Last updated at 15:33, Tuesday, 28 July 2009

TOM Watson’s feat in coming so close to winning the Open and Lance Armstrong’s return to the Tour de France have highlighted the ability of elder statesmen to compete.
IAN DUNSTAN talks to Furness’ own sportsmen who are defying age to keep going at a high level.

WITH AGE COMES WISDOM: Tom Watson came close to the greatset Open victory of all time at Turnberry last week, at the age of 59

TOM Watson turns 60 in September and in a career that has spanned nearly 40 years, he has won eight major championships.

Last week he was within six inches of making it nine.

Watson’s form was the story of the Open Championship at Turnberry.

He was a shot off the lead after the first round and out in front after the second – 36 holes that saw him succeed where Tiger Woods failed to make the cut.

Watson’s dogged nature and a series of unbelievable putts meant that he led going into the final day as well and as he teed off on the 18th he has a one-shot lead and the chance of a sixth Open Championship 26 years after his last.

Alas, his eight-foot putt for the title on the green sputtered short and right and he went into a play-off with Stewart Cink – where age finally showed.

And for the past three weeks, Lance Arsmtong has pulled himself back onto a bike and ridden the Tour de France at 37 – far too old many said, but he still finished third.

Watson and Armstong’s near success prompted a magnificent response from the sporting and wider communities.

Watson’s came only a year before the Royal and Ancient will instigate a rule which prevents former champions competing in the Open once they pass 60.

They, though, are not the only elder statesman of sport still plying their trade and here we meet five of Furness’ finest.

THE BIKER

SIXTY is nothing to Les Trotter – he goes through that barrier every week on his motorbike, and then some.

Trotter insists that riding a motorcycle can make you feel 21 again, quite a thing for a man approaching 67.

He has won countless trophies in his extensive time in motor sport and, as well as being a regular in the Isle of Man TT, he has also become a regular on the classic racing scene over the last 20 years.

The experienced rider has recently returned from a competition in Belgium where he came in fifth place out of 40 riders, equalling the French champion’s fastest lap time to boot.

“I’m like most sportsmen, you don’t want to admit that you’ve got old,” he said.

“I’ve raced in the Isle of Man for 35 years, once you get on the bike it’s like you’re 21 again.

“The commentator in the Isle of Man announced last year, ‘Les comes in once for fuel these days, and twice for a massage!’”

On the secret to keeping on keeping on, he added: “I still love every minute of it. Despite the hazards, I still have the competitive spirit I’ve always had, although, obviously it is getting physically harder each year.

“I think a lot of lads drop out because they become disillusioned and because of the cost.

“I’ll retire when I stop enjoying it, or start getting beat by lads that I don’t think should beat me.”

THE RUNNER

IN the field of endurance running, most athletes call time on their careers when their bodies tell them they’ve had enough.

For Barrow and Furness Striders runner Dave Spencer, his body still hasn’t given him the nod at the ripe old-age of 72. Spencer proved age is merely a number by winning the British Masters 5k road race in June this year.

“There are still quite a few older ones running,” he said. “We’ve all slowed down but you can still go out and enjoy yourselves and still have a craic.

“I’ve always liked competition.

“You just have to continue trying. Obviously you get injuries along the way, a lot of people get injuries and pack up, whereas others fight back. You can either pack up or carry on – I carried on.”

He added: “Unfortunately there are more older people running than young ones.

“The sport has changed so much over the years, you need new blood coming in all the time and it would be great if some runners carried on a bit longer.

“A lot pack up early, I’d like to see more carry on. The local club has a lot of good youngsters but then there’s a void between 25 and 35.”

“As long as I can keep going, health-wise, I’ll keep running.”

THE GOLFER

BARROW Golf Club member Laurie Kidney is 17 years Watson’s elder at 76, but he still loves a round of fourballs with his friends from the club.

Kidney has been playing since he was a junior, building up a wealth of experience in the game.

“I first started playing when I was eleven at Furness Golf Club during the war,” he said. “There were mines and barbed wire on the golf course so you had to be careful where you landed your ball otherwise you'd end up in a minefield!”

The veteran golfer then moved to Barrow in the 1950s and soon became club captain, enjoying a long and prosperous golfing career, which saw him achieve a one handicap at his peak, as well as representing Cumbria.

“Since I've retired I just play normal four ball golf,” added Kidney.

“I still play, but not at top level. Golf has been with me all my life.

“The seniors section can be joined at 55 now, but we've got people playing well into their 70’s and 80’s. If you have reasonable health then there is nothing to stop you playing. If you have got your health, it is an ageless sport.”

THE CRICKETER

ULVERSTON cricketer Steve Conroy, 61, credits his longevity success to a relatively injury-free career, as well as a very understanding wife.

“I’ve been lucky with health and injuries and just managed to keep going really,” he said.

“I’ve been really interested in sport all my life.”

Conroy is Ulverston CC through and through and can be still seen taking wickets in the North Lancs League, week in, week out at Priory Road.

He added: “My secret is just bowling line and length, let them get themselves out. The young lads now have a lot more than what we had in terms of training facilities and changing rooms and they don’t seem to appreciate it, they don’t appreciate what they’ve got while their young.

“With cricket you don’t tend to get the serious injuries you get in football.

“The secret is you’ve got to keep going.

“If you stop when you’re 30 or 40 then you never get going again.

“I’ll keep playing cricket for as long as I can do – or at least as long as the wife lets me!”

THE FOOTBALLER

AGE is relative depending on which sport you play and, despite being a few years younger than the rest of our quintet, footballer Gary Cunningham, 46, has enjoyed a long, on-going, career in his sport.

Given the nature of football, he has carried on playing well past most people’s retirement age, now turning out for SDO in the Furness Premier League.

When asked what keeps him going in football, he replied: “Saturday afternoons. You’re either playing football or going shopping with the missus, that keeps me going!

“I think your pride gets in the way as well, my youngest son is 20 and he plays locally, there is still a bit of pride in there because I’m still winning things and he hasn’t won anything yet!

“A lot of it comes down to not knowing any different. It’s about the camaraderie with the guys, you don’t want to lose touch with them because they become like a family.

“If you keep fit, keep training and keep away from injury then there’s nothing stopping you.

“I think your body tries to let you know that it’s nearly time to call it a day.”

“You’ve got to still want to play, your body tells you when it’s time (to stop), a lot of people retire at 30 and it’s a real shame.”

“Jimmy Caldwell (SDO team manager) is the real reason that I’ve kept going over the last 10 years. He’s kept the team together and been our manger. He’s kept us old guys together as a team.”

First published at 13:05, Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk