A chapter of my life ends today.
Eleven and a half years ago I approached Danny Caro with a
suggestion of becoming the Jewish Chronicle Athletics Correspondent. I had
never been the correspondent of anything before; my full-time career had
revolved around computing and mathematics. But I knew something of the Jewish
athletics scene because I occasionally trained at Copthall Stadium, Hendon. I
felt that the young athletes in the community deserved more consistent coverage
and encouragement in the pages of the JC. I was able to show Danny a feature I
had written on the London Marathon for the JC the previous year. It
demonstrated that I had an enthusiast’s knowledge of athletics. Thankfully,
possessing a modicum of knowledge of any other sport was not a requirement of
the role. Danny took me on, and he has supported me throughout.
Since that time I have written over 400 articles on
athletics for the JC, beginning with my "Marathon Man" series on how
to prepare for the challenge of that distance. I have burned the midnight oil
on most Monday evenings, to provide copy in time for the early Tuesday deadline.
But this is my last day in the role. In a few days time I
depart these shores for at least a year or two, to join my family including my
two grandchildren in Israel. The title of JC Athletics Correspondent passes
jointly to Rosalind Zeffertt and Murray Ayrton, who are both deeply involved in
and passionate about the sport.
The role has brought me deep satisfaction. Through it I have
been privileged to come to know giants of the sport, who otherwise I might only
admire from afar. For example, over 50 years ago, I knew Roger Bruck as a name
on the noticeboard at Copthall Stadium, the holder of the Shaftesbury Harriers
record for 100 yards. Mel Watman was the athletics writer whose "Encyclopaedia
of Athletics" I had chosen as a school prize. Now, well thumbed but still
cherished, the book could be enhanced with a personal message from the author.
Danielle Sanderson and James Espir were the fine international athletes whose
medal-winning performances I would read about in the national press. Through my
involvement in writing in the JC, these and others have become friends and have
shown me many kindnesses.
But the biggest joy has been to promote the exploits of the
young athletes of the community. My own life experience showed me how athletics
can transform a young person's confidence and self-image. I left primary school
without having shown a single sporting ability. But that changed within days of
starting secondary school when I ran my first cross-country race. Athletics can
be like that, with an event for everyone, whatever their body shape. Throughout
these 11 years, there have been many committed and talented young athletes
within the community. It has been a joy
to follow their progress, interview them, write about them and in this way
encourage participation in a sport that can set a young person on a path
towards lifelong fitness.
I would like to thank Danny for his consistent support
throughout my time writing in the JC. Danny gave me every encouragement in
setting up the Daniel Sacks Awards, to recognise the successes of young
athletes and to keep alive the memory of my late son. Going forward, Murray and
Rosalind are determined to keep the readership well informed about the
achievements of the athletes in our community. I know they will do a great job.
I wish them well and hope that they will have as much fun in the role as I have
had.
