When I joined my two brothers at Highgate Harriers over 50 years ago, the thought of being honoured by the ECCA as its president had never entered my head. Thinking about our sport, what’s changed over the last 50 years?
Back then, the national cross country was officiated by people in blazers, often cold and wet, who timed with expensive stop watches. Results were typed up, put in envelopes to be later posted out. Marshals were casual volunteers dressed in everyday clothing with not a hi-vis jacket in sight. Competitors changed in spartan facilities and supporters did their best to find an indoor toilet or hot cup of tea. How things have changed, and at an exponential rate.
Today we have electronic timing, well briefed marshals, all weather clothing for officials, radios, mobile phones and static and mobile first aid support. Results are recorded by computers and accessible for all in real time. Conditions for competitors and supporters have changed dramatically too. We have portaloos, car and coach parking, informative announcements, clearly signed facilities and onsite caterers and who could have imagined the now familiar site of the club’s tented village resplendently decorated with flags and banners.
The impact of these changes inevitably increases the demands on venues. It’s no longer just the case of ensuring that the distances and terrain are suitable, there are so many more things like access and waste management to consider too, as well as the impact on other users of these spaces too – it takes a while for churned up ground to become usable grass again! It’s testament to the hard work of voluntary organisers that they continue to find appropriate venues and plan and execute great events.
But what has stayed the same is treating the challenges of the course and fellow competitors with respect and an enduring spirit of fair play. Those values, whose importance extend far beyond a muddy path, are arguably more important than 50 years ago.
