Trackside Tales Archive, January- September 2007 Back to Trackside Tales
The observant ones among us will have realised that the concluding CSSAL competition on home turf provided the ideal competitive environment for ducks and deep sea divers though not in so many ways for athletes. Not complaining over vehemently about the great outdoors were Whitemoss committee persons Angela Mitchell and Sandra McIvor. Being the match convenors in tandem with our East Renfrewshire chums from Giffnock, the two ladies were consigned indoors to tap away at results. Now this role is more conventially the proverbial short straw and was so at sunny Wishaw in April when said ladies were consigned to a piping hot, air conditionless cabin on results collating duties. However they were the driest persons in attendance on this occasion and more than content to remain chained to a laptop throughout the whole proceedings. For once, there was no shortage of volunteers from those without objection to sacrificing the opportunity to watch the action at trackside.
A most unfortunate incident has recently rendered one of our best known and loudest personalities inactive. Robert Leggate aka Teamshouteroaner and club chairman between 1999 and 2001, while pursuing his day job as a painter and decorator, had a rather painful accident. As a consequence he has broken his ankle, meaning Whitemoss athletes will not be spurred on by his vociferous encouragement in the short to medium term. According to reports, "because of the severity of the break it will be some time before he is fully fit for shouting action." All who know Boab will understand how much of a setback this represents for such an effervescent, jovial personality. Everyone with Whitemoss no doubt wishes him well in his rehabilitation.
Teamshouteroaner lending his support at Wishaw in April 2006
Here is a poser for a pub quiz. Have a family quartet of blood relatives ever formed a relay team at any level of athletics competition anywhere in the world? I may persuade our website host to award a special prize to anyone who provides a solution. Suffice to say, such an occurrence was witnessed at the recent Lanarkshire Relay Championships. The Whitemoss senior men 100m squad comprised four individuals sharing the common surname McEwan, father and the three boys. Furthermore, whether predetermined or not, the legs were negotiated in order of seniority. Father took the first bend, the eldest son blasted down the back straight, twin one battled the second bend and twin two enjoyed the glory leg. "Team McEwan" as they were christened, headed homeward bound with silver medals having clocked a fleet footed 45 seconds. Has this feat been replicated or bettered before? Answers to our web man.
The recent beano to Dumfrieshire in the name of competition has brought stories to the Insider's lug holes. Under strict warning to to be present and correct at un tres bon heure as they say in France, i.e. rather early, to be escorted southwards, one very necessary component was not in place a quarter of an hour following the scheduled departure. The co-team manager (I shall digress from revealing which one). Yes, the convener and organiser of the entire operation. Eventually, said individual duly arrived, screeching in on two wheels to ensure the pack did not leave without its leader. Reasons for lateness were not volunteered but it would not be long before allegations of alcohol indulgence the previous evening were flying around. According to one source, our anonymous person spent the following 1 hour and 20 minutes curled up remonstrating about the "wine-dy roads." A tad cruel perhaps. The Insider understands full fighting health has since been restored.
Following his involvement in the Scottish National Cross Country Championships in a mud filled, hilly, freezing Callendar Park in Falkirk, your web site host considered his winter season to have reached a natural conclusion. Taking full advantage of a lull in his race diary, said webmaster declared the final week in February a training holiday prior to launching his summer season challenge for road and track honours. In filling his free Saturday, he decided to indulge in a very rare visit to the town shopping centre to have his timepiece repaired before proceeding to the village sports field to soak up some junior football league action. In between these activities, our website man was killing time flicking through a sports magazine in a newsagents when he was suddenly asked "any good athletics magazines in here?" The request came from coach and veteran athlete Ian McEwan who, in also strolling round the department stores, caught our webmaster perusing "Powerslam", a publication providing updates of happenings in the world of professional wrestling, in favour of the athletics scribes or even the web design guides in plentiful supply. One piece of news did come from this chance meeting. Our club secretary has submitted a feature to "Athletics Weekly" for their Club Focus column and publication is imminent. No doubt our World Wrestling following website man shall keep us informed.
One has to say a lot about one lesson in life, the necessity of forward planning. As the old Scouts motto said, be prepared. Not a single individual should therefore claim ignorance of the next Whitemoss fundraising activity. As I pen this tome on the ninth day of February, I can alert you that a bag packing shift has been arranged to transpire in a well known, busily frequented supermarket premises. The important date? Saturday 22nd December 2007. And they say Christmas comes earlier every year.
Gatherings of the club powers that be have previously proven a hotbed of material for this column. The initial set of high level talks for the new calendar year recently transpired, this being an occasion where the invitation was also extended to the coaching personnel. Two particular topics are worthy of note. Firstly, apparently recently assumed Mens League gaffer Keith Stoddart has been trawling cyberspace researching the opportunities for the club to obtain sports, community or even European Union grants. He has been considering that Whitemoss is now of an age to step up the property ladder. A portacabin now being somewhat beneath the UK Athletics Junior Club of the Year nominees, Mr Stoddart suggests Whitemoss acquire a dwelling resembling more of a clubhouse, including indoor training facilities. Pie in the sky hopes? We shall see what develops. Secondly, it was revealed to the attendees one of the three Central and South of Scotland League battles shall be staged on home soil this coming May. Your web site host, Mr Gibson was obviously taking a short doze when this news broke since discussion later ensued regarding the hosting of an open day/barbecue/general jamboree for parents of club members, aimed at integrating them into events and perhaps encouraging greater participation in competitions outwith league action. One wag indicated this could occur simultaneously with the league event at which the happless webmaster exclaimed, "What. Are we having a league meeting here this year?" Cue mass ridicule from those in attendance and light hearted accusations of sleeping through proceedings until that point.
Keith Stoddart (centre): searching Google for financial opportunities
Above: your website host, takes short naps at committee gatherings
Continuing the commitee theme, in bygone days, meetings of the club hierarchy were generously hosted in rotation by one of the office bearers who would provide usage of his/her sitting room for discussion. Provision of tea, coffee and biscuits naturally was a mandatory requirement. My mole reminds me of a story from that time when, during one meeting, an unnamed committee person required to utilise the little boy's room. The gentleman duly excused himself. Time surpassed and concern grew for said person's welfare. Eventually, he re-entered, exclaiming to the home owner his bathroom light was not in operation. When he pulled the cord, his ears were assaulted by hissing and the sound of running water which duly ceased when he repeated the action. Perturbed by this accusation, said home owner ascended the stairs to investigate. It transpired, rather than attempting to illuminate the bathroom, the unfortunate gentleman had fumbled in the dark, spending up to a quarter of an hour switching the shower on and off, flooding the tiled floor! Cue huge embarassment.
Alas, the seventh year of the 21st century (assuming you believe the millenium occurred in 2001) is now upon us and a further 12 months of running, jumping, throwing, medal and award winning, with a little good fortune, lies ahead. I wish all my loyal readers a very happy, prosperous and peaceful 2007.