Saturday, June 14, 2008
14th June Sussex Schools Championships.
Today has been a long day in the fresh air with friends, together working for the young athletes whose prowess and poise we can but admire.
Today was The Sussex Schools Championships, a busy programme of athletics with hundreds of people present.
I enjoyed the day and enjoyed some thoughts of this event over the many years we have been involved in the sport.
Bill and I have attended most of these championships, since our first involvement with the sport in 1980.
The first one I missed was the day Jamie won his gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles. I missed it to allow him to have the chance of winning the title. He had a Saturday job in a small second hand bookshop and the owner was loathe to allow him a day off - and so I offered to work in his place.
Others I have missed for health reasons - but I got there if at all possible.
The 1980s were a golden age in track and field at all levels and many of the championships records still standing came from that time and some from even earlier. One record that surely will not be beaten was set by Steve Ovett (1970)in the 800 metres - world record holder later and Olympic Gold Medallist.
I wonder where all these people from that long ago time are now and what they are doing with their lives.
But records are set to be broken; Steve Ovett no longer holds the world record and today a championship record set 29 years ago was beaten by a girl (aged 13 to 15) in the 1500 metres. Johanna will be off to the All England Schools Championships for sure.
But not everybody can be a winner and all levels of performance were appreciated - better to have shown spirit and competed for your area, to have done one's best, than to have stayed home.
The sun was mostly shining - in fact I may have slightly caught the sun on my face.
The company was good.
The meeting ran to time - exactly, which is a real tribute to all the officials involved.
So, a good day's activity in yet another of our chosen pursuits in life.
Today was The Sussex Schools Championships, a busy programme of athletics with hundreds of people present.
I enjoyed the day and enjoyed some thoughts of this event over the many years we have been involved in the sport.
Bill and I have attended most of these championships, since our first involvement with the sport in 1980.
The first one I missed was the day Jamie won his gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles. I missed it to allow him to have the chance of winning the title. He had a Saturday job in a small second hand bookshop and the owner was loathe to allow him a day off - and so I offered to work in his place.
Others I have missed for health reasons - but I got there if at all possible.
The 1980s were a golden age in track and field at all levels and many of the championships records still standing came from that time and some from even earlier. One record that surely will not be beaten was set by Steve Ovett (1970)in the 800 metres - world record holder later and Olympic Gold Medallist.
I wonder where all these people from that long ago time are now and what they are doing with their lives.
But records are set to be broken; Steve Ovett no longer holds the world record and today a championship record set 29 years ago was beaten by a girl (aged 13 to 15) in the 1500 metres. Johanna will be off to the All England Schools Championships for sure.
But not everybody can be a winner and all levels of performance were appreciated - better to have shown spirit and competed for your area, to have done one's best, than to have stayed home.
The sun was mostly shining - in fact I may have slightly caught the sun on my face.
The company was good.
The meeting ran to time - exactly, which is a real tribute to all the officials involved.
So, a good day's activity in yet another of our chosen pursuits in life.
