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Post by Mark on Aug 7, 2012 17:35:05 GMT
Kelly Holmes
Debbie Page, my PE teacher at Hugh Christie Comprehensive (as it was then) in Tonbridge, Kent, saw something beyond raw talent in me on the sports field.
She cajoled me into entering an inter-schools cross-country race when I was 12. To be truthful, I wasn’t keen.
It was a wet, frosty December morning and I found myself beside Stacey on the starting line.
There I was, the council-estate kid, in my plimsolls, shabby Airtex shirt and a skirt that was so short that I had to keep tugging it down to cover my knickers. Stacey, of course, had the proper, Lycra kit.
So I wasn’t exactly confident. But I gave it my best. I ran my heart out. And I came second. I still recall standing there, mud-splattered and breathless . . . and utterly thrilled. Miss Page showered me in praise.
But in that instant, too, she instilled something else: something that has stayed with me. She challenged me. She told me how to improve, to strive for success.
SHE taught me that if I worked hard and had the will, tenacity, self-belief and commitment, I could achieve something. In essence, she made me realise that second could just as well have been last. I may have triumphed but I hadn’t won. Within six months I was pounding my local athletics track and at 13, I was the English schools champion at 1500m. Lesson learned. It didn’t mean I never lost again, of course.
But it did mean that I always strove, passionately, to win. I had found my motivation.
And I held hard to that mantra: that all those gruelling early morning workouts, those moments when I pushed my body beyond endurance were the price of ultimate glory.
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Post by saddletramp on Aug 7, 2012 17:54:50 GMT
Kelly Holmes
Debbie Page, my PE teacher at Hugh Christie Comprehensive (as it was then) in Tonbridge, Kent, saw something beyond raw talent in me on the sports field. She cajoled me into entering an inter-schools cross-country race when I was 12. To be truthful, I wasn’t keen. It was a wet, frosty December morning and I found myself beside Stacey on the starting line. There I was, the council-estate kid, in my plimsolls, shabby Airtex shirt and a skirt that was so short that I had to keep tugging it down to cover my knickers. Stacey, of course, had the proper, Lycra kit. So I wasn’t exactly confident. But I gave it my best. I ran my heart out. And I came second. I still recall standing there, mud-splattered and breathless . . . and utterly thrilled. Miss Page showered me in praise. But in that instant, too, she instilled something else: something that has stayed with me. She challenged me. She told me how to improve, to strive for success. SHE taught me that if I worked hard and had the will, tenacity, self-belief and commitment, I could achieve something. In essence, she made me realise that second could just as well have been last. I may have triumphed but I hadn’t won. Within six months I was pounding my local athletics track and at 13, I was the English schools champion at 1500m. Lesson learned. It didn’t mean I never lost again, of course. But it did mean that I always strove, passionately, to win. I had found my motivation. And I held hard to that mantra: that all those gruelling early morning workouts, those moments when I pushed my body beyond endurance were the price of ultimate glory. And? as a 14 year old i finished 17th in the north of England cross country race out of a field of 650. But i didnt need my parents to cough up for a 10 grand horse,or stable it for x amount of pounds. Someone else said join your local tennis club,what f*cking local tennis club.what local cycling club,what local archery club,there aint nothing around where i live for my kids to do.
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Post by Lone Gunman on Aug 7, 2012 18:23:00 GMT
It seems to me that your prejudice is based on very subjective criteria. Just because in your area there aren't a lot of facilities doesn't mean that is replicated throughout the country.
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Post by Long John Silver on Aug 7, 2012 19:04:10 GMT
Kelly Holmes
Debbie Page, my PE teacher at Hugh Christie Comprehensive (as it was then) in Tonbridge, Kent, saw something beyond raw talent in me on the sports field. She cajoled me into entering an inter-schools cross-country race when I was 12. To be truthful, I wasn’t keen. It was a wet, frosty December morning and I found myself beside Stacey on the starting line. There I was, the council-estate kid, in my plimsolls, shabby Airtex shirt and a skirt that was so short that I had to keep tugging it down to cover my knickers. Stacey, of course, had the proper, Lycra kit. So I wasn’t exactly confident. But I gave it my best. I ran my heart out. And I came second. I still recall standing there, mud-splattered and breathless . . . and utterly thrilled. Miss Page showered me in praise. But in that instant, too, she instilled something else: something that has stayed with me. She challenged me. She told me how to improve, to strive for success. SHE taught me that if I worked hard and had the will, tenacity, self-belief and commitment, I could achieve something. In essence, she made me realise that second could just as well have been last. I may have triumphed but I hadn’t won. Within six months I was pounding my local athletics track and at 13, I was the English schools champion at 1500m. Lesson learned. It didn’t mean I never lost again, of course. But it did mean that I always strove, passionately, to win. I had found my motivation. And I held hard to that mantra: that all those gruelling early morning workouts, those moments when I pushed my body beyond endurance were the price of ultimate glory. And? as a 14 year old i finished 17th in the north of England cross country race out of a field of 650. But i didnt need my parents to cough up for a 10 grand horse,or stable it for x amount of pounds. Someone else said join your local tennis club,what f*cking local tennis club. what local cycling club,what local archery club,there aint nothing around where i live for my kids to do. How about this... www.oxoniancc.co.uk £4 a year for junior membership... and probably based in Oxford. Is North Hinksey really that far away? ... oxford-archers.org/Sounds like convenient excuses to me.
