Back in December last year, we decided that Philippa and I would have a trip up to Glasgow and she would compete in her first athletics event in Scotland. We'd heard some really good things about competing in Scotland and about the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, so, the arrangements were made for a trip to the Scottish National Open on the 14th January.
We booked to go up on the train and stay at a Travelodge in Glasgow City Centre, making it a bit exciting for your U15G athlete. The journey up was great and so was the Travelodge, apart from my prison bed as we we're meant to be in a room on the 12th floor & I don't do lifts ! As a result we ended up on the 5th floor in a room they probably hadn't intended to use.
Competition day got off to a good start with a good breakfast and we headed off to the Emirates looking forward to a good day of competition with Philippa taking part in the 60m hurdles & shot putt.
The reports we'd heard about the Emirates Arena weren't wrong as it's a superb indoor facility. The registration process was friendly and we felt relaxed before Philippa went off to do her hurdles drills.
Now what came next was the thing of wonder. Philippa's hurdles times had been steadily coming down and she was placed in the fastest heat & ranked 2nd in the competition. I was a bit nervous as she took to the start line & for once, I stood at the end of straight to video her running towards me.
She had a fantastic race and despite a strong push from two Scottish athletes, she won the race, pulling away from the final hurdle to the finish line. Needless to say, I was over the moon & started to make my way round to meet her. I then noticed the clock, which had stopped at 9.43, which was exciting enough as it was a massive pb. The phone calls then started to home and her coach with the news that she'd won the race and got a new pb. As the Scot's are incredibly well organised, the times were being posted on the internet at the same time as in the Arena. A few minutes after the race the phone rings & I can't hear myself think as Dominic shouts that her time was 9.40 - not only a pb but a Grade 1 performance. Philippa was delighted and straight back on the phone to her coach.
It was a real breakthrough moment & something that we'll never forget.
It's fair to say that we we're both a little giddy and I could have easily taken to the drink, but stuck with tea in the café where we sat grinning for ages. The giddyness probably stayed with us a bit too long as Philippa struggled to focus on the shot putt and she didn't throw as well as we'd hoped - something that we both have to learn to cope with in the future.
I did enjoy a relaxing beer on the train home, still feeling a bit giddy after a fantastic trip away and a real triumph for Philippa which has boosted her confidence no end.
Glasgow has always been one of my favourite cities and our Grade 1 weekend will live long in my memory and we'd recommend a trip for any young athletes.
We booked to go up on the train and stay at a Travelodge in Glasgow City Centre, making it a bit exciting for your U15G athlete. The journey up was great and so was the Travelodge, apart from my prison bed as we we're meant to be in a room on the 12th floor & I don't do lifts ! As a result we ended up on the 5th floor in a room they probably hadn't intended to use.
Competition day got off to a good start with a good breakfast and we headed off to the Emirates looking forward to a good day of competition with Philippa taking part in the 60m hurdles & shot putt.
The reports we'd heard about the Emirates Arena weren't wrong as it's a superb indoor facility. The registration process was friendly and we felt relaxed before Philippa went off to do her hurdles drills.
Now what came next was the thing of wonder. Philippa's hurdles times had been steadily coming down and she was placed in the fastest heat & ranked 2nd in the competition. I was a bit nervous as she took to the start line & for once, I stood at the end of straight to video her running towards me.
She had a fantastic race and despite a strong push from two Scottish athletes, she won the race, pulling away from the final hurdle to the finish line. Needless to say, I was over the moon & started to make my way round to meet her. I then noticed the clock, which had stopped at 9.43, which was exciting enough as it was a massive pb. The phone calls then started to home and her coach with the news that she'd won the race and got a new pb. As the Scot's are incredibly well organised, the times were being posted on the internet at the same time as in the Arena. A few minutes after the race the phone rings & I can't hear myself think as Dominic shouts that her time was 9.40 - not only a pb but a Grade 1 performance. Philippa was delighted and straight back on the phone to her coach.It was a real breakthrough moment & something that we'll never forget.
It's fair to say that we we're both a little giddy and I could have easily taken to the drink, but stuck with tea in the café where we sat grinning for ages. The giddyness probably stayed with us a bit too long as Philippa struggled to focus on the shot putt and she didn't throw as well as we'd hoped - something that we both have to learn to cope with in the future.
I did enjoy a relaxing beer on the train home, still feeling a bit giddy after a fantastic trip away and a real triumph for Philippa which has boosted her confidence no end.Glasgow has always been one of my favourite cities and our Grade 1 weekend will live long in my memory and we'd recommend a trip for any young athletes.
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