DEVOTED fans of football, boxing and hurling will be dismayed to hear that none of their preferred codes have been crowned the ‘toughest sport of earth’.

The heated debate, which for centuries has divided families and derailed friendships, has finally been put to bed, by an unlikely adjudicator, local children’s author, John Magee.

Following his recent discovery of a secret sport, hitherto impenetrably guarded by our local population of pensioners, John believes he has uncovered what has to be the most grueling, testing, downright deadly pastime on the planet.

Is your stomach being sickened by the sweetness of my tantalising breadcrumb trail? Okay, let’s hand this over to the man himself.

“Yes, there can be no arguing about it, the answer to the age-old question, ‘What is the hardest sport of them all?’ has finally been answered, and it has to be Granny Ball,” began John.

You have probably never heard of this sport, but, one thing is for sure, your granny has.

In fact, according to John’s new book, the name of which has been derived directly from the sport itself, everybody’s granny goes to great lengths to practice their secret passion every single week.

“In the early hours of the morning, swimming pools are drained of water in order that ferocious contests can take place,” explained John.

“Dressed like medieval knights and armed with baseball bats, they do battle in the hope of ultimately becoming Granny Ball Champion!”

In ‘Granny Ball’ (the book, not the fictive sport), John has once again turned his marvellous imagination over to local children, creating another completely original world, the climate of which is coloured by his signature blend of humour and kind-hearted wisdom.

In his new novel, John has created an environment suitable for children aged 8 to 12, where with breathless excitement they will ride a roller-coaster of emotions.

When asked what prompted his latest creation, John spoke with a pithy passion.

“Books should be an escape to incredible places in which the reader doesn’t know what will happen next. Stories that stretch young imaginations and show them places in vibrant colour rather than dull grey.”

John’s latest work undoubtedly provides volumes of entertainment for its young readers, but it also touches upon a subject that has come under increasing focus in recent years; how we as a society view our senior citizens.

“Retirement is a notion that has never actually existed in the real world.

“For most, it is not a time of uninterrupted rest, but a time when paid work is replaced by part time work, volunteering and looking after family.

“Society would fall apart if it were not for their role and the daily activities undertaken by older people, which, all too often, is taken for granted.

“I wanted to write a book that makes young readers think twice about who Granny really is.

“I should also say that the Granddads will not be overlooked, but you’ll have to wait for my next book, “Wheels on Fire,” due for release during the summer!”

The 268 page paperback book is available for £9.99 via Amazon and all major on-line book retailers.

John can also be contacted regarding school visits.