Conquering tome showcases Geelong greats

A conquering tome covering 100 past and present sporting greats from Geelong and surrounds is finally off and running.

Sports promoter and journalist John Craven has compiled The Conquerors, his ranked list of the same name comprising the Geelong region’s top 50 all-time great sports stars.

The book, which will be officially launch

ed in early October, also contains a further 50-strong list, “The Champions”, in alphabetical order.

Test cricketer and Invincibles member Lindsay Hassett is ranked in top spot among “The Conquerors”, with middle-distance runner John Landy, Olympic cyclist Russell Mockridge, Australian Open tennis champion Jack Hawkes and Australian Basketball Hall of Fame member Trisha Fallon making up the top five.

In the preface, Craven wrote he came up with the initial handful of chapters in late 1975 before “grabbing a short break… it lasted 516 months”.

One of these first chapters was about freestyle relay swimmer Peter Doak (#10), included for his bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics and gold medal at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

“I think it’s been a great project, particularly for Geelong people – I don’t think they realise the depth of talent that Geelong’s produced, and it’s good that John’s done something like that to put it all together,” Doak said.

“It’s an incredible amount of work.”

Tony Strahan (#34), who also won gold in a swimming relay (in world record time) at the 1962 Games, said he was honoured and privileged to be included.

“You go back starting with Lindsay Hassett, the famous cricketer. To be in the same sort of category to some extent as someone like him, and Paul Sheahan and Ian Redpath, other top cricketers… hopefully when people read the book, it’ll inspire younger people to try to emulate those in the book.”

A photo of Canoe Marathon World Championship winner John Jacoby (#23) during his record-breaking circumnavigation of South Georgia is featured prominently on the cover.

“Dare I say it, it’s easy to take a good photograph down there, because it’s just so spectacular, it’s stunning,” Jacoby said.

“You look at it on an atlas and it’s this little dot in the middle of nowhere, and then you get there, and you can’t get your head around how enormous the place is.”

Craven said he “staggered over the line” with The Conquerors and sent it to the publishers seven weeks late.

“I’m relieved, and I’m very excited about the launch – even though the acceptances don’t close until September 27, there are 200 acceptance already, so I’m going to have to put the lid on it!

“I couldn’t have done this on my own. The research was just incredible, but everyone was just so helpful, which made it a lot easier for me.

“The reward for me will be lots of people get the opportunity to read the book, and just see how great Geelong is, and how great its sportspeople are, and it’s not just football.”

The book contains a foreword from City of Greater Geelong mayor and Geelong Racing Club president Peter Murrihy.

The Conquerors (Caribou Publications) is available in select bookshops or to order online.

For more information, head to caribou.net.au.