Milford Haven Sport
Still serving at 87
12:00pm Friday 27th January 2012
IT’S often said in sport – ‘play as long as you can because you’re a long time retired’.
But one member of Haverfordwest Tennis Club is taking that theory to new levels.
Last Friday, John Wright celebrated his 87th birthday, yet continues to play tennis three times a week and runs his own group on a Friday.
Yet he insists there is no secret to his longevity.
“I’m hoping to go on for a good while yet,” he said.
“I do pick up injuries from time to time but I just tend to ignore them,” joked John.
In a standard week, John will play on a Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the club, then on a Friday with a group of friends.
“I don’t have a set age where I plan to retire or anything like that.
“I often think that if I wasn’t out playing tennis then what else would I be doing.”
Furthermore, John is still more than capable of playing competitive tennis – his last trophy came in 2009 when he won the Jubilee Cup, an inter-club mixed doubles competition, with Sarah Keogh.
Fellow member Ruth Moss said John was a great asset to the club.
“He is well respected and still plays a good game,” she said.
“He keeps himself fit and organises a Friday group for 12 of us to play in.”
John however, admits he doesn’t know where he stands in the list of the country’s oldest players.
“I don’t know of anybody around here playing at my age, but I know there is a chap at Swansea still going at 90.
“But I’ll just keep playing as long as I can.”
Do you know any Pembrokeshire players who can match or beat John in the age stakes? Contact gordon.thomas @westerntelegraph.co.uk or reporter Fraser Watson at fraser.watson@western telegraph.co.uk