Ashford - on report

Sunday was quite an early start as I had to get to Ashford in Kent for the Southern Atheltic Championships (SEAA) for Under 15s and Under 17s. Little N had been due to compete but she is all competed out for now, so we let her have an athletics free weekend.

The "Southerns" is a relatively big competition for the youngsters and in order that the day goes without a hitch, takes somewhere in the region of 100 qualified officials. This particular "meet" was my very first time timekeeping for the "South" (an area which actually covers Devon to Kent, Hampshire to Bedfordshire) and knowing that to progress as a timekeeper to the next level that I needed to have a report done "out of County" ie not in Surrey, I agreed (in hindsight maybe stupidly - and totally my fault) to have my report done here. Timekeeping is of course very black and white. YOU try getting a stop watch and timing a race on TV - guaranteed you'll be at the least 2 tenths out. For me to "pass" I would need to keep a 90% average of below 5 hundredths out.

Timekeeping and Tacrolimus/steroid tremours aren't the best partnership, but I have always kept how I am feeling, if a little dodgy, from my colleagues (if it was so bad that I thought it would jepodise the team, I would pull out). I hate moaners and big excuses, and I don't want people to be warey of me - so best to keep shtum!

The gentleman reporting on me was great and gave me lots of advice. But sadly my timekeeping certainly was not on par. There were just 39 races of varying distances (75m hurdles to 1,500m) - which is actually not many compared to my usual afternoon of athletics. Before we'd reached 75% of the day, I knew that I my average below 5 hundredths would be above 5%. And it was - my days average came in at 5.41, with 87.2% within 0.10secs. Terrible!!

BUT. I have only been doing this for 2 years. There were some superb races which I know I lost concentration on. I have been given good advice on how to get better. The support from other timekeepers is fantastic. I need more practice. And I know I can only get better.... so long as the Tac stays down (but not the end of the world if not)!!!