Clitheroe prepare to defend cricket title Page 54


Sam’s a shooting star! by Clarke Carlisle


IMAGINE - duelling in a sword fight where the first to strike is victor. Then diving into turbulent waters


to swim 200 metres, out of there and mounting a steed, to whom you were unacquainted, but 20 minutes ago, navigating around a treacherous obstacle course and then taking to the road for 3 kilometres, stopping after each one to fire off rounds from your pistol at five stationary targets... But what is this? Preparation for


only needing to pick up the fencing and shooting elements, but surely this would be too much for one so young to take on board? “I was a young athletic girl, lots of energy, loved being out­ side, loyed doing sports and I thought it was great. I gave it a crack and it just all came together.” Recalling the hectic schedule of her


battle? The tasks of Hercules? A Green Beret mission? No, this is the modem pentathlon, the arduous event that Clitheroe’s Samantha Murray hopes to tame to bring an Olympic medal back to East Lancashire. With such a diverse selection of dis­ ciplines, the modern pentathlon isn’t an event you are introduced to in PE at school. Sam loved swimming as a schoolgirl


to the cost, travelling to four or five different clubs for coaching, all the specialist equipment, and the global nature of competitions, she sacrificed much of the social life her school and college friends enjoyed, all in the pur­ suit of glory. “It was difficult really, I was going to


early days without a hint of frustration or inconvenience, Sam speaks with an air of certainty. In a sport where there’s no limit


and was fortunate to be able to learn to ride at her grandmother’s livery sta­ bles, but how do you get from normal hobbies to shoots and duels? She said: “A guy at my swimming


club was trying to recruit people to do a biathlon, which is just a run and a swim, so when I was about 11,1 asked my mum if I could do a biathlon. I went and did it and I completely fell in love with running!” On hearing this, Sam’s coach sug­ gested trying the pentathlon, with her


Blackburn Harriers running club, went swimming to Bobcats in Burnley, for fencing my mum used to drive me to Stockport, Bolton sometimes, we used to cover Lancashire! It was crazy when I think about it!” All this hard work, all this dedica­


a daily basis, like she does? “The Olympic Games is the chance for the Modem Pentathlete to get their name out there, it is the pinnacle of their career to win an Olympic medal. “It means everything, and


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Centre of Excellence, whilst studying for a degree at the same time. Even though juggling a rigorous schedule with extensive studies must be taxing, she relays her routine with a relaxed and upbeat tone. All of the GB Olympic hopefuls


since the age of 12 it’s been my goal, it’s been my dream. It’s why I’m here, it’s why I’m living this life, it’s everything.” Sam trains in Bath, at the GB


London in July offers Olympic qualifica­ tion to the winner, and the European Championships


train together here, five ladies pushing each other to the limit, but ultimately there are only two places available on the team. Does this ever cross the mind of


tathlon is a very closed audience, even at the top of the sport the plaudits are only given by those in the know, so what is it that drives this young woman to break the pain barrier on


tion, it really puts the efforts of us in the football industry to shame. Our rewards are visible on a daily basis, from the potential financial gain to the acclaim and status, even for a profes­ sional at a small club. In stark contrast, the modem pen­


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Medway, from July 28th to August 1st, reward the top eight with the same. I wish Sam every success


in


our lovable .Lancashire lass? “Of course it does! We’re five ambitious, feisty women, all training to get to the Olympics in those two spots. We’re all nice to each other but, underneath, we hate each other’s guts!” I thought so! I’m not fooled by the


friendly tone, the pleasant and cordial manner. Herein lies the cold, calcu­ lated, steely determination of a winner. I feel a touch of sympathy for her col­ leagues, on this evidence, they’re fight­ ing for the one remaining place! Sam continues her quest for


Olympic glory in hvo upcoming events on home soil. The World Cup Final in


in her pursuit of gold, and when she says “I have to be there, it’s what I was bom to do”, I don’t even think Spartacus himself could stop her! ■ SAM is this week part of an eight-strong GB team at the second World Cup of the year in Italy. site was seventh in


finals are today, and the final is on Saturday.


Palm Springs in the first, and is currently ranked 17th in the world. The women’s semi­


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EYES ONTHE PRIZE: Samantha Murray goes for an Olympic place in the modern penthalon


Players’ big charu^


IF his opening quartet of results are anything to go by Blues fans can ex­ pect big things from new boss Carl


Gamer, pictured right. The former Clitheroe chairman has


only four Evo-Stik First Division North fixtures remaining Gamer has vowed to give each individual a chance to fight for their future at the Ribble 'Valley club before carving his squad to shape over the summer months. “The players’ attitude has been exem­


made an impressive undefeated start to life at Shawbridge despite applying an experimental approach to his team selections, tactics and formation. With 30 players at his disposal and


they’ve given me everything. It’s a shame I can only play 11 of them at the moment. “I’m working with about 30 play­


plary,” Gamer said. “I’ve done three games now and


ers and I’m trying to chop and change things so I can have a look at all these


Blues coach uses final games to assess squad


players. I still want to be competitive but when most managers at this stage would be playing their strongest 11, I can’t really afford to do that. The squad is incredibly unbalanced and it needs sorting out.” He added: “I owe it to the club, myself


and the players themselves to have a look at these lads. The current exercise is to win as many games as we can while trying to give everyone an opportunity. “It’s a building block for next season;


I’ve already spotted lots of new options and there’s three or four youngsters with real potential. “There’s still players who haven’t had the opportunity, but their chance


will come” The 1-0 Victory at Garforth Town’s Genix Healthcare Stadium at the weekend marked the first triumph for the Blues under Gamer’s tenure, but more importantly it was Clitheroe’s first clean sheet in 20 attempts, the last coming in the 2-0 home victory to Prescot Cables at the end of November. Garners said: “It was excellent and


I can’t speak highly enough of the players. “We defended superbly; I changed


the system, the formation, the players and appointed a new captain in Jack Higgins. He’s only 19 yet he responded to the responsibility really well and mar­ shalled the defence brilliantly. It was our


ing and they kept things simple and worked as a unit. I’ve drilled a much harder mentality in to them when it comes to defending.” . And that victory was followed up with


first clean sheet since November and 20 games have gone by since then. “The defence was mgged, hard-work­


another clean sheet in an astonishing 1-0 victory away at high-flying AFC Fylde. “We were playing third in the league


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away from home and we deserved it,” Gamer said. “We were in their faces and didn’t give them a chance. “We bullied them and it was a mag­


nificent performance and result. And the Blues boss has articulated


a desire to be patient when it comes to bringing in an assistant to help take the club forward. He said: “Things are going great at


the minute so there’s no real rush to make a decision, but I’ll know who that person is when I meet him.”


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