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| AAA PO Box 557 Chichester PO19 9DS |
| 01928 733 067 |
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Tom Pink Relays |
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Last Sunday, the Tom Pink relays moved South and were
staged at the Lee Valley Athletic Centre. This was the fourth time these
innovative series of events had been held this year. The initiative came
about through the generosity of the late Alice Pink and the AAA to whom
the legacy was left. The AAA whilst no longer the governing body for athletics still has a role to play in supporting competition providers, stimulating and encouraging interest in the sport and acting as a focal point for the invaluable volunteers. The receipt of the legacy was most appropriate in its timing as it gives an ideal opportunity to meet these objectives in the run up to the Olympics in 2012.  Alice
and Lewis Pink’s only son Tom was tragically killed in a car accident in
the early 1970’s. He was a good all rounder enjoying academic success at
Rutlish School in Merton Park and school boy champion at running. He was
a member of Haywards Heath Harriers and Mitcham Athletic Club. In
recognition and appreciation of the positive influence which athletics
had on Tom’s life the legacy was left with the intention of enabling
events which will attract young people into the sport. The event at Lee
Valley was the fourth in a series aimed to achieve these ends.We were most fortunate to be joined at the event by five representatives of the Pink Family who had a thoroughly enjoyable time and were delighted that so many youngsters were getting so much pleasure from the use of the money. The event was extremely well supported with 200 children taking part, facilitated by the organising team and a group of local, dedicated officials ably assembled by Roy Stratton. Many distinguished guests from the world of athletics were in attendance including David Hemery, the Olympic hurdler and former World record holder. A fellow Olympic hurdler from Spain, Bernandino Lomboa and his son Nacho made a special trip to see how the event could be used in Spain. The strength of the new partnership in athletics was witnessed by the attendance of John Graves, chairman of England Athletics and Zara Hyde - Peters, Director of UK Athletics. It was also pleasing to see Jean Pickering at the event as she is still very active in local athletics and was involved in another initiative, Sportshall athletics, some 30 years ago in the same area. The gem for this event stemmed from the combination of the legacy and the AAA’s Board wish to maintain the 
interest of the youngsters in the sport. The Board is most fortunate to
have George Bunner as one of its Directors because it is George’s
commitment, enthusiasm and vision which has lead us from some random
thoughts to a balanced programme of events which we can all be proud of.
The Board are indeed most grateful to George and his team for all the
work that went into making the programme so successful.The Lee Valley programme followed events at Birmingham, Derby and Bradford. Bradford was particularly memorable because it was the pre-match entertainment before a major Rugby Super League fixture. The other two events were memorable because despite awful weather conditions the enjoyment and enthusiasm of the participants was undented. The Lee Valley event built on this experience but was different because it was the first event indoors and included field events in the programme. Participants benefited from the fantastic facilities at Lee Valley as well as the tremendous assistance we received from the Centre staff. Seven teams took part in the event – Brighton & Hove, Enfield and Haringey, Herts Phoenix, Lee Valley, Woking, Tower Hamlets and Woodford Green and Essex Ladies. The afternoon’s programme was in two parts, the relays and a series of field events as well as an agility challenge open to all. The relays were run round a 200 metre circuit but with the added challenge of competing against record times of Paula Radcliffe, Kelly Holmes and Steve Cram – the enthusiasm this created was immense and intensifies when there is a chance of the times being broken. For the field events we were most fortunate in having Scottish Amateur Games Champion, Graeme Allen and his wife Vicci to demonstrate and judge some of the events which included the Highland Steps, soft javelin, weight for height, standing long jump and tossing the caber. Not only some novel events but some new ideas for the  experienced
coaches in the audience to consider.During the event many presentations were made to reflect the achievements of all those who had so much fun from the afternoon. The presentations include framed photographs of the famous athletes, commemorative Tom Pink plaques and certificates. In addition the winning teams received new sports equipment kindly donated by Eveque Leisure Equipment Limited and the Amateur Athletic Association A very successful and enjoyable day was had by all and the AAA are looking forward to 2008 with a new programme of events aimed at staging one in each of the England Athletic regions and the Home Countries. Graham Jessop, Oct. 2007. |
