Stephen Sharrock having drinks with friends while skiing in France.
Photo courtesy of Bronco Lane
Stephen Sharrock, an active founder of the Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club and former Aspen ski instructor, passed away in Wimbledon, England, on Sunday, July 7. He was 92 years old.
Team members say his legacy lives on through the club he passionately built and the countless lives he touched.
The Gentles are planning a memorial to coincide with Lagerfest in September – a fitting tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on their lives and the sport he loved.
Buddy Ortega, a longtime member of The Gents and former Lagerfest announcer, knew Sherlock well and told me about plans to hold a special event during Lagerfest in honor of Sherlock’s daughter.
“Sherlock’s daughter will be coming over during Lagerfest and we will be hosting an event at the Eagles for all the players who played with Sherlock and any others who wish to get involved,” he said.
The event will be open to the public, he said, although an exact date has yet to be finalized.
“I think everyone is leaning towards Friday (September 20) during the Lagerfest tournament,” he added.
Ortega reminisced about Sherlock’s time at the club.
“A lot of people don’t realise that Rugbyfest is older than The Gents. Sherlock, who is British, discovered that Rugbyfest was happening in Aspen,” he said with a laugh, adding, “He got a group of guys together and they put on basketball jerseys and played. It was quite a spectacle.”
Former Gents player Bronco Lane, who knew Sherlock well, recalled fond memories of their time together.
“He was an intellectual. He remembered all the scores and players from past games,” Lane said. “He taught English and ran a book club. These are all great memories.”
Lane also remembered Sherlock’s playful side, describing him as a mischievous boy who enjoyed wine and a good time.
“I was with Sherlock in France and I was sharing some pictures with some friends,” he said. “We were drinking and having a good time.”
Sherlock’s colorful stories, cheeky limericks, and hilarious party games were legendary and reflected his lively personality. He was famously fond of red wine and Scotch whisky, and his daughter Nicky sarcastically suggested in her father’s obituary that doctor’s orders for him to stop drinking may have ultimately led to his death.
“He was 92 years old,” Ortega says. “Sherlock was absolutely phenomenal.”
In 1968, Sharrock came to Aspen to ski, and he gathered 15 guys to form The Gents, working with the city to turn Wagner Park into the club’s rugby field. According to the Gents’ website, many of the players were a ragtag group drawn from local bars.
Since then, The Gents have grown in profile and were incorporated as Aspen’s official rugby team by 1977. Today, they remain competitive not only in Colorado but on a national level as well.
The Gentlemen of Aspen take on Steamboat in the 50th Annual Cowpie Tournament. Photo courtesy of Crit Sports Photography
Former head coach Cam McIntyre, who still runs the Gents operation, emphasised the importance of the rivalry with Bale.
“Saturday is the biggest game for us,” he said. Aspen hosts Vail Rugby Club at Wagner Park on Saturday. “We’ll judge our season on how we perform against Vail.”
He noted that Vail is the club’s main rival and their summer season, known as Rocky Mountain Rugby League, culminates in the Ski Town Rugby Tournament where they compete against rugby clubs from around the West. After the summer season, The Gents move into Division II, a national circuit with the opportunity to compete in the national finals.
McIntyre explained that the Division II season is split into fall and spring.
“The club’s aim is to compete in the national championships and take steps to reach even higher levels,” he said.
Manager Ben Mitchell echoed the club’s ambitions and highlighted their strong start to the season.
“We’re just getting started on the season and we’ve played in Willits, Grand Junction and Steamboat so far,” he said. “We’re playing some good rugby.”
Although these matches are tournament games with no official records, the team boasts 35 to 40 dedicated members each weekend, Mitchell added. As the team begins competing on a national level in the fall, Mitchell expects strong support from the community.
In Sherlock’s memory, the Gents will hold a moment of silence before Saturday’s game against Bale, and Mitchell said club members who knew Sherlock personally will be planning to pay tribute to him at Lagerfest, which Ortega is helping to organise.
“Sherlock is the most influential person in the club’s history,” Mitchell said, recalling the impassioned speech Sherlock gave to the team at Lagerfest in 2017.
Westley Crouch covers city of Aspen and general coverage for The Aspen Times. He can be reached at 970-384-9124 or wcrouch@aspentimes.com.
