Awesome doesn’t get close !

“The spirit and camaraderie that is symptomatic of the T&F group was there for all to see” – Paul Bearman

There are big weekends for our wonderful club, there are very big weekends and then there was last weekend.

Forget about The World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, everyone knows that the major athletic meet of the weekend was our very own Club Championships, an event that did not disappoint despite the effort of the weather, to once agin, try and put a damper on the occasion.

It didn’t

With the Club Championships, the Big 10k and half marathon, the British Masters Championships in Derby, together with the stunning performance of our triathletes at Milton Keynes, it all seemed a bit much for one newsletter, so this week there will be this Photo Special of the Club Champs with a normal newsletter, to cover the other events, to follow.

I can’t begin to imagine the amount of work involved in making this event run like clockwork, as it did once again.

With 125 athletes, (predominantly juniors, due, in no small fact to the unfortunate clash with the Stratford Big 10k and half marathon) competing over 60 events in a meeting that started with the 1500m at 10am and finished with the 5000m Shakespeare Race and the Fun Novelty Races at 15:45, it was a masterclass in efficiency.

Needless to say the novelty races were, by some margin, the most competitive events of the day.

The fact that this event again ran so smoothly was due to the hard work put in by Paul Bearman, Carolyne Johnston, Sandy Green plus the many volunteer officials, together with the small army, maybe not so small, of volunteer helpers.

As Paul Bearman commented

“Although the weather was largely disappointing again…. the spirit and camaraderie that is symptomatic of the T&F group was there for all to see.

I know from starting with Alison and Scarlett it was a long day, especially for the lead field judges, timekeepers and track judges who couldn’t escape the worst of the weather but everyone put in a shift to make the day competitive but thoroughly enjoyable for the athletes.

Special thanks to Carolyne and Sandy for sweating on Saturday morning alongside myself and John Boxall.  Also to Michelle and Danny for being at the track first thing on Sunday to help set up and to those at the end who helped tidy up…..I certainly was bushed after a 9 hour but exhilarating day.”

You really had to be there to fully appreciate what a truly wonderful and life affirming event this was.

Finally, huge thanks to Carolyne Johnstone, Jane Withers and Lucie Cassells for the wonderful photos. 

That’s enough from me, now enjoy the photos.

Take care

David Jones