The Brag Page

I started playing Broomball in 1983, after being talked into coming out to have a game. An ex field hockey player, I wasn't much impressed initially, but persevered, and by the third week, was starting to fall in love with the game and I've played it at every opportunity since, and missed probably a hand full of matches though injury in 23 years, (and I would've if I could've).

In 1984 we took a team across to Canberra, Australia for the 2nd Interstate match between South Australia and the ACT. These were then known as the Nationals, as we were the only two clubs in Australia. I've been lucky enough to play in every Nationals competition since then and have twice been selected for the all star team.

In 1988, in Australia's bicentennial year, we organised an Australian team to tour Canada, playing some 21 matches in 27 days, I was fit then! The highlight was without a doubt, being given (along with the rest of the team) a standing ovation by all teams at the 1988 Ontario Provincials (Simcoe), now that was special. In 1991, we organised another two teams, this time to attend the 1st World Broomball Tournament in Victoria British Columbia. We even won our first match at the tournament against a US team (Fat City Blues), which was a buzz.

1993, saw me trying to get a team together to play in Japan, whilst that wasn't successful, at least I got to travel and play in Japan. I attended the 1994 All Japan Broomball Cup, in Saroma, Hokkaido, Japan (the North island). It was terrific, with a Canadian All Star team attending as well and received the Team MVP award when (I played with the Tokyo team).

In 1995, we organised another two teams, to attend the Broomball Mania VIII Tournament in Oregon, USA. We finished a credible fourth in the tournament, won our fair share of matches, and made lot's of new friends, and had a great time.

1996 saw me and a couple of other Aussies attend the 1996 Challenge Cup II (Worlds 2) in Victoria British Columbia. We played with the BC Host Team with whom we made it through to the second round, we finished a credible 8th overall. We played a few matches in the USA and Canada and won a tournament in Eugene, playing with the USA Nomad's in an all night Iron Man tournament. I played on both a men's and mixed team. With the Men's team taking the trophy.

Whilst our plans for attending the 1st World Winter Master Athlete Games in Ottawa in January 1998 were scuttled, when the broomball componant was cancelled, I still went overseas and spent a month in the USA holidaying and doing some skiing down in Jackson Hole, Wyoming a great resort.

In February of 1998 I met with members of the CBF and the USBA in a combined effort to get the International Broomball Association up and running again. The results of the meeting were very promising, with some significant progress being made in a number of areas, both then and since.

In November 1998 I went to the 3rd World Broomball Championships (Challenge Cup III) in Italy. We formed a Coed team with players from Italy, USA, Canada and us of course from Oz. We had an absolute ball and even won a match. With a couple of extra males (there were only the three of us, and we ran out of legs) we might have finished 4th or even third. The girls on the team played spectacularly well.

Again in November 2000 I headed overseas to Victoria B.C to attend the 4th World Broomball Championships (Challenge Cup IV) with an all Australian Mixed team. As the Playing Coach it was pretty special and we managed to finish third in the tournament with a tough playoff against the Japanese. We were oh so close to making it through to the finals round... But getting a Bronze at the worlds was the highlight without doubt.

Most recently in 2006, I again ventured overseas with three Australian teams and captained/coached the Men's 2 squad in the Challenge cup rounds. We won just the one match but I was not disappointed with the teams performance as the competition is so much stronger than even our best here is Australia. I also received a special award for services to broomball as one of the founding members of the IFBA.
All up, I've played over 120 international matches for Australia, and am a self confessed Broomball fanatic. I currently work for Australia's premier Communications company Telstraand have been employed by them since 1976. I'm employed as a Information Technologist looking after some of the Next G network.

Apart from broomball I'm into computers (hence the web page, I also manage the BASA site). With a particular bent towards making computers work for their keep and email applications. I currently play Hockey for the Enfield Hockey Club (Field Hockey to you North Americans). Which hasn't had the greatest of seasons recently, but we're hoping for better things this coming season. I also love water skiing and snow skiing and do both whenever possible, although the snow is about 1200km away. But the River Murray and a friends ski boat oblige with the occasional weekends water skiing. In music, I like most good Rock and Roll, easy listening and just about anything else except RAP, and Punk, but I'm not a huge music buff. I'm into Formula 1 Grand Prix with Williams being my favorite Car/Manufacturer, and Keke Rosberg/Nigel Mansel my all time favorite drivers. I love to travel and have been to Europe, Asia, North America and Japan with plans still to do plenty more travelling.

The highlight of my broomball carreer was winning a match at the Worlds 1 in Victoria in 1998 against the Fat City Blues. We won the match in overtime, with a man in the penalty box. We managed to hold them off for the duration and ran out the match. But there have been many many highlights such as MVP player for the Japanese team I played for in 1994. Playing against Embrun Plumbing (and getting thrashed, but boy did we learn a lot) in 1991. MVP player in a final at the Worlds 3 in 1998. Meeting players from so many countries that play broomball. Defeating Canberra to win the Nationals titles in 1991 in a penalty shootout. Winning the Bronze at the Worlds in 2000. Captaining the squad in 2006 at the Worlds.

The photo, was taken, July 1995, in Tuktoyaktuk (say that with a mouthful), Northwest Territories, Canada. Showing me being inducted into the Arctic Ocean Toe Dipping Club in the frigid Arctic waters of the Beaufort Sea. Man it was cold!

The Profile:

Nickname:	Shaps	DOB:	28 April 1958	Marital Status:	Married to Bryony	Children:	William, Bethany, Alexandra, Jacqueline
Team:	Redbacks	Games Played:	2000+	Why do I play:	LOVE IT
How do you relax:	Read, play Sport & on the computer	Representitive achievements:	Canada 1988, Canada 1991, Japan 1994, USA 1995, Canada 1996, Italy 1998, Canada 2000, USA 2006, Australian Championships 1984 - 2006	Best Memory on Broomball:	Winning in overtime at the Worlds in 1991.
Worst memory in Broomball:	Getting bronchial pnumonia at the worlds in 1991.	Achievement other than Representative:	Secretary of IFBA	Favourite Food:	Steak & onion
Favourite Music:	Alan Parsons Project	Childhood Hero:	Dad	Sporting Hero:	Keke Rosberg, Nigel Mansell, Bjorn Borg
Most Admired Opponant:	Warren Einarson, Rob McElhinney, Rob Winkenweder, Pierre La Forest, Denis St Onge	Hardest Opponant:	Henri (Quebec), Bill Vis	Dissapointments in Broomball:	It's not yet an Olympic Sport and won't be in my competitive playing carreer
Funniest moment	The opposition goalie called out, leave it. and the (new) goal tender at the other end (on MY team) did. GOOOOAAAAAL (Thanks Lionel !!)	How long will I play for:	Carry me off in a wooden box	Ambition:	To be the MVP at the Worlds 7 :)

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This e-doc was prepared by Kim Shapley of the Broomball Association of South Australia. An E-Mail list ( BROOMS-L ) about Broomball is also available for subscription. Please send any comments and/or suggestions to: broomball@kimshapley.com

This page (v1.3), - URL of this page: www.ozemail.com.au/~kshapley/shapley.html