Thursday 24 May 2007

Been offline for a bit, but just a quick update: Amelia competed in the Surrey Championships on 12/13 May and came away with three Golds - 100m, 200m and Long Jump. It was a thoroughly wet and soggy weekend, so her coach advised her not to do Triple Jump. However Three Times Champion was a good weekend's work.
With a short break until the South of England Championships on 26/27 May, Amelia went with Anne to a recommended Sports Physiotherapist in Chiswick - Kim Hobbs. Kim was herself a long jumper and pole vaulter and she treats national and international athletes at major events, so she knows her stuff. She said that Amelia's ankle, although still swollen, was not damaged permanently and that strengthening it was the best thing for it - so no support and more bounding, jumping and skipping! Basically, she was given the all clear to compete and take on triple jump at the South of Englands.
Home that night to a message waiting on the ansaphone - the London Schools Combined Events Championship didn't seem to have an entry for Amelia Richards. To add to that problem, no-one had thought to let us know of a date change from 23rd June - the event had been brought forward - it was tomorrow!!
Mad phone calls all evening secured Amelia an official entry, and she took her place with other London Schools competitors at the Lee Valley Stadium on the 23rd to compete in her five pentathlon events. The standard and organisation was quite poor, considering London has 33 Boroughs and goodness knows how many schools to pick from, but Combined Events is not as popular as individual events, so the competitors were thin on the ground.
With beautiful weather helping things along, Amelia competed well and came away with a London Schools Championship Gold Medal. This automatically enters her for the South East Team to compete in English Schools later in the year in Exeter. Had she missed the Lee Valley event, she may not have automatically entered English Schools, and without that she would not have a chance of taking an England Vest at the International Schools meeting in Glasgow in December. "Phew!" was said more than once on the 23rd!
On to the South of England Championships this weekend - 200m and Long Jump on Saturday, 100m and Triple Jump on Sunday. Watch this space.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well done!
Amelia