News


SPORT IN BRIEF


Athletics’ warning for next Olympic generation


Britain’s future Olympic hopes will be damaged unless schools’ athletics is able to return to some sort of normality.


That’s the view of Chris Cohen, general secretary of the English Schools Athletic Association, the organisation that has nurtured some of the country’s greatest champions.


2020 proved an unprecedented year for the ESAA with most of its major events cancelled, including the Track & Field Championships, the Track & Field Schools’ Cup and the Schools’ Cross Country Cup.


Now the teacher-led association, whose championships have bred the likes of Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Kelly Holmes, Greg Rutherford and Paula Radcliffe, has warned of the dire effect on future athletes.


With the delayed Tokyo Olympics hopefully taking place in 2021, Chris explained: “It’s been a difficult year so far, and the effects look as though they will be with us for some time.


“Many schools started their school year with athletics, rather than their normal autumn sports, but there has clearly been a huge reduction in activity by keen athletes who have seen their training opportunities disappear with tracks only slowly opening.


“But it has probably been more keenly felt by the average youngster, whose school PE and sport is what keeps him or her fit and creates an opening into sport in general, and athletics in particular.


“Athletics is a sport that requires some facilities, and for many events, equipment, that has just not been accessible, leaving many with no experience of the sport at all this year. How many possible 2032 Olympic gold medallists will never even take up the sport?”


An exhibition of the history of the ESAA, in partnership with the Athletics Museum, was due to take place in Manchester at the Track & Field Championships.


Instead it went online at


theathleticsmuseum.org.uk and has been hugely successful, with many athletes, former athletes, parents and athletics fans responding to it.


While 2020 was largely a write-off for schools’


athletics, 2021 could see a return to normality eventually once the Covid vaccine programme takes effect.


And while Chris Cohen is standing down as honorary secretary to take up duties with the Tokyo Olympics and other major


championships, he is handing over the reigns to longtime ESAA member Sue Garvey.


It is not yet certain if the National Cross Country Championships on March 13 will be able to take place. Much depends on whether county organisations can hold county championships in January or February.


However, Chris is more hopeful regarding the schools’ Track and Field Cup on July 3 and the English Schools’ Championships in Manchester on July 10.


He explains: “For next summer, we are planning a number of contingencies, from a normal athletics championships down to a three day event with a different age group each day of the championships weekend and are trying to persuade hotels to be flexible enough to allow us to decide the format as late as we can.


“We’ve taken into account how many people may be allowed into the stadium at Manchester, and therefore how many athletes, team staff, officials and spectators we may get in, depending on whether the tier system is still in place by then, or has been modified or even forgotten.


“We may increase standards to reduce numbers if necessary or set limits on county team size, but all are currently on the table and all will be looked at during the early new year to see how it can work.


“Possibly the biggest challenge will be the long throws, which require us to use an outside venue in addition to the arena that is in use.


“We had negotiated the use of the school across the road from the stadium but there will need to be lots of discussion to ensure they will allow us to use it without compromising the safety of their own pupils. This will be a challenge when decisions start to be made about the format we use.”


(We taught…Katarina Johnson Thompson – check out pages 20-21)


Issue No.81 January/February/March 2021 SCHOOL SPORT 9


Historic rivalries have been swept aside as two hockey giants from opposing countries have united to teach at Gordon’s School in Surrey. Former Pakistan Olympian Muhammad Irfan has joined former GB player David Mathews on the hockey coaching staff of the first team, which last season enjoyed its most successful season ever.


Former tour pro Suzi Larkin has joined Eastbourne College as performance tennis coach. In her time as a touring professional (2016-18), she reached a career high of 620 in the world rankings and 14 in Great Britain (GB). Eastbourne College is increasingly viewed as the school of choice for elite tennis players as well as for children of tennis-playing families. The girls’ team has gained direct entry to the national school finals in each of the last three years and always finished as quarter finalists or better.


Brentwood School’s equestrian team have been crowned the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) Eventer Challenge 95 National Champions of 2020. After a coronavirus- enforced hiatus, Essex’ Brentwood riders competed against schools from across the UK in the NSEA Championships at Hickstead, West Sussex.


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