Showing posts with label Lewis-Francis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lewis-Francis. Show all posts
Monday, 23 May 2011
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY: THE BIG DEALS
The Echo rounds up all the major comings and goings after a frantic end to the January transfer window.
Stephen Emery is staying put at Loughborough despite a £40m bid from Birmingham and reported interest from St Mary's. The engineer has pledged the next 18 months to the African Violets by signing a lucrative contract extension.
Ryan McLeod will not leave Tipton after all. It had been thought that the 7:52 3k man was about to walk out on the Midlands club in a row about iPhone usage.
Linford Christie is to come out of retirement and has signed for Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow. The former Olympic Champion said that he was "hugely excited" at the prospect of helping Windsor back into the Premiership. The club were unsuccessful in convincing Sally Gunnell into a similar comeback.
Newham and Essex Beagles have been fined £750,000 and banned from taking part in the summer transfer window after illegally approaching "the vast majority" of the the GB European Cross Team. They also had a £75m bid for Mo Farah rejected after they realised that they had already signed him.
Mark Lewis-Francis is a free agent after storming out of Birchfield Harriers. The European Silver Medallist was heard to say that "Mark Lewis-Francis most definitely will be running for a bigger club than this next summer". As such his £2m contract was terminated but regrettably for the sprinter no one agreed to take him.
Sale Harriers Manchester sacked their entire squad earlier this month as the new owners decided that they "could do better". However, the club were forced into an embarrassing retreat when nobody returned their emails - not even MLF - and so have re-signed the majority of the team on vastly inflated contracts.
Dave Norman caused outrage at Altrincham after handing in a written transfer request. The 5k star has now signed a 3 year contract extension after failing to agree personal terms with £25m suitors, Southend AC.
Kenenisa Bekele will have to wait to have his move to Aldershot, Farnham and District confirmed. The Ethiopian will undergo a medical later today, but the deal has been put in doubt after Mick Woods offended the athlete's entire entourage. However, AFD will be celebrating after managing to persuade Andy Vernon to sign a four year contract extension rather than opting for a big money move to Bedford & County - who were rumoured to be ready to pay the star over £200,000 a week.
Despite reports in the Echo earlier this month that they were ready to spend big, Southend have not been successful in making a single signing. It is understood that the majority of deals fell through when would-be athletes "visited Southend".
Stephen Emery is staying put at Loughborough despite a £40m bid from Birmingham and reported interest from St Mary's. The engineer has pledged the next 18 months to the African Violets by signing a lucrative contract extension.
Ryan McLeod will not leave Tipton after all. It had been thought that the 7:52 3k man was about to walk out on the Midlands club in a row about iPhone usage.
Linford Christie is to come out of retirement and has signed for Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow. The former Olympic Champion said that he was "hugely excited" at the prospect of helping Windsor back into the Premiership. The club were unsuccessful in convincing Sally Gunnell into a similar comeback.
Newham and Essex Beagles have been fined £750,000 and banned from taking part in the summer transfer window after illegally approaching "the vast majority" of the the GB European Cross Team. They also had a £75m bid for Mo Farah rejected after they realised that they had already signed him.
Mark Lewis-Francis is a free agent after storming out of Birchfield Harriers. The European Silver Medallist was heard to say that "Mark Lewis-Francis most definitely will be running for a bigger club than this next summer". As such his £2m contract was terminated but regrettably for the sprinter no one agreed to take him.
Sale Harriers Manchester sacked their entire squad earlier this month as the new owners decided that they "could do better". However, the club were forced into an embarrassing retreat when nobody returned their emails - not even MLF - and so have re-signed the majority of the team on vastly inflated contracts.
Dave Norman caused outrage at Altrincham after handing in a written transfer request. The 5k star has now signed a 3 year contract extension after failing to agree personal terms with £25m suitors, Southend AC.
