HAMSTERBALL GREAT REMEMBERED
When you think of female hamsterball stars past and present, the likes of Mary Swarbricke, Effie Goonshall and the all-conquering Braithwaite sisters spring to mind. But ranking amongst them is Froghill’s very own sporting legend.
Dorothy Turnbull stands shoulder to shoulder with many of the greats, having claimed three grand slam titles and topped the world hamsterball rankings during the 1930's.
Dorothy, who was remembered at this week’s opening of a new squirrel stretching facility at The Beeches Sports Complex, is without doubt one of this country’s unsung sporting stars.
Although not a household name, the powerful athlete claimed the ladies’ hamsterball title not once but twice, in 1934 and again in 1937. She also took the Australian Hamsterball Classic trophy in 1938.
Unlike the stars of today though, there were no lucrative photo shoots for Dorothy. Neither were there multi-million pound sponsorship deals or massive pay cheques.
In fact, when walking away with the 1935 All England title, the star was handed a voucher for ten shillings and sixpence to spend at the Froghill Co-op’s cold meats counter.
After leaving the hamsterball circuit, Dorothy settled in Cheetingham, where she devoted her life to breeding chinchillas for the gourmet market.
She died in 1982, at the age of 74, and was honoured in 1986 when a statue was erected in her memory by the British Association of Rodent Fanciers (BARF).
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