In 2003, Nathan Hindmarsh sunk to the bottom second of his sporting profession.
No, it wasn’t the grand closing defeats in 2001 and 2009 to the Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm respectively.
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Instead, it came about in the course of the annual Robertson spud race, the place contestants should carry a 50kg sack of spuds over their shoulder and race round a 400m monitor.
Hindmarsh, who was in his prime for the Parramatta Eels, led the chasing pack by “50m”.
But his desires of ending with the winner’s ribbon got here crashing down when he fell with 100m to go and watched his rivals breeze previous him as he in the end completed final.
WATCH HINDY’S SPUD RACE IN THE PLAYER ABOVE!
Two a long time later, Hindmarsh was able to vanquish the ghosts of his previous and provides it one other crack.
With the help of legendary spud race coach Bryan Fletcher, Hindmarsh underwent what ‘Fletch’ described as a “vigorous, uncompromising training regime.”
Sprints on Bondi Beach, kettlebell swings and operating with a sack of potatoes on the Bondi promenade was all a part of Fletcher’s plan to get Hindmarsh match and firing for the most important take a look at of his athletic profession.
The day lastly arrived alongside an enormous crowd in Robertson for the occasion and Fletcher was feeling extraordinarily assured.
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Having put Hindmarsh onto a food regimen of the three C’s — “carrots, quinoa and kale” — Fletcher boldly declared he would “put everyone’s houses” on the Eels legend ending high of the rostrum.
“Not mine, but I’d put a lot of people’s houses on that,” Fletcher mentioned.
But Fletcher then met up with a random determine to placed on a cheeky guess in favour of one among Hindmarsh’s rivals, solely generally known as “No. 2.”
“I’m not going to back that fat f***,” Fletcher informed the thriller man.
Hindmarsh might have been launched earlier than the race as “the fat bastard” however he seemed as gentle as a feather as soon as the race started.
However, the psychological toll of 2003 gripped Hindmarsh once more as he fell over with round 100m to go, sparking involved seems to be from all.
Coach Fletcher sprinted over to select the fallen nice up off the grime and helped Hindmarsh get the spud sack again on his shoulders in a comeback of Rocky-esque proportions.
Hindmarsh ultimately crossed the road and was sadly nowhere close to the rostrum.
After ending the race, he then hurled up his breakfast as Fletcher did his finest to dodge the puke.
Although Hindmarsh didn’t convey residence the bacon himself, it seems Fletcher’s guess paid off as No. 2 blitzed the competitors to take the honours.
It didn’t take lengthy for Hindmarsh to seek out out in regards to the betting betrayal, however his temper was rapidly brightened.
“Did you back against me,” Hindmarsh requested.
“Is that what you’re saying? You backed against me?”
Fletcher replied: “I did.”
But Hindmarsh’s temper rapidly modified as soon as Fletcher revealed they supposedly gained “40 grand” as the 2 hugged it out after a profitable day on the Robertson spud race.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au