Kenenisa Bekele will have to wait to have his move to Aldershot, Farnham and District confirmed. The Ethiopian will undergo a medical later today, but the deal has been put in doubt after Mick Woods offended the athlete's entire entourage. However, AFD will be celebrating after managing to persuade Andy Vernon to sign a four year contract extension rather than opting for a big money move to Bedford & County - who were rumoured to be ready to pay the star over £200,000 a week.
Despite reports in the Echo earlier this month that they were ready to spend big, Southend have not been successful in making a single signing. It is understood that the majority of deals fell through when would-be athletes "visited Southend".
Sunday, 15 August 2010
INVERDALE UNDERLINES MONOPOLY, BUT THERE’S NO ESCAPING PHIL JONES
“And a word, Tyson about the crowd?” The obligatory ‘crowd question’ dominates just about all of the BBC’s Phil Jones’ interviews, as if the crowd is that much different from any other the world class athletes have competed in front of on the European circuit (or indeed the Olympic Games or World Championships). Jones is never content with just a cursory “it’s always nice when the spectators are so enthusiastic”. Such a flippant response will be met with a follow up: “but what about this crowd?” Yesterday, Blanka Vlasic was deemed to have sounded less than absolutely ecstatic about the crowd support and so Jones tried a different angle: "in this weather too". Seemingly, there is no escaping the man with the BBC microphone as some bright spark at the Beeb came up with the idea that he could be a ‘roaming’ reporter from now on. Gone are the days when disappointed failures can hurry through the mixed zone avoiding eye contact. Now you get the feeling that Jones will chase any potential interviewee all the way back to his/her hotel in order to understand how the crowd may or may not have influenced their performance.
No such problems for John Inverdale who is fast becoming the Godfather of BBC sports coverage. Only the very select few (BBC darling Jess Ennis) got the nod to be interviewed by the great man. Inverdale's interviews are astoundingly effective as there is a feeling of the headmaster's study about his booth: the athlete is almost certainly more in awe of Inverdale than the other way around. If athletes are battling to escape the Jones treatment, any sports fan really can’t get away from Inverdale. Whatever the sport, Inverdale is there: swimming, horse jumping, tennis, golf, rugby, athletics: you name it- he's covering it. Indeed back in June, on what should have been his day off from Wimbledon coverage, the maestro was hurriedly dispatched to Birmingham Alexander stadium to cover for the bungling Jonathan Edwards. One can’t help thinking that the veteran broadcaster does as he wishes as producers are fearful of what could be an almighty kick off. Surely it is no co-incidence that Sue Barker is looking increasingly uncomfortable on A Question of Sport and Gary Lineker looks like a dead man walking on Match of the Day. The Inverdale juggernaut is seemingly unstoppable; just ask Hazel Irvine who has been sent to the wilderness of women's golf, probably after knocking the Godfather's water over or something.
Inverdale’s showing at Crystal Palace after what was an obviously draining European campaign was made to look all the more impressive by the limp displays of Colin Jackson and Denise Lewis. For too long now, these two have failed to deliver and Inverdale was only too ready to pounce on such weakness. And so when it came to analysing Mo Farah’s 3000m, the distance runners in the commentary box were deemed surplus to requirements by the rampant Inverdale who decided to quiz Lewis (a heptathlete) and Jackson (a hurdler) about it instead. In a ‘rabbit caught in headlights’ moment, Lewis concluded that Farah had “given it his all”, which was met with an “absolutely” from Jackson. Inverdale could barely hide the smile from his face.
