Do U.K.Athletics care about the grass roots?????

So Blog,

It is nearly the Anniversary of the Olympic Games in London

Do you remember the Olympic Heritage?

Olympics plus One.

Saturday 13^th July 2013

League Competition for six teams. Grass roots stuff for youngsters.

Three teams NO qualified officials.

One with one.

To volunteer ‘Have you ever spiked before’

‘Yes’

So that’s O.K. then???????

TOTALLY incompetent.

I presume I should have added the words ‘your lawn’ before the words ‘spiked’ and ‘before’?

…………and will the teams with insufficient officials be in any way penalised?????

Do you remember the Olympic Heritage?

I presume I should have added the words ‘U.K. Athletics’ between the word ‘Heritage’ and the question mark.

Bugger …. I forgot we are talking grass roots athletics here.

Colin.

All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody sun at noon .....

Photograph Quiz:

Photo no. 160: What is special about this coach? What is the connection between the owner, Peeping Ton and Godiva Harriers?



Dear Blog,

             I see that one of the athletic magazines is running (!) one of these stupid competitions which attempts to involve readers and hopefully sell a few more copies. Complete waste of space but with a quiet period in reporting, something must pad out the excellent value provided by the six extra pages … that is magazine speak for  ‘the price will be going up in a couple of weeks’. This particular space filler invites readers to nominate the ‘greatest athlete ever’. Now I would nominate myself but to win I would have to spend very many quids in postage stamps which would probably be enough to save the postal service from the forthcoming privatisation proposed by that nice Mr Cameroon to get some quids from the plebeians to save our country from going totally broke. Anyway, back to this ‘greatest athlete’ business. All the statistics and achievements of this, that and the other athlete will be trotted out ad nausea no doubt.  And in the end, it will be just one great big yawn to fill magazine space in a quiet period of reporting, something to pad out the excellent value provided by the four extra pages … that is magazine speak for  ‘the price will be going up in three weeks’.

Yesterday morning I heard a voice greeting me as I struggled in the burning sun to control the chest high weeds in the vegetable garden. I had been thinking about the ‘greatest athlete ever’ as I machete my way from the orchard towards the Mansion with a capital ‘M’ for my coffee break when the greeting broke my train of thought. Subliminal or what???? The voice of greeting came from a friend from the running club whom I had not seen for generations. He happened to be cycling past and thought he would pop in. Nice to see him. Auto suggestion or what???? My wife allowed me to stop my contest with the weeds for a chat and a drink. Coincidence or what????? He was several years younger than me but we had much in common to mull over in the hot sun, sat out on my extensive Romanesque patio, stretching as it does all the way to the end. Unconscious linkage of ideas or what????

The ‘greatest athlete ever’ and a voice from the past greeting me in the boiling sun; perhaps the sun was cooking my brain or what?????

When I went to the Olympic Games, I shared a room with Dave Bedford. Bedford was only a young lad of about 22 but a precocious athlete who the following year was to break the 10,000m world record in unfavourable weather. The press were hounding him mercilessly. The team management were hanging him out to dry offering no protection from the constant torment of the media. I could not see how he could survive such harassment and perform on the Munich track. And amid all this tumult and turmoil with which he had to cope, he received a letter. A letter from the mother of a young lad who she said tried very hard with his athletic training but gained little or no reward and suffered frustration after frustration from having little success whilst his team mates were achieving. She was worried about him. She asked Dave if he would be kind enough to scribble a few words of encouragement to the young lad. Dave noted that the letter came from Coventry and mentioned it to me. Surrounded by controversy and getting no peace and quiet from the press, radio and television, it would have been so easy for someone in Bedford’s position to just bin such a letter. Flotsam. Jetsam. Under pressure and expectation of a nation waiting the delivery of a possible gold medal and what did he do? Screw the letter up? He sat down then and there and wrote a letter back addressing it to the young lad concerned.

Now if the magazine wants a truly great athlete ……….

After our drink and chat my young friend got on his bike to complete his ride with the promise that he would pop in to see me again soon.

                                                              Colin

Any one for Tennis??

