For most of us, sport’s defining moments are those we’ll always remember. The moments that send a shiver down the spine or live warmly in the corner of the memory. They’re like a lovely old ornament on the mantelpiece or the grandfather clock in the hall. So, in no particular order, here are some of mine . . .

In 1973, the all-singing, all-dancing Barbarians came to the Cardiff Arms Park with nothing but good intentions. They were here to play a New Zealand side who were, at the time, playing some of the most majestic rugby ever seen. But when the black-and-white Baa-Baas glided onto Welsh soil, rugby moved on to another planet. They also happened to score perhaps one of the most spell-binding tries we are ever likely to see.

Dylan Thomas, that outstanding Welsh poet, would probably have gone into lyrical raptures about the Barbarians try. He might have referred to dancing fly halves, and angelic flankers floating across the pitch.
Starting deep in their own half, the black-and-white wizards began to fling the ball backwards and sideways. It was a wonderfully choreographed piece of flowing rugby that only the Barbarians could have produced.

'Even now you can still see Botham thundering across Headingley like a human tornado. He was a fiery beast who couldn’t be tamed'


In a dreamlike sequence, the likes of Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett and the great doctor himself, JPR Williams, flicked, side stepped and body swerved across the Arms Park in eye-popping style. Finally, it was Bennett who hurled himself over heroically for a memorable try.

In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe were the dominant forces in world middle-distance running. In both 800m and 1500m they would stride around the track, shoulder to shoulder, neck and neck, two figures in thrilling combat.

For just a second they reminded you of gazelles on the plain. They powered their way around the final bend, kicked ferociously for the finishing line and then raised their weary arms when their races were won. It was drama on a monumental scale. Andrew Lloyd Webber might have made Coe and Ovett the musical. Surely you would think a box office success.

In 1981, England met Australia in one of the all-time Hall of Fame Ashes series. Not since 1971 had an English side overcome the Aussies in cricketing confrontation. Those grizzly bears from Down Under were baying for English blood.

But those cocky Aussies had reckoned without a superlative English fighting force. Ian Botham was a young, buccaneering quickie bowler and big-hitting batsman from Somerset. By the end of a victorious series Botham would become England’s mighty emperor. He was unquestionably the batting hero of the hour, a cricketing giant with those mighty sixes.

Even now you can still see Botham thundering across Headingley like a human tornado. He was a fiery beast who couldn’t be tamed, and when England needed fast bowling of the highest order ‘Beefy’ didn’t let us down. Ultimately, it was Bob Willis who won that historic Test by bowling the Aussies out for next to nothing as they chased a moderate victory target - but it was Botham's mighty exploits that set up the most unlikely England win ever.

That Ashes series also boasted one of the cleverest English cricketers of recent times. If Mike Brearley had been a professor or scientist then few would have been surprised. That Brearley became captain and meticulous tactician was less of a shock.

Last, but not least, there was the 1978 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Ipswich Town. It was the country yokels against the city slickers. Nobody had expected Ipswich to win. After all, who were Ipswich and their laid back softies? They were angry farmers with straws in their mouths - or so we thought.

However, in one of the great FA Cup giant-killing shocks, Ipswich, those rural rotweillers, snarled their teeth and won the game. Who will ever forget Roger Osborne firing home the winner and then collapsing with exhaustion? There was the snappy Eric Gates and the whole-hearted Brian Talbot, players somehow designed for the big Cup Final occasion.

So there you have it. Wonderful sporting snapshots will always take pride of place in our mind. They will be etched in the memory like caviar in a five-star hotel or the dearest bottle of Chardonnay. Greatness and genius never fades.

What are your great sporting memories? Why not tell the world about them in an article for Sportingo, or simply post your comments below.