100 Great Sporting Moments – BBC


In 1982-1983, the BBC showed a series called 100 Great Sporting Moments. It was a collection of interesting and exciting moments shown on the BBC (note the specificity of the title, great rather than greatest). The series was a fantastic history of sport, not just the biggest moments, but an education in sport through the televisual years.

Once the original series was shown, for a few years I seem to recall they were used as handy fillers for awry schedules and rained-off events. After a while I presume that either the rights to some elements may have reverted, or the BBC just felt they looked a little dated, and their use stopped.

So I was wondering the other day what the exact list of events was. Of course these are from a pre-internet era, but even then, this list seems lost into the ages. I’ve already carried out some research, and tracked down several of the events, but I suspect as I stand, I only know about 30% of the original list. It’s not obvious, as stated it isn’t the greatest moments ever, it’s far more eclectic than that.

So this page now exists as a starting point for the project to track down all 100 moments. I’ve found some on youtube, and confirmed some elsewhere. I will list out all I know for sure to begin with, and gradually add links to youtube for each one. I’ll also list my possible moments that either I or other people believe were shown. If you have any memories, proof or useful links for me, please do post them in the comments.4636

Finally, I’m starting another separate list for Graeme’s Great Sporting Moments, so that I can complete and get to 100 for at least one project.

Update: I’ve found the BBC Genome Project which has a lot of entries for 100GSM shows, so I’m going to update this list soon with that, and in return add some edits to help clean up what they’ve scanned in from Radio Times.

BBC 100 Great Sporting Moments

Confirmed

  1. Mary Peters, Munich Olympics – 1972 – Athletics (shown 01/11/1982) Youtube
  2. Arkle, Cheltenham Gold Cup – 1964 – Horse Racing (shown 08/11/1982) Youtube
  3. Joe Davis v John Pulman, television challenge match – 1962 – Snooker (shown 15/11/1982) Youtube
  4. USA v USSR, Munich Olympics – 1972 – Basketbal (shown 29/11/1982) Youtube (full game, not 100GSM clip)
  5. Scotland v Wales – 1971 – Rugby
  6. Scotland v England – 1980 – Rugby
  7. Barbarians v New Zealand – 1973 – Rugby
  8. British Motorcycle Grand Prix – 1979 – Motorcycling
  9. Ken Rosewall v Cliff Richey, Wimbledon Quarter-final – 1971 – Tennis
  10. Arsenal v Man Utd, FA Cup Final – 1979 – Football
  11. Gillette Cup, Semi-Final – 1971 – Cricket
  12. The Open – 1972 – Golf
  13. Red Rum, Grand National – 1973 – Horse Racing
  14. Red Rum, Grand National – 1974 – Horse Racing
  15. Red Rum, Grand National – 1977 – Horse Racing
  16. Colin Jones v Kirkland Laing – 1980 – Boxing
  17. Colin Jones v Kirkland Laing – 1981 – Boxing
  18. West Indies innings, World Cup Final – 1975 – Cricket
  19. Australia innings, World Cup Final – 1975 – Cricket
  20. Victoria Wade v Chris Evert-Lloyd, Women’s semi-final, Wimbledon – 1977 – Tennis
  21. Victoria Wade v Chris Evert-Lloyd, The Wightman Cup – 1980 – Tennis
  22. Osram Saloon Car Championship – 1971 – Motor Racing
  23. David Bedford, 10,000m, Crystal Palace – 1973 – Athletics
  24. Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe, Tie Break, Men’s Final, Wimbledon – 1980 – Tennis
  25. Daily Express F3 Trophy Final – 1970 – Motor Racing
  26. Jack Brabham Trophy Race – 1971 – Motor Racing
  27. Motorcross – 1960s

Possible

    • Leeds v Southampton – 1972 – Football
    • Towler and Ford – 1968 – Ice Dance
    • Olga Korbut, Floor Exercises, Munich Olympics – 1972 – Gymnastics
    • Nadia Comăneci, Uneven Bars, Montreal Olympics – 1976 – Gymnastics
    • Ed Moses – – Athletics
    • Franz Klammer, Men’s Downhill, Innsbruck Olympics – 1976 – Skiing
    • Seb Coe – – Athletics
    • Rumble in The Jungle – – Boxing
    • Devon Loch, Grand National – – Horse Racing
    • Mark Spitz, Munich Olympics – 1972 – Swimming
    • David Emery, 400m Hurdles, Mexico Olympics – 1980 – Athletics
    • Lasse Viren – – Athletics
    • Abebe Bikila – – Athletics
    • Jesse Owens, Munich Olympics – 1936 – Athletics
    • Harold Abrahams/Eric Liddell, Paris Olympics – 1924 – Athletics
    • John Currie, Innsbruck Olympics – 1976 – Ice Skating
    • Robin Cousins, Lake Placid Olympics – 1980 – Ice Skating
    • Roger Bannister, Mile, Oxford – – Athletics
    • Garry Sobers, Six Sixes – – Cricket
    • Bob Beamon, Long Jump, Mexico Olympics – 1968 – Athletics

18 responses to “100 Great Sporting Moments – BBC”

  1. Hi, I’m pretty sure one moment was a match in the Table Tennis World Championships form 1977 which was held in Birmingham. Likely to have been the final I would think. Cheers, Martin

  2. The Sam Doble Memorial rugby match from 1977 is another one. A DVD of the game is available from Birmingham Moseley rugby club and ‘100 Great Sporting Moments’ is portrayed in the credits.

  3. Definately the Gareth Edwards try for the Barbarians v The All Blacks in 1973 was in the 100

  4. The 1961 Rugby League Challenge Cup Final between St Helens and Wigan, featuring the goal kicks of Len Killeen

  5. There were 3 gymnastics ones that I remember really clearly: Vera Caslavska in 1968 (it featured her floor exercise routine to ‘The Mexican Hat Dance’ in front of the Mexico City audience); Olga Korbut in 1972; Nadia Comaneci perfect 10 in 1976

  6. Almost certain that the Gary Sobers 6×6 was one. No proof but still remember watching it now. I would also list the USA v Russia Winter Olympics ice hockey but might be conflating it which the basketball that you already have?

    • Garry Sobers was definitely one of them – remember watching it as a kid.

  7. I believe that a mountain stage of the tour de France is featured with Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche winning the stage.

  8. A whole Billy Walker boxing match but I can’t remember who he fought. I seem to remember he lost, but boy, did he make his opponent work for it!

  9. Hi – I think no 6 would be Scotland v France, 1980, I have most of the programme on video except about the last 5 min!

  10. Was there 2 World Cup matches in the series the 1966 Final England v West Germany and the 1978 Group match Scotland v Holland

  11. Some World Cup Matches that would have featured that are not currently on the list here but may have been featured in the series but could be put on the list if featured in the series would have likely to have been shown around April/May 1986 as part of the build up to the 1986 finals 1966 England v West Germany Final, 1970 England v Brazil 1st Round Group Game, 1970 Brazil v Italy Final, 1978 Scotland v Holland Group Game

  12. I remember seeing Colin Chapman winning a race in one of his Cortinas. You could see his face as he raced round.

  13. Ha! I was almost right. The race was in Escorts and Chapman didn’t win it. But it was in 100 Great. This is confirmed on the good wood.com website see “Video: Flat‑Out and Fearless – F1 Team Managers Racing Escorts!”

  14. From this series I had VHS of the 1981 Headingley Test Match for a long time. Specifically it was Botham’s century, not Bob Willis’ spell of bowling.
    Also I think they had the 1968 rugby league challenge cup final in this series too

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