Bonk.

Dear Blog, bonk.

    3:30pm Sunday afternoon and it’s hot outside and I’m hot. Bonk. I am also tired from my trudge this morning in the broiling sun. Bonk, bonk.

Knock, knock.

Someone at the door, bonk.

My wife is in Corby at the Midland League Meeting. So is my daughter. Bonk.

Dilemma, horns of. I am hot, I am tired. Do I answer it?

Knock, knock.

Man at door. Sweating.

‘Are you interested in buying …’

‘No’. Cannot shut door, he has his AK49 wedged between the door and the frame in the small gap, bonk.

‘Can I interest you in buying a picture …’

‘A picture?’

‘Yes, a photographic picture of your house.’

‘Mansion, with a capital ‘M’.’

‘Sorry. Are you interested in buying a photographic picture of your Mansion with a capital ‘M’.

Is he taking the piss????

Now I may have trudged hard this morning, but I ask myself, why would I want a photographic picture of my own Mansion? Bonk. I live here. Bonk. If I forget what it looks like I can just pop on my coat, pop outside and remind myself, bonk. No big deal there then. Bonk, bonk. If I get really forgetful I could take a photo of the property myself, then I could stay insiode and admire the view. Bonk, bonk.

‘It is a photographic picture of your house, errr sorry, your mansion with a capital ‘M’ taken from the air.’ He is taking the piss.

‘How much?’

‘£55:00’

‘No I said how much for the photographic picture, not the cost of your camera. I have a camera.’

‘£55:00 including the frame’

‘No thanks’

‘I’ll do it for £50:00 and include the Vat.’

‘No thanks’

Just imagine … dial 999. ‘Police please.’ ‘Yes sir what is the problem?’ ‘Sorry to bother you officer, but someone has juct nick my Masion.’ ‘Your mansion, Sir’ ‘Yes my Mansion with a capital ‘M’.’ ‘Oh dear sir, and when did this feloney occur?’ ‘Last night officer, when I was asleep. When I woke up this morning there it was. Gone.’ ‘And could you give me a description of this ‘er Mansion with a capital ‘M’ sir.’ ‘No officer I am sorry but I have forgotten whatr it looks like. But lukily I bought a photographic picture of my Masion with a capital ‘M’ just last wee. It was a shrewed investment for £50;00 including the fame and Vat.’ ‘That is very lucky indeed sir. I shall pop round and see you straight away to collect that photographic picture of your Masion. Luckily that is not much of a second hand market for this sort of thing. People just haven’t got the room to put them these days. We should soon have ity back to you safe and sound, sir. And where shall I find yu’ou to pick up this ‘er picture seeing yuou have got a Mansion with a capital ‘M’ like. In the orchard just up the lane from the village. Yes got that sir, be with you in a jiffy.’

‘No thanks, I don’t want a picture of my Mansion, with a capital ‘M’ whether it is a photographic image, a water colour or done in oils.’

 ‘I’ll do it for £35:00 sir, and look, there you are in the drive way. That little dot in front of the car. Special that. When I fly around taking these photos, I don’t often get the occupant in the shot. Usually I charge extra for that. But to you sir, a flat £35:00. And that is my last offer. It is such a nice frame.’

‘No thanks.’

The sweaty man was almost in tears. Bonk.

'Please buy one. No one will talk to me this afternoon. No one will buy any of my photographic pictures.'

'No thanks.'

When my wife comes home. Bonk.

‘Had a nice peaceful day dear, Bonk.?’ Had any visitors, bonk, bonk?’

‘Yes I had a bloke bonk, trying to sell me an aerial photograph of our little mansion, with a capital ‘M’. Bonk.’

‘Did you buy it?’

‘No bonk. I told him to Bonk off.’

‘How much did he ask?’

‘£35:00 in the end, bonk bonk.’

‘And you didn’t buy it? That’s a bonking shame.’

‘Why, bonk?’

‘It would have hung nicely with the other one I bought twenty years ago. Bonk. I could have hung them together to show how many improvements you haven’t done over the years.’