Happily, Denise Lewis seems totally incapable of saying anything nasty (or indeed of any value). This is perfect for a meeting in which the British athletes undoubtedly crashed back down to earth from the dizzy heights of European glory. “It’s really hard to get yourself motivated for meetings like this after the major Championships” preached Lewis. Is it? The obvious first question is whether an event in which 10.18 seconds is good enough for a silver medal in the 100m can really be classed as “major”; and then there is the question of whether it should matter. We do not hear of many surgeons who, after a patient dies, sigh and say that they were struggling to get over performing well at a “major” operation last week. Sensationally, the only individual who appears to have conceded as much was the much loved Mark ‘most definitely’ Lewis-Francis. “This is what I do for a living,” said the European silver medallist whilst making some strange movements with his hands, “there’s no excuse”. Unfortunately, Lewis-Francis had already humiliated himself by choosing to point enthusiastically at his baton having won the 4x100m relay whilst mouthing to the camera, “I’m number one!” That’s debatable, but what cannot be debated is that the baton was clearly embossed with the number 3. Such stupid behaviour could well be met with an Inverdale summons early next week.
No such problems for John Inverdale who is fast becoming the Godfather of BBC sports coverage. Only the very select few (BBC darling Jess Ennis) got the nod to be interviewed by the great man. Inverdale's interviews are astoundingly effective as there is a feeling of the headmaster's study about his booth: the athlete is almost certainly more in awe of Inverdale than the other way around. If athletes are battling to escape the Jones treatment, any sports fan really can’t get away from Inverdale. Whatever the sport, Inverdale is there: swimming, horse jumping, tennis, golf, rugby, athletics: you name it- he's covering it. Indeed back in June, on what should have been his day off from Wimbledon coverage, the maestro was hurriedly dispatched to Birmingham Alexander stadium to cover for the bungling Jonathan Edwards. One can’t help thinking that the veteran broadcaster does as he wishes as producers are fearful of what could be an almighty kick off. Surely it is no co-incidence that Sue Barker is looking increasingly uncomfortable on A Question of Sport and Gary Lineker looks like a dead man walking on Match of the Day. The Inverdale juggernaut is seemingly unstoppable; just ask Hazel Irvine who has been sent to the wilderness of women's golf, probably after knocking the Godfather's water over or something.
Inverdale’s showing at Crystal Palace after what was an obviously draining European campaign was made to look all the more impressive by the limp displays of Colin Jackson and Denise Lewis. For too long now, these two have failed to deliver and Inverdale was only too ready to pounce on such weakness. And so when it came to analysing Mo Farah’s 3000m, the distance runners in the commentary box were deemed surplus to requirements by the rampant Inverdale who decided to quiz Lewis (a heptathlete) and Jackson (a hurdler) about it instead. In a ‘rabbit caught in headlights’ moment, Lewis concluded that Farah had “given it his all”, which was met with an “absolutely” from Jackson. Inverdale could barely hide the smile from his face.
Happily, Denise Lewis seems totally incapable of saying anything nasty (or indeed of any value). This is perfect for a meeting in which the British athletes undoubtedly crashed back down to earth from the dizzy heights of European glory. “It’s really hard to get yourself motivated for meetings like this after the major Championships” preached Lewis. Is it? The obvious first question is whether an event in which 10.18 seconds is good enough for a silver medal in the 100m can really be classed as “major”; and then there is the question of whether it should matter. We do not hear of many surgeons who, after a patient dies, sigh and say that they were struggling to get over performing well at a “major” operation last week. Sensationally, the only individual who appears to have conceded as much was the much loved Mark ‘most definitely’ Lewis-Francis. “This is what I do for a living,” said the European silver medallist whilst making some strange movements with his hands, “there’s no excuse”. Unfortunately, Lewis-Francis had already humiliated himself by choosing to point enthusiastically at his baton having won the 4x100m relay whilst mouthing to the camera, “I’m number one!” That’s debatable, but what cannot be debated is that the baton was clearly embossed with the number 3. Such stupid behaviour could well be met with an Inverdale summons early next week.
Friday, 13 August 2010
ROUNDING EVERYTHING UP
GREAT NEWS fans! We're back. Rumours that "creative differences" could have brought an end to the Echo are unfounded. We're as united as we have ever been and ready to get on with some serious reporting. However, a quick gloss over Eightlane reveals that we have missed a good deal in the past fortnight and so here it all is...........
