A Field of Dreams
Late spring, 1985. A seemingly endless air journey, starting in British Columbia and the better part of 24 hours, nears its end. Down...
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A Life In Sport
A blog by Ian Hyde-Lay
About
ABOUT
Ian Hyde-Lay is a teacher who lives and works in Victoria, BC. He has been heavily involved in sport his entire life, as a player, coach, referee and administrator.
All Posts
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- Jun 6
- 4 min
12-21
Saturday June 3, 2023. Rotary Stadium, Abbotsford. The British Columbia Schools Rugby championship, an extravaganza featuring multiple...
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- May 15
- 4 min
The Boot
Receiving the ball near halfway, the blue #12 cuts inside. Bumps off one would-be tackler, but then gets crunched, unceremoniously dumped...
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- Oct 31, 2022
- 4 min
A Privilege
January 27, 1991. Super Bowl XXV. A jam packed Tampa stadium and a worldwide television audience of millions watch with bated breath....
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- Sep 18, 2022
- 3 min
Simply The Best
Mid December 1974. Along with my high school teammates, we arrive in Monmouth, a Welsh town situated at the junction of the Monnow and...
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- Sep 13, 2022
- 4 min
Lack of Vision
A splendid west coast summer stretches on. Victoria seems immune to the global traumas of war, famine, economic woe, and climate chaos....
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- Jul 26, 2022
- 4 min
Death Ground
The word, even on its own, packs a hefty punch. Dynasty. A team that, on the way to winning multiple championships, produces excellence...
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- May 23, 2022
- 4 min
Case Closed
A sticky, stifling May afternoon some twenty years ago. Bent double in a crawl space, I attempt some spring cleaning. The dampness under...
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- Feb 2, 2022
- 4 min
Going Cheap
There is a definite buzz about, as a keenly anticipated weekend looms on the horizon. For diehard fans such as myself, the Guinness Six...
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- Dec 30, 2021
- 4 min
Sense of Humour
A few weeks ago, somewhat out of the blue, I receive a note from a friend. I learn that an Australian, Andrew Cole, is to win the...
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- Nov 17, 2021
- 4 min
Rock and a Hard Place
04.45. The bright red digits on the bedside clock stare back at me. Normally a sound sleeper, I toss and turn. Memories, emotions,...
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- Oct 28, 2021
- 4 min
Lost in Translation
Rugby, a rainy evening in southwest France, some twenty-five years ago. I am the referee. The game, a Top 14 local derby, is only a few...
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- Oct 11, 2021
- 4 min
An Orphan
A coaching career stretches into its 40th year. A mixture of rugby and basketball, mostly at the high school level. Add in various...
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- Oct 4, 2021
- 4 min
The Messiah
1989. The CANZ series, a round robin, rugby union competition featuring Canada, two Argentinian club teams and three New Zealand...
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- Sep 14, 2021
- 4 min
Know The Rules
In a glittering 17-year major league career, Larry Walker does it all. Seven Gold Gloves for defensive excellence, five All-Star...
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- Aug 25, 2021
- 4 min
Hubcap
Late spring 1988. A friend rings. He asks if I have seen the teams. I have not, but I know the teams to which he refers. Indeed, a full...
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- Apr 19, 2021
- 4 min
Expect the Unexpected
It may not rival Odysseus’ twenty-year trek to and from the Trojan Wars, though at times it feels like it. June 1985. The Canadian Men’s...
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- Apr 12, 2021
- 4 min
Words of Wisdom
1883 in the Scottish Borders. Two butchers, Ned Haig and David Sanderson, tire of spending their days weighing and wrapping choice cuts...
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- Feb 15, 2021
- 4 min
Curiosity and Controversy
No question about it. I am curious. November 14, 1987. Shortly, I will take up residence underneath the grandstand at Royal Athletic Park...
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- Jan 7, 2021
- 4 min
Albert Park
Middle of February 2000. I arrive in Fiji, set to officiate at a long awaited Rugby Sevens tournament, the sixth of ten events that year...
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