‘Oh you mean the faded photo hanging in the porch way Bonk. I always wondered where that had come from Bonk, bonk.’

‘Do you know haw Murray got on this afternoon, bonk?’

‘Murray, bonk? Murray who? Bonk, bonk, bonk.’

                                       Colin  

The Coventry Way

Dear Blog,

                It is always pleasant to see the positives of life around us, when we are constantly bombarded by the negatives from the media. Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to collect a cheque on behalf of charity which offers therapy for disabled children, Tiny Tims Children’s Centre. The monies raised for the donation was from ‘Coventry Way Walk’ held earlier this year. The ‘Coventry Way’, the 40 mile footpath which circumnavigates the city of Coventry, using footpaths and bridleways, was devised by Cyril Bean. Each year 250 walkers and some runners take part in the event. The Coventry Way spends the rest of the year maintaining and improving the ‘Walk’. There are now several loop walks of varying distances which utilise different points on the ‘Coventry Way as start / finish points. I find all these useful for trudges, because they are clearly marked routes in a different part of the country which takes no effort to follow, very agreeable running. You should try them for an afternoon out Blog.

The evening took the form of a skittles evening, several teams competing in a friendly manner, a buffet and presentation of cheques to the various charities to benefit from the Coventry Way Association, then another round of skittles. My team came third!!!!

The evening nearly ended in great disappointment however, as in the first round of skittles, my wife who was in the same team as myself, had the timerity to score a higher number of points than I did. When this happened, I had to tell her, buffet or no buffet, cheque or no cheque, if she didn’t let me beat her in the second round, I was off home then and there and she would have to make her own way back to the estate. She wasn't happy about that. I told her I wasn't either, being beaten by myown wife. I told her to remember what the vicar had told her, 'honour and obey' was the deal. So she had better start doing a bit of honouring or I'd be out first thing tomorrow banging on the church door demading my quids back under the terms of the Trades Description Act. After a little sulk, she agreed and I soon cheered up especially as I thrashed her out of sight when it was out team’s turn to skittle again. I feel I bowled rather well the second time, a clean strike on my first attempt but I was unable to capitalise on my other two bowls. My wife was rubbish with a capital ‘R’. I do think she was actually trying rather than letting me win to secure another couple of years being married to me. Anyway, I feel I beat her fair and square so in the end, I did take her back home with me.

                                 Colin

PS I was asked to give another three of my excellent talks about the ‘History of Coventry Godiva Harriers and Other Clubs in the City in the Last 140 Years’ by different groups represented at the skittles evening so that should raise another few quids for a Tiny Tims Children’s Centre.

Olympians

Photograph Quiz:

Photo no. 159: Which athlete is the Olympian and what might his name be?

Dear Blog,

   I have mentioned before that when  a fact appears in the press or is quoted on the radio or relayed on the television it becomes a FACT with a capital ‘F’ whether it is subsequently proved untrue or evidence to the contrary is provided.

  Approaching 2012 with the prospects of public interest in the London Olympic Games growing, both the local newspaper and the local radio station decided to compile lists of local Olympians. You know the sort of stuff Blog. And so it came about. All well and good so far but ….. Despite attempts on my part to correct the omission of a local Olympian on many more than one occasion, my information was ignored and the Olympian never made any local list not nowhere nohow!!! Question for you Blog. If a youngster moves with his parents when he was very young to live in Coventry, was educated in Coventry (Barkers Butts School), took his apprenticeship in the city, worked in several factories after leaving the ‘Morris’ where he qualified as a tool maker, joined a Coventry athletic club and became second claim for another, operated a business in several different locations around the city and continued to provide a service to a local running club until his death when another family member took over the business, would he qualify as a Coventry Olympian. (I won’t say an Olympian from Coventry as many aren’t, including yours truly!!! O.K. he did join Birchfield Harriers and moved outside the city boundary …. all of six miles (10km Blog) from the centre of the city or just over a mile (1600 metres Blog) from the city boundary!!!! But would these last two facts militate against a total exclusion for an inclusion as an Olympian on any official City list, I ask you Blog???

