Page 4 - BBHAC Winter 2017-18 Gazette

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WO. Looking at Your family I was personally inspired by WO. You’ve obviously been
background, were you from watching Ovett and Coe at the highly versatile in track and
an athletic family? 1980 Olympics which interested field. What was your favourite
me in the sport. My interest in event and what events would
PB. I was from a very sporty athletics is very broad and I’m you like to have achieved
family, one of six boys and interested in the whole sport, more in?
all of us played sport of some not just my own events but all
description., My second oldest the various disciplines including PB. My main event was the
brother was a cross country the achievements of Daley 400m But I would have liked
runner which some people Thompson in that golden age of to achieve more in the triple
would find surprising because I British athletics. jump and 400m hurdles. I never
hate cross country! Another was took these as far as possible and
a sprinter who as an 18 year old WO. You’ve received much I focused on the 400m would
clocked 53 ½ secs for the 400m encouragement from coaches. like to have had a crack at the
based just on playing rugby and Which do you remember as Decathlon, although I competed
football and the odd race over being most influential? in its events (Pole Vault, Javelin).
the country, my second youngest I might well have adapted to the
brother was a good sprinter but PB. For me the grounding I had decathlon however.
I was the only one who joined with athletics was based on a
a club and was a member of long term coaching relationship WO. Is it still possible
Blackheath Harriers. We all also I had with John Powell. Now I to cross over between
the disciplines and gain
played rugby, basketball, cross know he’s not everyone ’s cup distinction at a high level?
country, and soccer at school, of tea but I had a few good
my Dad played cricket, which years with him as an athlete and PB. That’s a tricky one. Some
was not something I looked to recognise him as having been athletes can cross over between
as a young athlete. an influential coach. He was the similar events such as Long
person who got me interested in Jump to, triple jump, High
WO. Who were your club athletics in my early years, Jump and between various track
influences in taking up after which I made my own distances such as the 200 and
athletics over some of the decisions. 44 metres but only if they are
other sports you played at very talented and higher up it’s
school? WO. What in your opinion very difficult to cross over. You
makes for a really effective would need to have a couple of
PB. I went to Sedgehill School, coach? years dealing with the rigours
where Ken Pike was my maths of training, the discipline of
teacher and cross country PB. Coach have to listen to training and the performance
manager and he was very athletes, have time for your element. You’ve got to go out
encouraging, Jim Phelan my athletes, think long term what there and compete over a period
art teacher who was also quite they can do over the next five of time.
encouraging, there was also years to help an athlete improve
Clive Morris a Javelin thrower and develop. Being ready to WO. Do you think it was
at the club in the 1980s .We had listen to your athletes, and to easier to do this in the
great access to some fine people understand their strengths and amateur era?
who were involved in the club at weaknesses. The coach should
school boy level so it was quite learn from their mistakes and PB. Well, athletes today have
easy process to being a member they’ve got to be in a position to more time to focus on and deal
of Blackheath Harriers. learn from those mistakes. with the rigours of other events
other events but there tends to
be ore specialisation now.