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

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