions.

Almanac Book Review: Daniel James Brown, The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics.

With the opening of ‘The Boys in The Boat’ directed by George Clooney in January 2024, Braham Dabscheck reviews the 2014 book by Daniel James Brown the film is based upon.

Almanac NFL – The 2023 Tim Boyle Cup: Week Thirteen

This week Earl O’Neill runs his eye over the roles of referees and coaches in the NFL. Complex? Yep! Confusing? Check! Sound familiar? Too right!

‘The local boxer who reached the top…’ by KB Hill

For a change of pace, KB Hill recounts the feats of 1930s boxer Cliff Bowen.