DAVID SPARSHATT 1945-2001
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DAVID SPARSHATT 1945-2001 It is with very great regret that I write that David Sparshatt, one of HRFC’s real ‘legends’, died in the early hours of 3rd October after a courageous battle against cancer. A keen sportsman, David was also a member of Havant Athletic Club. The following has been compiled by Peter Price. David's Rugby Career... His first game of rugby was as a forward for Ryde School on the Isle of Wight. It only took one game for his PE teacher to realise his gifts would be better suited in the three-quarters – a decision that was to benefit Hampshire rugby for many years to come. He joined
Havant Colts aged 16 and made his debut for the 1st XV aged 18, the
start of a long and distinguished rugby career. He made the
first of his 11 County appearances for Hampshire in 1969/70 against a Surrey
side that included 8 Internationals – Bob Hiller and John Novak of England;
Geoff Evans and John Taylor of Wales, Alister McHarg of Scotland amongst
them. He scored 5
tries in a game on several occasions and captained Havant in 1971-72 He averaged
25 tries a season in his 16 seasons of first XV rugby with Havant – a Club
record. In 1975/76 he scored 43 tries, also a Club record and one for which
he won Havant’s Player of the Season Award. He retired
from Rugby in 1979 after helping Havant win the Hampshire Cup, his second time
on a Cup winning side. On and off
the field David’s attitude was exemplary. He never lost his temper – ever
– he was sportsmanship personified. He could have made the first team of any of the top London sides, Richmond, Quins, Rosslyn Park etc but preferred to play for Havant where his friends were. We were delighted of course. Our
coaching philosophy then was quite simple – Give it to Sparshatt as soon as
possible! In 1996 he took on the role of President of the club, a position he held with quiet authority and distinction for two seasons at a difficult time for the club. David's Athletic Career... Aged 18 his best 100m time (converted from 100yards) was 11.5 secs – only 0.4 slower than England number one at the time, Peter Radford. His 440 time was 51.3 – only 5 seconds slower than Robbie Brightwell and Adrian Metcalfe. 23 years later aged 41, his time had slowed dramatically – by 0.2 seconds in the hundred and 1 second in the 400. In 1986 he was runner-up in the National Veteran Championships and went to the World Championships in Sydney where only injury prevented him from winning a medal. As an athlete with Havant Athletic Club he holds 12 different age group records. On a rowing machine he was ranked 11th in the World for his age group last year David Sparshatt was truly one of life’s gentlemen. He will be sadly missed by his many friends at HRFC. Our thoughts are with his wife Anne, son Daniel, daughter Jane and grandchildren Charlotte and Matthew at this time.
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