UKA MISSING CAKE RIDDLE
BMC DENIES 'MAKING UP' TIMES
Red faced officials at the British Milers Club have been forced to deny that they made up the times at a recent meeting. An insider said: "it was absolutely legitimate. Bob stood at the start of the race and counted out loud for the duration of the 5k. We then had Gill writing down the times as people crossed the line." The source dismissed suggestions that this wasn't accurate and rejected accusations that they asked athletes "what they thought they'd run" after the event.
ATHLETE FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEELE IN PASSPORT GAFFE
The athlete formerly known as Geele, now to be referred to as Gala has lost his passport just days after being given it, the Lufbra Echo can reveal. Concerned UKA chiefs have asked the public to be on the look out for the document, which Geele (or Gala, possibly both) last saw when boarding a tram in Wimbledon. "It's mystery," sighed a UKA official, "it took us ages to get the lad British Citizenship and now we may have to start over." Insiders have also denied rumours that the Newham star changed his name in a sponsorship deal with Gala bingo.
BARNI IN CRYSTAL PALACE SNUB
OUT IN THE COLD: Barni failed to impress in Barcelona
If you go down to the Palace today you won't be seeing Barni Bear, the Lufbra Echo is sad to report. After what many have called a "disappointing" European Championships, the mascot was denied entry into the United Kingdom early this morning. Mr. Barni, who in truth struggled to live up to the glorious performance of his relative Berlino, was arrested at Heathrow after UKA decided that they didn't want him "anywhere near" the Diamond League meeting this evening. An insider said that many found the bear "disturbing". "Let's face it," said the source "he isn't the cuddly wonder that Berlino was...there's something not right about him; more an albino prototype than a sporting mascot."
UKA MISSING CAKE RIDDLE
BMC DENIES 'MAKING UP' TIMES
Red faced officials at the British Milers Club have been forced to deny that they made up the times at a recent meeting. An insider said: "it was absolutely legitimate. Bob stood at the start of the race and counted out loud for the duration of the 5k. We then had Gill writing down the times as people crossed the line." The source dismissed suggestions that this wasn't accurate and rejected accusations that they asked athletes "what they thought they'd run" after the event.
ATHLETE FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEELE IN PASSPORT GAFFE
The athlete formerly known as Geele, now to be referred to as Gala has lost his passport just days after being given it, the Lufbra Echo can reveal. Concerned UKA chiefs have asked the public to be on the look out for the document, which Geele (or Gala, possibly both) last saw when boarding a tram in Wimbledon. "It's mystery," sighed a UKA official, "it took us ages to get the lad British Citizenship and now we may have to start over." Insiders have also denied rumours that the Newham star changed his name in a sponsorship deal with Gala bingo.
BARNI IN CRYSTAL PALACE SNUB
OUT IN THE COLD: Barni failed to impress in Barcelona
If you go down to the Palace today you won't be seeing Barni Bear, the Lufbra Echo is sad to report. After what many have called a "disappointing" European Championships, the mascot was denied entry into the United Kingdom early this morning. Mr. Barni, who in truth struggled to live up to the glorious performance of his relative Berlino, was arrested at Heathrow after UKA decided that they didn't want him "anywhere near" the Diamond League meeting this evening. An insider said that many found the bear "disturbing". "Let's face it," said the source "he isn't the cuddly wonder that Berlino was...there's something not right about him; more an albino prototype than a sporting mascot."
Thursday, 29 July 2010
'ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN FINAL' SHOCK
The British athletics community is reeling from the revelation that "anything can happen in a final". It seems that theory was developed by top UKA boffins and has been drilled into every single athlete competing, either that or it is a competition to see how many times you can say the phrase. Alas, Echo favourite, James Dasaolu was unable to see if anything could happen as he did not manage to make the final of the 100m. Speaking shortly before the Championships, Dasaolu confidently told Phil Jones of the BBC that "firstly, I want to make the final....anything can happen in a final....firstly, I want to win a medal. In order to win a medal, I have to make the final". Right.