   Another Olympian who joined the same athletic club after his performance on the Elysian Fields of Olympia (excuse that Blog … but it sounds good!!!) was but a memory, has similarly received no recognition or photographic acknowledgement!!!

  Mind you an Olympian at the London Olympic Games of 2012 has fared no better; not doing particularly well at any kind of recognition in the photographic stakes either … perhaps a photograph of said Olympian in the athletic club’s clubhouse might be appropriate??? Just a small token, say?

   Now Blog, keep with my wanderings … contrast the above with another Olympian who joined the same club post-Olympic career.. He makes the picture gallery in the clubhouse and hangs proudly with the other club Olympians. Makes you wonder Blog, doesn’t it????????????????????i

                                                      Colin

snip, snip, snip.

Dear Blog,

      So what was the big excitement of the week? No it was not that nice Mr Cameroon’s friend Ozzie Osborne giving us all lots and lots of quids to go out and spend. Neither was it all those naughty athletes being caught for having a chemical meal or two … or three. You are close when you say it was my grandson winning the wellie wanging contest at his school sports on Monday, but you would be wrong. Not wrong about him winning ‘cos he did. First place. Blog, I kid you not, the kid dun gud. Gold. The teachers took ages with the drugs test though, but in the end, most of them passed. That was on Monday morning. I had the afternoon to recover from the excitement.

Tuesday was the big day …. Every year about this time, without fail the farmers bring their sheep down off the hills and they get shorn of their fleece. The sheep that is! Well it is the same with me. Every year, without fail at this time of year, I have my hair cut. Sat there little little Miss Tuffet on her buffet, while my years growth tumble to the floor. Slowly the mass of hair grew around me. It always makes me sad, this yearly ritual. A lady jogger from down the Lane runs her scissors through my locks. Blog I kid you not. She has been doing it for the last eight or nine years, regular as clockwork; some people gather at Stonehenge for the summer solstice, I crouch on my stool like a naughty school boy and get my locks shorn . Each to his own, says I.

It all started, this hair cutting lark about a decade ago when I was going somewhere important and I was told I had to look smart, extra smart. So I swallowed my pride and asked this lady jogger who didn’t live down the Lane then, to give me the snip. Or Two. Previous to that, the last time anyone cut my hair was June 3^rd. It was at ‘Browns’. I remember it so well. June 3^rd 1962, Browns the Hairdresser and it cost my ten bob, half a quid! Blog I kid you not. It was traumatic.

Before that my last experience of a barbers was when I was it twelve and starting Grammar School!!!!! You think I am kidding don’t you Blog? Well think again matey boy. Would I lie to you? After my experience at Brown’s, I went straight into town and invested heavily in a pair of thinning scissors which I used myself on myself by with and from myself for the next thirty five years, until the important occasion where I was told I had to look smart. More about that some other time Blog. Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Wednesday was the Coventry year 7 and year 8 athletics finals, so I helped my dear wife open the Godiva Harriers café at the Coventry Track. The Coventry year 7 and year 8 athletic finals were at the Coventry Track. I suspected that I might have been asked to present the trophies with my newly acquired short hair smart appearance but that was not to be. The organisers will regret that decision ion the occasion of their Championships next year when I put up my appearance fees. I have to recoup the hair cutting fee from somewhere; admittedly, the lady from down the Lane is cheap. Really cheap. I don’t think they come much cheaper than her.

Thursday. Tried to put some of my greens out in to the kitchen garden between truydges, but it rained. And it rained on Friday between Trudges …..

                                                       Colin

Colworth Marathon Challange results (part 2) June 21-23 2013

Photograph Quiz:

Photo no. 153:-    Answer =>  Colworth Science Park.

Dear Blog,

            So it was three days in Sharnbrook, or more precisely, Colworth Science Park. Athletic bargain of 2013???? => at a time of spiralling entry fees for running races and Rip Offs by Commercial Promoters with a giv us ye money and have a bag of tat when you’ve finished guv, it is amazing that a small running club like Colworth Striders can provide three races in three days with a full set of awards for each race as well as awards for the three day Challange with free camping for the runners’ family with 24 hour hot showers and changing, a bar-b-q, a bar, kids’ Fun Runs, a huge marquee for prize giving each day, free drinks all weekend both cans and bottles for thirty quids. THIRTY. Three nought. 30. Blog, I kid you not.

