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Members, Coaches, Retired Rovers Runners... Do you have a story to tell? What do you hope to be doing at 2012 London Olympics? The next Special Feature could be about you! E-mail your story to: webmaster@eastbourneroversac.co.uk (or see Contact Page for further details) |
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Many of our athletes train hard all year round in all weathers. We have an excellent modern track to use and dedicated coaches and managers supporting the athletes at every step. Education in fitness and nutrition is offered in schools and in multi-media outlets in our children's high-tech world. But how much of our
athletes successes are down to regular training all year round or is it in
their blood?
Sam Turton (right) trained with ERAC since the age of eleven. He was Sussex Champion at 400m in the under 15 age group, and again in the under 17 group. He has represented Sussex at several inter-county events and competed in the Sussex Schools Championships. He has been given an Award for High Achievement in Sport two years running by East Sussex County Council and has been presented with several awards from the club. Sam has now left the club to go to university but he trained hard for the success he enjoyed on the track. But there are running legs in the family! Sam's great uncle, Richard Stevens, (grandmother's brother) was also a keen runner in the 1940's. Despite having a reserved occupation during the war and volunteering as an air-raid warden in London in the evenings, he found time to train with the Dorking St. Paul's Athletic Club. He trained regularly with other members of the club such as John Parlett who represented Great Britain in the last Olympics held in London in 1948. Richard was his pace-setter and helped him to glory in the 880yards. The following paragraph comes from an old newspaper cutting kept by Richard Stevens: AthleticsDorking St. Paul’s A.C. Win Against London University A.C. and Worthing Harriers. Once again this season Dorking St. Paul’s have maintained their supremacy in a triangular match with London University A.C. and Worthing Harriers, held at Pixham-lane Sports Ground last Saturday. Performances were first class and well rewarded the large crowd of spectators. The total points for each team were close throughout the match; at one time they were all equal, but towards the end Dorking forged ahead and won the match comfortably in an exciting relay in which the Dorking team again gained several yards in their very smooth take-overs. H.J.Parlett’s Fine Performance. The outstanding performance was that of H.J. Parlett (D.S.P) in the 880 yards, in which he broke his own club record by over three seconds and also the ground record set by Ede, of Epsom, earlier this season by nearly one second. His time of 1 min. 58.9 secs places Parlett in the same ranks as some of our top line athletes, and his performance in coming seasons will be followed with great interest. Later in the afternoon he also ran well in a very close 440 yards to win in 53.9 secs. J. Greatex, a member of Dorking St. Paul’s, but in the javelin throw for the University of London, set up a new ground record of 159ft 7 ins. Other noteworthy performances were the double win of A.C. Laing (W.H.) in the 100 yards and 220 yards, and the fine run of N.E. Hodson in the one mile, which he won in 4mins 44secs. (Richard Stevens came third in the one mile race). Result of Match – Dorking 74 points, University of London 63 points, Worthing Harriers 61 points. This report is likely to accompany the photographs found with it, dated 1945, nine years before Roger Bannister achieved the first under four minute mile. Richard Stevens was also a designer and keen photographer hence this fantastic collection of images recently unearthed by his family. Does anyone recognise the background? Some of the photos are marked Tooting 1945. Unfortunately Sam's uncle died before Sam had begun his athletic training with Eastbourne Rovers Athletic Club but he would have been proud to see his nephew become Sussex Champion.
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