Further credence was given to the theory last night when Mark Lewis-Francis (self styled: MLF) stormed to a silver medal in 10.18 seconds- just 0.6s off the World Record. It was incredibly unfortunate for the BBC as they spent much of the time we all had to wait for the result pondering what colour medal Dwain Chambers might have won. Completely oblivious to the fact that Lewis-Francis had quite literally rolled his way to silver, Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson launched into a post mortem on Chambers' race: "he over strides and it cost him the race...it might even be that Bronze," opined Jackson of Chambers (who finished fifth), before confirming that Lamaitre "so certainly" won the race. In fact, so sure were Beeb producers that Lewis-Francis was not going to win a medal that they didn't even bother to put a front-on camera in his lane, thus meaning viewers were robbed of the opportunity to hear the pundits' views on his facial expressions.
"I'm so happy right about now," said Lewis-Francis of his "new beginning", before ruining his moment by deciding to speak in the third-person: "this is the new Mark Lewis-Francis". Is it? Would that be the same "new" Lewis-Francis who actually ran quicker a few years ago, won an Olympic (relay) medal and then went on to test positive for marijuana in 2005? Perhaps not. Thankfully, the BBC had wasted so long dwelling on the demise of Chambers that we weren't able to find out much about MLF's views on his medal. He did, however, state that it "was all thanks to Linford [Christie, Lewis-Francis' coach and convicted drug cheat]" before going onto say that it was also thanks to just about everyone else in the stadium.
Lewis-Francis was clearly delighted and rightly so. But he wasn't half as delighted as Steve Cram was when Chambers failed to medal: "Chambers has crumbled!" he gleefully proclaimed before continuing his pre-race love in with the victorious Frenchman. Oh well, Steve, we all agree that we shouldn't ever forgive people for their past mistakes- particularly cheats! Just like I hate people who run off and cheat on their wives when they have kids at home. I'm sure you'll agree.
Further credence was given to the theory last night when Mark Lewis-Francis (self styled: MLF) stormed to a silver medal in 10.18 seconds- just 0.6s off the World Record. It was incredibly unfortunate for the BBC as they spent much of the time we all had to wait for the result pondering what colour medal Dwain Chambers might have won. Completely oblivious to the fact that Lewis-Francis had quite literally rolled his way to silver, Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson launched into a post mortem on Chambers' race: "he over strides and it cost him the race...it might even be that Bronze," opined Jackson of Chambers (who finished fifth), before confirming that Lamaitre "so certainly" won the race. In fact, so sure were Beeb producers that Lewis-Francis was not going to win a medal that they didn't even bother to put a front-on camera in his lane, thus meaning viewers were robbed of the opportunity to hear the pundits' views on his facial expressions.
"I'm so happy right about now," said Lewis-Francis of his "new beginning", before ruining his moment by deciding to speak in the third-person: "this is the new Mark Lewis-Francis". Is it? Would that be the same "new" Lewis-Francis who actually ran quicker a few years ago, won an Olympic (relay) medal and then went on to test positive for marijuana in 2005? Perhaps not. Thankfully, the BBC had wasted so long dwelling on the demise of Chambers that we weren't able to find out much about MLF's views on his medal. He did, however, state that it "was all thanks to Linford [Christie, Lewis-Francis' coach and convicted drug cheat]" before going onto say that it was also thanks to just about everyone else in the stadium.
Lewis-Francis was clearly delighted and rightly so. But he wasn't half as delighted as Steve Cram was when Chambers failed to medal: "Chambers has crumbled!" he gleefully proclaimed before continuing his pre-race love in with the victorious Frenchman. Oh well, Steve, we all agree that we shouldn't ever forgive people for their past mistakes- particularly cheats! Just like I hate people who run off and cheat on their wives when they have kids at home. I'm sure you'll agree.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
LOUGHBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL NEWS.....
