By Matt Lloyd, Director of Sport
It was a privilege to be at the 2023 English School Track and Field Championships this year to see the very best in schools’ athletics. Mrs Leite and I spent the day at the wonderful Alexandra Stadium, the venue for last year's Commonwealth Games, being part of a wonderful sporting event. The joy of the ‘English Schools’ is the opportunity to witness the up-and-coming talent of the future and know that all of the young people competing have trained and worked hard to be selected whilst being at school. At one point we even watched a junior boy (U14) run a 1:56m 800m heat, which is no mean feat!
The qualification for the ESAA is very difficult for a young athlete. Not only do you need to be training and competing regularly, but you need to reach a ‘National Standard’ in your event to be considered. Then you must compete in your county, and regional school events, to finally be selected for your ‘county’. For us, the county we represent at the English Schools is Avon and there are only 45 places available for the whole of Avon.
For two Sidcot athletes to be selected and claim these limited places was a real honour! Both Joe and George left with the team bus on Thursday to travel to Birmingham with the sky blue vests of Avon ready to compete.
On the first day both Joe and George were in action. Joe, an 800m runner, ran at around 3.45pm in the 2nd heat of the Inter Boys 800m. Goodness knows how he was feeling but I was on the edge of my seat. To compete in the Alexandra Stadium, the home of the Commonwealth Games, in front of a huge crowd must have been terrifying! But Joe looked calm as ever, taking it in his stride and walking to the start line like it was every other race he has ever done. In fact it looked like he was about to compete in Sports Day the week before (winning the 1500m cup!).
The 800m is a brutal race. It's fast, long and full of tactics. A test for anyone’s physical and mental endurance. Joe was given lane two and lined up ready to race. The gun went off and he was running. I was on my feet! The heat was fast and Joe crossed the line after the first lap in the best 400m time of his life and he was still in the pack of runners jostling for position. The first 400m must have taken it out of him as he slowed on the back straight of the final lap but found an extra burst of energy as he rounded the final bend and ran hard down the final straight coming in 7th in a brilliant time. What a race and what an experience for Joe. From my vantage point in the stand it looked like he was smiling. An amazing feat.
From there Mrs Leite and I ran across the other side of the stand to watch George compete in the Inter Boys Shotput, an event in which George was highly ranked. As we arrived, it started to rain! This made the Shot Put circle wet and slippery and would undoubtedly affect the throws from all athletes. I sat next to Bruce, George’s Coach, who was instructed by George not to shout! However, I did not receive the same instructions from George so was in full voice!
George started meekly with a throw that just breached the 16m line and his nearest rival finding a throw a mere 50cm behind him. The competition was six throws each and it seemed to flash by with George finding 16.65m his furthest put. It seemed tense, but George had it under control and by the final put it was clear, George was the English School Champion!
It was then on to the medal ceremony and so heart-warming to have George’s mum part of the medal presentation! He was then whisked away to the international room where he was briefed on his inclusion in the England Squad at the next School’s International in Edinburgh, Scotland. He collected his England kit which was amazing to see, walking away with a gold medal and an England jersey!
What an amazing day filled with sporting excellence, and one that will live in my memory forever.
