National titles target for two sides of Rolph family and joined Little Athletics as who gets into a boxing ring is youngsters, and even today play in tough.” the same touch footy team. Hassell put his league and then Steve played halfback and greyhound training experiences fullback at Brothers, made a into practice training his son for Brisbane school side and played his fight career. “It’s like Colts for Valleys until knee greyhounds, training is a lot of problems forced him out of the commonsense, although we do a game. He is even now few little things differently to contemplating a return to the game some and those things seem to in a league out at Samford. work,” said Hassell. But, apart from Buzzarana, Peter is the champ of the Rolph camp. He was 16 when he headed off to the PCYC at Everton Hills and Peter, Hassell and Steve Rolph with linked up with former Australian Albion Park distance star champion Paul Moore. Buzzarana. “I was playing halfback for West Arana Leagues Club and to keep fit I decided to go to the gym and By take up boxing,” said Peter. DAVID BRASCH Nine months later he had his first EVERY time a Hassell Rolph fight, a state schoolboys bout trained greyhound skips around which he lost. Albion Park on the way to another Dad wasn’t impressed. “I thought victory, there’s a back-up crew he could have one fight to get it there to lead the cheering. out of his system, and then when It’s the same in the fight ring. he lost that first fight, I thought it While the Rolph camp is having a might be best to let him have great trot with middle distance star Buzzarana shows no fear of state another one so he could win one,” middleweight champ Peter Rolph. Buzzarana, it is also on fire in the said Hassell. fight ring with Hassell’s son Peter But at Peter’s second fight he won recently retaining his Queensland the state junior Golden Gloves Peter is keen to take on Sakio middleweight title. title. Paul Moore had that much Beka, the present Australian But then sporting endeavour in the confidence in a youthful Peter middleweight champ for his title, Rolph household has been taken Rolph. but is also considering dropping in for granted for many years. “I couldn’t stop there,” said Peter. weight to junior middleweight to Hassell and his two sons, Steve Moore left to head to Sydney soon take on Daniel Dawson from Perth and Peter, have been sports mad, after and asked Peter to go south who is Australian champ in that and successful at it. with him to continue a fight division. Hassell was a Norths rugby league career. Peter wasn’t keen. And he has even sparred with junior who rose to A Grade So dad became his trainer. golden boy Anthony Mundine and playing halfback from 1964-73. “I had only ever lost one fight in is a devout fan. “If I had to pick He made one appearance for the my boxing career,” said Hassell. someone in a Mundine v Danny Brisbane side during that time, and “But I only ever had one fight, Green bout, I would go with still plays touch footy. when I was 17. It was at the mundane. He’ll be too quick,” said Peter and Steve both played soccer Redcliffe Showgrounds. Anyone Peter. “The Anthony Mundine I know is would often slip Moo Man broken in at 16 months but it completely different to the biscuits between meals. wasn’t until we put him around on Anthony Mundine the public sees.” “We would always stress out sand tracks that he showed his real Peter Rolph, 28, also has a about his weight,” said Hassell. potential,” said Steve. greyhound handler’s license. “I During Steve’s stint in the Buzzarana, to time of writing, has even did a bit of work experience Brisbane school side he met up won 16 races from 42 starts and when I was at school at Tony and with Chris Essex, son of trainer from 15 runs over 600m or more Maree Zammit’s kennels,” he said. Robert Essex. It was Steve who has won nine times. “It was a great week.” convinced his dad he was due to The boys have since bought an It was Steve, 29, who actually get back into greyhounds. Awesome Assassin-Lovely Portrait talked his father into a return to Big Fella Fred won first up at bitch, from the next litter to Group greyhounds. Capalaba and the boys once 1 winner Dance Portrait (by Hassell had been given a again thought it was too easy. Bobniak). greyhound back in 1984 by a Hassell approached Merv Miller “Yes, you can say we are very workmate Terry Hayes at to buy ready-made racing dogs happy with the way things have Queensland Transport. soon after. Duke Of Hampton gone,” said Hassell. “Terry had a dog called mount won 13 races, including six of his Buzzarana is being set for the Malleray who had won five and first nine, Joe Dundee was a city National Distance series, and Peter then broke down. He bred a litter winner, and Home Invader was a is chasing a national title himself. out of Spirit Of Chance to his dog winner before dropping a back “There’s no doubt I can win,” said and gave us a pup,” said Hassell. muscle. Peter. Or was that Steve, or was it “We got him home at six weeks And then along came Fiery Hassell, who said that? and knew nothing about training Tramp (Acacia Ablaze-Rambling dogs. Jack McDonald, the lure Rose) who was an outstanding driver at the Gabba then and now galloper winning 26 races, 12 at Malawi Malawi’s Prince at Albion Park, was a great help Albion Park and runner-up to Duchess Marina giving us all the basics. Roanokee in an Ipswich Cup Token Prince Amerigo Man “We talked to everyone at that time final. True Temptation and from this formed our own “We got him from Helen and Bay Supreme training program. Keith Mills and he won in 31.02 BUZZARANA West Cape That dog, which we called Moo around Albion Park and won Toss The Teddy Man, had the run of the house to from 366m to 630m,” said Flag The Fawn the stage where he would even Hassell. Pallara Princess Hopeful Supreme push my wife Pat off the lounge.” Like Me Mum was another smart Chasseresse Moo Man won seven races. galloper who won 11 for the Dance Frenzy The Rolphs couldn’t understand kennel and is still racing in the dog’s weight variations during Bundaberg. that time. Hassell’s daughter Kellie Buzzarana is the best since Fiery solved that when she owned up just Tramp and a potential star stayer. a couple of years ago that she “We got him from Merv Miller,.