'LONG TRACK' DENIES DASAOLOU SUB-10
Echo favourite, James Dasaolu has said that he is "well furious" this evening after improving his lifetime best over 100m to 10.06 seconds (wind assisted). The Loughborough based star argued with officials for over 20 minutes before the start of the race as felt that he was being started "at least half a metre" behind where he should have been. LSAC insiders have denied speculation that the GB International was about to be expelled from the race. Speaking from a press conference, Dasaolu hailed what he called a "moral sub-10" and revealed that he would be appealing to the IAAF. "The way I see it," said the Croydon star, "I have just set the world record for 100.5 metres. It's a great honour." There was much excitement before the race that Loughborough might to be about to witness its first ever sub-10 second 100m. Furious spectators are now demanding a full refund after it failed to materialise. It is rumoured that male observers were also upset that "the females were not looking their best".
LOUGHBOROUGH ATHLETES COMPETE IN LOUGHBOROUGH EVENT OUTCRY
George Gandy is being forced to respond to furious accusations of favouritism this evening, after it was revealed that some Loughborough based athletes were allowed to take part as guests in the Loughborough International. Angry posters on popular running forum eightlane.com have called on the LSAC and UKA chief to resign. One poster, who didn't give his real name, said that it was "unfair" that "[poor] athletes were allowed to compete." The anonymous poster who may or may not be any good at running also slammed Gandy's decision to drop the men's steeplechase accusing the guru of having an attitude that "Loughborogh [sic] do not have any chasers so we will not put that event on the schedule". Another courageously anonymous poster said that "surely questions should be asked." A spokesman for the Fairness in Athletic Inclusion, Regulation, Interest and Emotional Support (FAIRIES) said, "we have had enough of this now. The other day, I was at a meeting in St. Mary's and it was full of St. Mary's athletes. That isn't fair. We've had reports of similar situations at Birmingham and Bath as well."
The Echo can also reveal that Mr. Gandy may well be in hot water over claims that Loughborough athletes are being allowed a "disproportionate" amount of time on their home track. It is likely that he is going to have to explain to Government chiefs why some distance athletes are allowed to train on the track "as often as three times a week." The source at FAIRIES went on, "it means that the African Violets are always at an advantage. I think they should be restricted in their ability to train."
'PATHETIC' PACEMAKING FRUSTRATES TAYLOR
Johnny Taylor has hit out at what he calls the "most ridiculous pacemaking performance of all time" after failing to win the Match race of the 1500m. Taylor has said that the pacemaker, Ben Green, clearly "bowed to pressure from the crowd". Speaking after the race, the Teesider said "I heard somebody shout to him to slow down. He was only 50m clear of the pack and so I can't understand why he did. It ruined my race, I was going to catch him." Taylor revealed that the reason he chose not to go with the pace was that it was "very windy in [his] lane." Taylor went on, "everyone knows that it is the start that counts and I was badly disadvantaged by being right in the wind. The first 45m was really tough". Meanwhile, Frank Baddick blamed a change in milk for his below par performance. The Newham and Essex Beagle said "I have just switched to the orange top stuff from Sainos [Sainsbury's] and that probably upset the calcium-fat balance in my blood and so explains the bad run. I'm completely, totally, 110% relaxed about it".
POLLEN COUNT CAUSES CHAOS
The Loughborough International ran several minutes behind schedule after officials had to make no fewer than ten "airborne pollen inspections" over the course of the afternoon. The checks were enforced after several athletes, including 100m Olympian Mark Lewis-Francis, called the pollen count "dangerously high." Indeed, Lewis-Francis called for the meeting to be cancelled just minutes before his event as the roof of his mouth was "very itchy." After being convinced to compete, the sprint ace revealed how he "wouldn't be bothering" with the event again. "Let's face it, I am better than this," said the former Olympic (relay) Champion, "it's just that I have been injured and so can't go anywhere else. I looked around at the start and thought, 'gee is this how bad things have got?' I guess things can only get better now."
