Page 17 - Summer2014Gazette
P. 17
Athletics Report 15
Good to be Back in Europe:
Our Girls Do Us Proud in Istanbul...
the 2015 Champions Clubs Cup
After an unscheduled interruption for Friday prayers, there was generous provision of a
to proceedings last year, we resumed still far too much to see in seemingly limitless quantity of
our annual foray into Europe the limited time available. We crisps. A win for England, if
in mid-September for this year’s therefore made do with a visit not a terribly convincing one,
Champion Clubs Cup for Juniors. to the underground Basilica sent us off to bed in a positive
Cistern – where some unusual frame of mind.
In keeping with, and fashion photo opportunities
perhaps even exceeding, the were sampled by some – and Sizing up the opposition
magical mystery transport a tour of the Aya Sofiya (built Saturday 18th Morning
arrangements of recent years, as a church, converted to a Saturday morning saw everyone
by arriving at the City’s Sabiha mosque and now, officially, a up bright and early – though
Gokcen airport, we also museum), before adjourning one or two of the management
managed to visit Asia! After in small groups to a number of were, perhaps, not so bright:
a not inconsiderable delay in local restaurants. clearly the effects of a surfeit of
retrieving Helena’s poles, and The end of the afternoon crisps. As those involved in the
a lengthy (‘are we there yet?’) provided an opportunity for initial field events headed off to
coach journey back across the everyone to visit the track. This the track soon after breakfast,
Bosphorus, which rivalled the had originally been built as the the temperature was already in
worst of days on the M25, we warm up area for the adjacent the mid-20s and, unfortunately,
reached our hotel a little later Ataturk Olympic Stadium, but the previous evening’s
than planned, but, fortunately, has recently been re-designed as headwind had not significantly
still in time for ‘dinner’. a competition venue. Conditions decreased. It was to remain at
Sightseeing and rugby were always going to be on between 3m/s and 6m/s for the
watching Friday 17th the warm side, but we hadn’t rest of the day: there would not
Friday morning had been planned for the stiff breeze be many PBs! Our opponents
reserved for a sightseeing trip that was in evidence (reaching were: the hosts, Fenerbahce
to the historical Sultanahmet +9m/s at one stage!), nor the Sport Club, and AK Olymp
district of the city. Even with slick surface of the throwing
the Blue Mosque being closed circle. But that’s why we do the
due diligence: we could now
plan how best to address these
problems and forewarned was
definitely forearmed!
Friday evening was spent in
contemplation of the following
day’s competition. Some sought
the distraction of the opening
game of the Rugby World Cup
on Eurosport with German
commentary. Certain members
of the management team
considered it only appropriate
while doing so to sample the
local beer and the President’s
