Epsom Derby - How I Won On Fleur de Lys!

We can all dream! We all want to achieve. As youngsters we believe we can do anything. Even move mountains. When I was a teenager, many moons ago, I was no different to anybody else.

Well, one of my dreams came true one day . . . or did it? It was a sunny summer's day in the English countryside when I sat astride my mount, Fleur de Lys.

We flew from the stalls, railed Tattenham Corner like pros, powered up the finishing straight and timed the final-furlong sprint to pip our nearest rival right on the winning post and win by a short head, as the crowds cheered wildly with excitement.

It was a dream finish, all right! But I have to confess, not quite the dream-come-true.

My mount was not a racehorse, but my new, flash racing bike, bearing the French emblem on the front and a "red devil" pennant on the handlebar. And the winning post? A lampost at the bottom of our street. But what of the cheering crowds? Actually, just a single cheer . . . my own!

Sporting Heroes

How many such moments have we all enjoyed in our imagination? Boys becoming sporting heroes, girls strutting the catwalk?

Often we find that later on our desires translate into admiration for winners in the real world. And so it was with me, as I discovered my fascination at the tactical achievements of individuals across a range of sports, timing their finish to perfection or, in recognising their vulnerability, working out a strategy to outwit more able opponents.

One of my heroes still remains the renowned English jockey Lester Piggott, whose ability to judge furlong-by-furlong pace to perfection won him countless races, just as a long line of world-class athletes have also demonstrated on the track, down the years.

To train a racehorse to win a prestigious prize, or coach a sprinter or distance runner to Olympic glory calls for superlative skill. Of course, your protege must have outstanding ability,

Live Out Our Dreams

And I sure don't want to think just of the "superstars". There's many a tale to be told of courage and fortitude from all walks of life. It's just that we can always still live out our dreams in the sports arena, watching our own favorite champions and cheering them on.

When we can't live out our dreams personally, we can at least get involved in supporting those we can identify with and watch them do it for us. Might just make the world go around with a little more excitement and satisfaction!