Echo favourite, James Dasaolu has said that he is "well furious" this evening after improving his lifetime best over 100m to 10.06 seconds (wind assisted). The Loughborough based star argued with officials for over 20 minutes before the start of the race as felt that he was being started "at least half a metre" behind where he should have been. LSAC insiders have denied speculation that the GB International was about to be expelled from the race. Speaking from a press conference, Dasaolu hailed what he called a "moral sub-10" and revealed that he would be appealing to the IAAF. "The way I see it," said the Croydon star, "I have just set the world record for 100.5 metres. It's a great honour." There was much excitement before the race that Loughborough might to be about to witness its first ever sub-10 second 100m. Furious spectators are now demanding a full refund after it failed to materialise. It is rumoured that male observers were also upset that "the females were not looking their best".
LOUGHBOROUGH ATHLETES COMPETE IN LOUGHBOROUGH EVENT OUTCRY
George Gandy is being forced to respond to furious accusations of favouritism this evening, after it was revealed that some Loughborough based athletes were allowed to take part as guests in the Loughborough International. Angry posters on popular running forum eightlane.com have called on the LSAC and UKA chief to resign. One poster, who didn't give his real name, said that it was "unfair" that "[poor] athletes were allowed to compete." The anonymous poster who may or may not be any good at running also slammed Gandy's decision to drop the men's steeplechase accusing the guru of having an attitude that "Loughborogh [sic] do not have any chasers so we will not put that event on the schedule". Another courageously anonymous poster said that "surely questions should be asked." A spokesman for the Fairness in Athletic Inclusion, Regulation, Interest and Emotional Support (FAIRIES) said, "we have had enough of this now. The other day, I was at a meeting in St. Mary's and it was full of St. Mary's athletes. That isn't fair. We've had reports of similar situations at Birmingham and Bath as well."
The Echo can also reveal that Mr. Gandy may well be in hot water over claims that Loughborough athletes are being allowed a "disproportionate" amount of time on their home track. It is likely that he is going to have to explain to Government chiefs why some distance athletes are allowed to train on the track "as often as three times a week." The source at FAIRIES went on, "it means that the African Violets are always at an advantage. I think they should be restricted in their ability to train."
'PATHETIC' PACEMAKING FRUSTRATES TAYLOR
Johnny Taylor has hit out at what he calls the "most ridiculous pacemaking performance of all time" after failing to win the Match race of the 1500m. Taylor has said that the pacemaker, Ben Green, clearly "bowed to pressure from the crowd". Speaking after the race, the Teesider said "I heard somebody shout to him to slow down. He was only 50m clear of the pack and so I can't understand why he did. It ruined my race, I was going to catch him." Taylor revealed that the reason he chose not to go with the pace was that it was "very windy in [his] lane." Taylor went on, "everyone knows that it is the start that counts and I was badly disadvantaged by being right in the wind. The first 45m was really tough". Meanwhile, Frank Baddick blamed a change in milk for his below par performance. The Newham and Essex Beagle said "I have just switched to the orange top stuff from Sainos [Sainsbury's] and that probably upset the calcium-fat balance in my blood and so explains the bad run. I'm completely, totally, 110% relaxed about it".
POLLEN COUNT CAUSES CHAOS
The Loughborough International ran several minutes behind schedule after officials had to make no fewer than ten "airborne pollen inspections" over the course of the afternoon. The checks were enforced after several athletes, including 100m Olympian Mark Lewis-Francis, called the pollen count "dangerously high." Indeed, Lewis-Francis called for the meeting to be cancelled just minutes before his event as the roof of his mouth was "very itchy." After being convinced to compete, the sprint ace revealed how he "wouldn't be bothering" with the event again. "Let's face it, I am better than this," said the former Olympic (relay) Champion, "it's just that I have been injured and so can't go anywhere else. I looked around at the start and thought, 'gee is this how bad things have got?' I guess things can only get better now."
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