Friday night:- about 400 finishers in the 5 mile (8 kilometres Blog) which incorporated the first leg of the Colworth Challenge, a marathon race split into three sections over three days, each leg being a different distance, all off road. Weather hot and sticky, country and path around the Colworth Science Park area. Sound grim but it is acres and acres of country near the small village of Sharnbrook, based on the former RAF Podington air field, used by the USSAF in the last war to fly their B-17 bombers on raids in Europe. First home was Damian Carr of Godiva Harriers. My elder daughter was pleased with her run. Her two kids were at the finish to greet her.

Saturday lunchtime:- the 8 mile trail run (13 kilometres Blog) on a dog legged course mostly on an out and back bridle way after a country start, mostly through woody areas. Weather overcast but pleasant. Damian again won but slit underneath his foot badly as he decided to race in spiked shoes (!!!!) which did not stay in one piece, an individual spike piecing the big toe. Now this is interesting because the First Aid treated him at the end of the race and gave him medical advice, about procedures of care, visiting A & E, tetanus injections etc., but I pointed out to him later, that having spent some few years lecturing in Red Cross, my talks, when given to sports people, I always gave the accredited medical procedures and protocol, but then I used to add unofficially, what an experienced athlete (aka ME) would do in the same set of circumstances. Take a bloody toe nail for example. There is the accepted medical treatment and there is my way, as Frank might say; in fact he did on more than one occasion! And my way works a whole lot quicker than following medical advice with the consequence that little or no time is lost from training, pain or no pain. Blister strategy is another case of a difference in approach. And Achilles tendons … the days and weeks and months I see athletes waste with Achilles problems when a simple solution is on hand. But medicine knows what to do??????? A couple of hundred finished. My daughter improved her overall standing. My grandchildren were at the finish to greet her.

Sunday morning:- the half marathon (half marathon to you Blog). Two laps of trail around the paths in the area. Paths that go nowhere; concrete pathways that used to go to ammunition dumps when the aerodrome was in use, before, during and up to 1961. The race was accompanied by the deafening roar of drag racing on the Santa Pod racetrack, the former runway of the air base. And I do meaning deafening Blog with a capital ‘D’. The half marathon race ran parallel to the runway strip but thankfully, the drag races only last for four seconds max; yes Blog, 4 seconds, I kid you not!! And there is quite a gap between races so it is nowhere near as bad as it sounds (geddit?? Bad as it sounds – deafening noise- oh don’t bother then Blog) Like the ‘Science Park’, it sounds futuristic but it isn’t. The Science Park is the Unilever’s global Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre whose scientists underpin consumer safety, environmental safety, occupational safety and sustainability initiatives worldwide. And we were camping next to it! Colworth is one of Unilever’s two main R&D centres in the UK. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I saw not one single mutant behind the high razor wire fence all weekend. And the apples that glowed in the dark were just as tasty as the blue potatoes and green chicken we had at the bar-b-q. Weather overcast and warm, ideal for running. Damian Carr of the Coventry Godiva Harriers and Hi-Tec team again won comfortably, thereby securing his fifth Colworth title in eight or nine years. My elder daughter finished the race, her second half marathon, only a few minutes slower than her debut at the half marathon and is now thinking of racing (not ‘doing’) a marathon. And the kids couldn’t be arsed to be there at the finish for her … two races in two days is fair enough, but three in three? You see one race finish, then two … and they all look just the same!!! There are big ones, there are small ones, there are short ones and there are longer ones, but they all have lots of runners and they all look just the same. Enough is enough for a ten and seven years old when there are places to explore.

After the awards ceremony, everyone was unpitching their tents, packing up and most families were nearly finished when it RAINED with a capital ‘R’. Blog I kid you not. It chucked it down. What incredible timing. So another good piece of organisation by Colworth Striders.

Same place, same time, same distance next year??? Seeya!

                                            Colin