Northern Finals
As the nation admired the success and skill of our GB Senior Athletes at the European Championships our youngest competitors put on a very entertaining show at Cudworth on Sunday.I sometimes had to remember I was there to take pictures.Congratulations top gateshead the new Northern Champions.The loss of some competitiors to holidays was the same for all but it brought great strain for some who competed in events they were not prepared for and some young people did multi events, showing great club spirit even though its not quite the right thing to do for some developing bodies.
I really do hope that many of the Athletes there will have grown enough in confidence to keep training through the Winter ready for the next year and beyond. Far too many young people give up sport when they reach 16.Not everyone can be a star but you can go on in athletics far beyond 16;so iof youve just left school and this is your last year in NATYAL dont forget theres the National Junior League which takes Young Athletes up to 20.Not many people have been at the top through all the age groups , I can only think of Michael Rimmer who has been a chmpion at every age group from u13 up to Senior , so its certianly possible to be a late developer.Of the youngsters on display on Sunday some of the oldest have already been in the NAT Junior League;Olivia Callaghan u17 sprinter ran superbly at Gateshead in June .
The richly talented Pole Vaulter Katie Byers has already experienced higher competition, so too has Molly from Sale.Marnie the Liverpool Long and High Jumper is very talented .Rebecca Watts od Wakefield and Alezx Boyce of liverpool look to be fine sprinters.Excuse me not knowing the names of all the other top performers on the day.However there will be many others to come. In the younger age groups it should still be fun and its finding what event suits you best.
Finally if there are any peole out there reading this who have a business or employs young people what better quality to look for than in a young athlete who shows incredible determination to succeed, discipline to train /abide by the rules and team spirit.Some youngsters will already be training numerous times in a week and following a healthy lifestyle which will benefit them ( and their future employers )for many years to come.
You all deserve alot of credit and show up the spoilt bunch that many Footballers have become.
I really do hope that many of the Athletes there will have grown enough in confidence to keep training through the Winter ready for the next year and beyond. Far too many young people give up sport when they reach 16.Not everyone can be a star but you can go on in athletics far beyond 16;so iof youve just left school and this is your last year in NATYAL dont forget theres the National Junior League which takes Young Athletes up to 20.Not many people have been at the top through all the age groups , I can only think of Michael Rimmer who has been a chmpion at every age group from u13 up to Senior , so its certianly possible to be a late developer.Of the youngsters on display on Sunday some of the oldest have already been in the NAT Junior League;Olivia Callaghan u17 sprinter ran superbly at Gateshead in June .
The richly talented Pole Vaulter Katie Byers has already experienced higher competition, so too has Molly from Sale.Marnie the Liverpool Long and High Jumper is very talented .Rebecca Watts od Wakefield and Alezx Boyce of liverpool look to be fine sprinters.Excuse me not knowing the names of all the other top performers on the day.However there will be many others to come. In the younger age groups it should still be fun and its finding what event suits you best.
Finally if there are any peole out there reading this who have a business or employs young people what better quality to look for than in a young athlete who shows incredible determination to succeed, discipline to train /abide by the rules and team spirit.Some youngsters will already be training numerous times in a week and following a healthy lifestyle which will benefit them ( and their future employers )for many years to come.
You all deserve alot of credit and show up the spoilt bunch that many Footballers have become.
