Sport
Sportstar: Teasdale, Parsons named co-winners of Spirit of Sport prize
Alf Parsons and Kirk Teasdale were two of the shining lights at Echuca-Moama’s sporting night of nights, with the pair announced as co-winners of the 2022 Sportstar Spirit of Sport award on Monday at the Moama Bowling Club.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Parsons’ lifelong commitment and dedication to the sport of showjumping and Teasdale’s anointment as a life member of Goulburn Murray Cricket in March 2022 earned them the prestigious accolade.
One of the stalwarts of the showjumping community, Parsons has been involved with the sport for more than 50 years.
Parsons is a course builder, expertly designing tracks that competitors and their horses must traverse, and he has been a regular sight at competitions in Rochester, Bamawm and around the state.
He has even written a book on the art and subtleties of course building, with a second book on the way.
Parsons said it was a special moment as he accepted his award.
“It means a lot, it really does. You meet great people,” he said.
“It is the hardest night I have ever put in, I’m not used to talking.”
Last year Parsons’ dedication to the sport was recognised by Equestrian Victoria when it presented him with its Lifetime Service to Sport award.
“Alf has given a lifetime to the Australian jumping and broader equestrian community,” Equestrian Victoria said.
“Alf’s philosophy behind building courses has always been to help develop and grow riders and horses.
“A true leader in the sport, Alf is always willing to take a back seat in providing opportunities for others to learn. He has written and contributed to books on jumping and its history in Australia.
“Alf’s commitment to developing horses and riders extends well beyond the countless shows he has supported not only as a course builder, but as a judge, penciller, timekeeper and ‘trusted advisor’.”
From rolling the pitch to nurturing the next generation of talented cricketers, Moama Cricket Club’s Teasdale has been a constant feature on the local cricket scene as a player and volunteer.
As a board member of the GMC, long-time Moama committee member and club president, junior coach of both Moama and GMC representative teams, and renowned A-grade cricketer, Teasdale has been helping out behind the scenes since he was a teenager.
“I learned from Mum and Dad when I was young, you’ve got to actually give back,” Teasdale said.
“That’s where it all started.
“It’s been a lot of years on committees and boards and the like.
“I reckon I was on the Moama committee when I was 18 — that was 30 years ago.
“There were a couple of us young blokes who used to roll the pitch, and help out back then.”
Speaking on stage after receiving his award, Parsons shared the story of how he first got into course building.
It started at an agricultural show in Rochester. Parsons watched the showjumping in action, and once the riders were finished, he saw someone out adjusting the course.
Once he was done, the man leaned by a fence. Sensing an opportunity to help out, Parsons asked what he was doing and — crucially — if he could help.
Follow me, said the man, ushering Parsons on to the course where they began arranging jumps. It was Parsons’ first foray into course building, but it certainly would not be his last.
Since then, Alf and his wife, Pat, have been to countless shows and events together across the state, and Alf still makes regular appearances at Bamawm Extension.
With more than five decades in the sport, Parsons said there was one thing he enjoyed the most.
“Seeing kids improve and young horses improve, I really love that. If you see them improving a bit, that really gives you something,” he said.
With four children of his own coming through the ranks at Moama, Teasdale encouraged people to pick up a volunteering role where possible.
“It is (about the kids),” he said.
“It’s hard to get volunteers nowadays; without volunteers, kids’ sport doesn’t happen.
“If we want kids’ sport to flourish, for them to be able to do something when they get older and the club to thrive ... it takes a lot of man hours.”
On field, Teasdale has previously steered the ship as top-grade captain for 10 years, won nine A-grade flags, and earned several GMC representative team selections.
Teasdale is also a key part of the recent growth of the MCC, culminating in being named the 2020/21 Club of the Year at the Cricket Australia Community Cricket Awards.
There were a record number of Spirit of Sport nominees, with 11 people overall receiving recognition for their contributions and dedication.
The other nominees were Alastair Evans, Craig Taylor, Gwenda Johnstone, Kyle Phipps, Luke Barlow, Mark McGann, Matt Wickham and Shane Kervin.