Making a brave effort to roll back the years
ADVANCING YEARS can be either an alluring or a cruel mistress that is kind to some and far from pleasant to others.
With the tiresome ten-year challenge doing the rounds on social media, it’s as plain as the nose on your face that some are blessed with the gift of eternal youth and others are cursed with a haggardness that tells a tale of the harshness of life.
Take class of ’93 snooker stars John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan as a prime example. The Scotsman looks all of his 43 years and more, whereas the lean Rocket is in pretty decent nick for a forty-something.
It’s no real surprise as, despite battling his own demons, O’Sullivan’s fitness regime and healthy lifestyle is well documented, whereas Higgins has simply rolled down the more travelled route of letting age take the wheel.
Then take a look at the likes of David Beckham, also a 43-yearold, who still looks as fresh as a pre-noon baguette in a bakery.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star undoubtedly spends plenty of time in the gym honing his physique, but obviously wealth also plays its part and stylists and barbers can work round the clock to keep brand Beckham shining brightly.
While I haven’t a prayer of achieving Beckham status, I’m not entirely a lost cause, somewhere in the middle between O’Sullivan and Higgins – still capable of running a few miles without collapsing in a sweaty heap, but with hair that’s well on its way to being greyer than a badger’s arse.
I suppose at least I still have just about enough hair to keep my head warm through the long winter months. Small mercies and all that.
To try to slow down the ageing process, my lifestyle throughout January has been cleaner than a monk’s mind and I’ve been pounding the tarmac with vigour.
I’ve seen more fruit and vegetables than a greengrocer in the past four weeks, not a drop of alcohol has passed my lips, and I’ve racked up more miles on the clock than a clapped out jalopy.
It hasn’t always been easy as I overestimated the amount of biscuits, chocolate, beer and wine that would be needed over the festive period, so every time I open a cupboard there’s a selection box staring me in the face, or when I walk into the dining room there’s a pristine slab of Guinness begging to be unwrapped.
However, despite the powerful lure of temptation, I’ve stayed strong, the will power is holding up well, and I’m almost at the end of January without giving in to any sort of gluttony whatsoever.
There’s always going to be peaks and troughs for some, but once the destination is reached the vagaries of the journey don’t really matter.
Oldham Athletic defender Peter Clarke, who at 37 years old is in the twilight of his career, had one of those days on Saturday that those of us of more advancing years are used to.
You show plenty of early promise, before suffering a little hiccup, then you manfully get back on track, only for everything to go to shite in spectacular fashion.
The Latics captain had an afternoon with more ups and downs than a hillwalker as his side lost 2-1 to Doncaster Rovers in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
He made a positive impact in the first-half with a brilliant goalline clearance, but he then played a part in Doncaster’s opening goal when Ben Whiteman’s shot deflected in off his head.
Clarke then redeemed himself in style when he pounced for a late equaliser, but all his good work was then undone when he was sent-off for violent conduct deep into injury time after Rovers had bagged the winner.
Hopefully my attempts to get back to something even close to peak fitness will fare somewhat better than the veteran defender.
It’s been going well so far, and thankfully my efforts are starting to show on the scales as well as in my overall well being.
For any that have struggled through Dry January, the dawn of February couldn’t fall on a better day, as not only is it a Friday, it’s also the start of the Six Nations Championship as France and Wales go head to head in Stade de France.
Hostelries the length and breadth of the country are sure to be heaving as beer-swilling folk imbibe beverages with a fondness akin to greeting the return of a long-lost friend, but mercifully I’m not that weak.
I’ll wait until the highly-anticipated Ireland versus England clash the following day. Cheers! THE Arklow under-16 girls team haven’t had it easy. The team were recruited last season to play in an under-14 league. However, given the age grades in girls Leinster rugby they were forced to play in an under-16 league this season.
Having a team made up mainly of 14-year-olds playing in an under-16 league has brought its challenges.
The team have had to face up against vastly more experienced and in most cases bigger teams all season.
In addition, their fixture list saw them face into daunting consecutive away defeats to Westmanstown (West Dublin), Portaoise and Navan.
In normal circumstances one would’ve expected morale to drop and players to give up. In stark contrast with each defeat this team became more galvanised. Each week they worked hard on the mistakes of the previous week and each week performances improved.
This culminated in last Saturday’s hard-fought 20-10 victory against Westmanstown – a side the team haemorrhaged 34 unanswered points against away to in November.
On Saturday, Arklow applied pressure to Westmanstown from the start attacking rucks with vigor and aggression.
However, a counter attack from a very competent Westmanstown back line saw them score a try in the corner completely against the run of play.
Undaunted, the Arklow team remained confident that they had the measure of the travelling Dublin side. Outhalf Emer Cullen made a break down the left side after relentless pressure from the Arklow forwards - running 20 yards for a try that would surely have a put a smile on her late grandfather and