1) To the marbles world championship! Hot action from this year’s event at Tinsley Green in Sussex, plus Trans World Sport’s trip there in 2017 and Pathé’s coverage of the 1938 edition (plus a US event in the very same year). Then there’s this rather remarkable short BBC Nationwide report from 1973 on Len Smith, “the Muhammad Ali of marbles”.
2) It is FA Cup semi-final weekend! Here is some thunderous Gazza, proper underdogs, Giggs dribbling and Palace against Liverpool.
3) The London Marathon is a reminder of the good people do at their own expense, especially this lovely chap, helping another runner to the line.
4) Ivan Mauger, who won six speedway world championships when dirt track racing was at its biggest in the 1960s and 70s, has died aged 78. Here’s a brilliant documentary called Circuits of Gold, which tells the story of his life and achievements. Here he is trying to crack 26 seconds for the 1km flying lap. And at the age of 72 he gave a 1951 Broadford a blast around a circuit.
5) Electric skateboard pole-vaulting. Because obviously.
6) Clarence Seedorf: still got it. Meanwhile in Hungary, three players from the same team go down within feet of each other. It’s almost beautiful.
Our favourites from last week’s blog
1) The wind and rain affected a lot of the county cricket last week, this was not an issue in 1949, though.
2) Crystal Palace hosted Brighton at the weekend, a lively rivalry.
3) A lost ball causes a lengthy delay during the Sturt v North Adelaide SANFL game.
Spotters’ badges: whobroughtoranges, SimonTravers, GrahamClayton
