Little Heath, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar Chess Club

Potters Bar Olympics - Bank Holiday Monday 28th August 2006

The club took part in the inaugural Potters Bar Olympics finishing fourth behind sport clubs and a local school. Full report below.

The successful teams were:-

Gold

Chess - Chris Cook, Michael Chesworth, Luc Cook

Netball shooting - Michael Turner, Sophie Turner and Lizzie Gill

Silver

Rowing - Chris Cook, Michael Turner / James and Lizzie Gill

Badminton - Ted and Michael Turner

Table Tennis - Michael Turner and Jon Mather

Bronze

Swimming - Luc Cook, Rhian Mather, Sophie Turner and Glenn Reader

Darts - Ted Turner, Michael Turner, Sophie Turner, Adrian and James plus Joy and Ron

Crossbar challenge - Jamie and Luc

1/4 marathon - Chris Cook and Christine Le Couilliard

The day started out at 8 o'clock with the swimming. From a very slow start when there seemed to be just two teams, one (Firebolts) based around Hatfield swimming club with some very strong county swimmers who also happen to play chess. Eventually four teams emerged with our bronze being achieved by three juniors and one adult.

The chess looked to be a walk over when the only other team (the golf club) didn't show up. However the Firebolts took up the challenge. We won eight games and lost one. In between we had a go at the rowing. I thought I was doing well until I looked at the chaps either side of me and saw they were 100 - 200 metres ahead. However Lizzie brought us up from bronze to silver. In the meantime our cyclists looked to have achieved a medal position back at the swimming venue but we finished fourth. Ted and Michael took silver in the badminton behind two strong players.

The basketball shooters had a good score for a while but were overtaken.

The athletics were not our forte at either 100m or 400m. However, James put in a scorching run in his 400m race.

The netball shooting took place in the middle of the field with a strong wind. Each team member took ten consecutive shots under Lizzie's direction with a poor rate of return until Michael put away three of his attempts. Sophie also scored three which left Lizzie with the challenge of overhauling our competitors in the last set of shots. Lizzie quickly netted and the gold was in the bag.

The afternoon continued with a problem. The pool was switched to another venue which left Michael Chesworth to play alone narrowly missing out on third place. Meanwhile the arrow throwers were picking up bronze with a bit of help from Ron Adams and Joy. Michael Turner went off to do battle in the table tennis with Jon Mather. After a lengthy delay whilst bats and balls were sourced Jon and Michael pulled off silver.

Throwing the cricket ball didn't yield any rewards for Adrian and James. I didn't see the football penalties or the crossbar challenge but Jamie (Luc's) friend won us the bronze and was complimented by the referee for his skill in the penalties.

The quarter marathon took place under fire from the target golfers but a very small, elite field set off on five laps of local roads. Christine set off quickly and I eventually caught up with her. We had one runner behind us but started to claw our way up the field. Christine succumbed to illness and under orders I left her to pursue the rest of the field. After being lapped by the winner just before the start of the final lap I caught up with a young lady a few hundred metres from the finish to take fifth place. Christine demonstrated to Paula Radcliffe that finishing Olympic endurance events is important despite problems and we took bronze.

The presentation ceremony entailed a number of trips to the podium for Michael Chesworth and myself.

A very enjoyable if tiring event in a friendly atmosphere. I will be counting my aches and pains after an early start, a restful stint at the chess board followed by 2000m rowing, 100 metre and 400 metre runs, a few darts throws and then a quarter marathon that was a bit longer than 6.1 miles (nearer 7 miles we think).

Oh, and I picked up a silver in the tug of war guesting for the Firebolts.