New sport has the right ring to it

By Ben Hope
HAMPTON Park’s Ted Czubryj is on a mission to found the international sport of Ringo in Australia.
Invented by Polish fencing champion Wlodzimierz Strzyzewski and first demonstrated at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Ringo is similar to volleyball with a rubber ring thrown over a net between opposing players.
“The sport was invented in Poland and played on every continent in the world, but is unknown in Australia,” Czubryj said.
“I know if people see a demonstration they would want to give it a go, once they try it they will see what a fantastic game it is.”
Czubryj’s interest began in 1999 after he saw Strzyzewski demonstrate the game at a Dandenong sports carnival. Almost immediately impressed, a friendship was quickly formed that saw Czubryj join Strzyzewski to demonstrate it at a number of venues around Melbourne.
“I knew of Ringo and had been hearing about the game for years but had never played myself,” Czubryj said.
“When Strzyzewski returned to Poland I promised him I would promote the game in Australia.”
Czubryj soon began demonstrating the game at schools around the city of Casey, where he received promising feedback from those participating.
“The kids loved it as they could easily learn the rules and being playing straight away,” he said.
Czubryj also remembers being shocked by how easily children picked up the sport.
“One example came when I was demonstrating the sport and a small girl of three or four was helping me. I tried to throw the ring to her to catch, but of course she couldn’t.
“I started slowly at first and after a couple of minutes she caught it and started to play. Her co-ordination improved so fast, I was amazed by how kids can learn so quickly from experience.”
During play, the ring must be thrown with the same hand it is caught with.
“Ringo is symmetrical; you have to play with both right and left hands. Both hands work in balance, with symmetry,” he said. “It is a great supporting sport as you use both hands and that can improve overall co-ordination.”
The 70-year-old moved to Melbourne from Poland in 1983 and has lived in Hampton Park since 1987.
After playing soccer and basketball through his youth, at the age of 20 Czubryj turned to Judo, making it into the national squad. These days he keeps active playing tennis at the Hampton Park Tennis Club.
“Sport is always important, but especially as you get older. It is important to keep fit,” he said.
With such an extensive sporting history it is difficult to ignore Czubryj’s belief in Ringo’s ability to improve co-ordination and concentration in people of all ages.
“It is the best sport for co-ordination and concentration. Everyone can play it, kids, adults and seniors. It’s a fantastic sport that makes it easier to get more physical activity,” he said.
“It is very similar to beach volleyball and can be very helpful activity as preparation of other sports.
After suffering a hip injury several years ago, Czubryj stopped promoting Ringo until recently.
He admits that while the ultimate goal will be to establish an Australian Ringo Federation, with such an unknown sport it is a difficult movement to get off the ground.
“The best way to build the popularity of the sport is to focus it around a club or organisation,” he said.
“The problem is, with no financial assistance you can only get so far. To build up the sport we need both volunteers and eventually some money.”
Czubryj has already spoken with the president of the Polish Ringo Club who is supportive of his attempts to found a club in Australia.
He is now looking for volunteers to get involved and try the sport and work to increase its profile in Australia and will demonstrate the game at the Hampton Park Tennis Club on Tuesday at 4pm.
For more information, contact Ted Czubryj on 9702 7174.