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Post by sihath on Aug 7, 2012 19:14:35 GMT
Kelly Holmes
Debbie Page, my PE teacher at Hugh Christie Comprehensive (as it was then) in Tonbridge, Kent, saw something beyond raw talent in me on the sports field. She cajoled me into entering an inter-schools cross-country race when I was 12. To be truthful, I wasn’t keen. It was a wet, frosty December morning and I found myself beside Stacey on the starting line. There I was, the council-estate kid, in my plimsolls, shabby Airtex shirt and a skirt that was so short that I had to keep tugging it down to cover my knickers. Stacey, of course, had the proper, Lycra kit. So I wasn’t exactly confident. But I gave it my best. I ran my heart out. And I came second. I still recall standing there, mud-splattered and breathless . . . and utterly thrilled. Miss Page showered me in praise. But in that instant, too, she instilled something else: something that has stayed with me. She challenged me. She told me how to improve, to strive for success. SHE taught me that if I worked hard and had the will, tenacity, self-belief and commitment, I could achieve something. In essence, she made me realise that second could just as well have been last. I may have triumphed but I hadn’t won. Within six months I was pounding my local athletics track and at 13, I was the English schools champion at 1500m. Lesson learned. It didn’t mean I never lost again, of course. But it did mean that I always strove, passionately, to win. I had found my motivation. And I held hard to that mantra: that all those gruelling early morning workouts, those moments when I pushed my body beyond endurance were the price of ultimate glory. And? as a 14 year old i finished 17th in the north of England cross country race out of a field of 650. But i didnt need my parents to cough up for a 10 grand horse,or stable it for x amount of pounds. Someone else said join your local tennis club, what f*cking local tennis club.what local cycling club,what local archery club,there aint nothing around where i live for my kids to do. This one? www.wantagetennisclub.co.uk
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Post by foghornleghorn on Aug 7, 2012 20:48:17 GMT
And? as a 14 year old i finished 17th in the north of England cross country race out of a field of 650. But i didnt need my parents to cough up for a 10 grand horse,or stable it for x amount of pounds. Someone else said join your local tennis club, what f*cking local tennis club.what local cycling club,what local archery club,there aint nothing around where i live for my kids to do. This one? www.wantagetennisclub.co.ukNo, that costs £30 per year, its too elitist. To be honest, if you cant even be bothered to check if there is a tennis club on your doorstep before feeding your children excuses for failure without even giving them a chance to succeed then that is the biggest disadvantage they can face. Its not a class thing, its an attitude thing. Its not nice to say, but I cant help thinking that if saddletramp's kids achieve success in anything it will be to prove their dad wrong, not because he has done anything positive for them.
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Post by hairy on Aug 8, 2012 15:44:29 GMT
Its not the same opportunity though is it? You cant seriously believe that a child from a council estate from a single parent family has the same chances to become something in life as a a child who has been to private school and has wealthy parents? Not one study, statistics etc back you up on that so its quite a ridiculous claim to make. What a totally defeatist thing to put into print. Everybody has the opportunity in life through dedication and support to achieve however, there are so many people who think they are owed so much and yet give so little in this me, me, me world. Oh, I am a single parent. So what, get of your fat arse turn off Jeremy Kyle pack up the fags and try and do something with what you have produced, make them proud of you and be proud of them. Did I say it was impossible for people to achieve when coming from more modest backgrounds? No, I just pointed out that its nonsense to say that everyone has the same chance in life. How is it defeatist to point out that we waste a lot of potential in this country through neglecting so many? I would say using the shamefully few that do rise above their upbringing as a stick to beat others is a far worse attitude, it allows a continuation of a system which has left a fair proportion of our schools as woefully inadequate. Still as long as we win a few gold medals every four years in sports no one gives a flying f*ck about at any other time its all rosey.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 16:19:04 GMT
I didn't say everyone has the same opportunity, obviously some have better chances than others. My point was that the main difference is attitude. Too many people use their background as an excuse in this country. In third world countries, poor people are unable to send their kids to school at all and struggle to put food on the table. Some people don't appreciate how lucky they are here.
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Post by Boogaloo on Aug 8, 2012 16:40:33 GMT
I didn't say everyone has the same opportunity, obviously some have better chances than others. My point was that the main difference is attitude. Too many people use their background as an excuse in this country. In third world countries, poor people are unable to send their kids to school at all and struggle to put food on the table. Some people don't appreciate how lucky they are here. Couldn't agree more. Too many people use this "He had a better upbringing than me" excuse. We have free education, a lot of cheap sports clubs, but a lot of it is down to personal effort, which no money in the world can give you. Kenyan and Jamaican athletes for example make do with what they have, and only when they reach a very high level do they get invited to join their national training programmes.
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Post by Browser on Aug 8, 2012 17:04:16 GMT
What a totally defeatist thing to put into print. Everybody has the opportunity in life through dedication and support to achieve however, there are so many people who think they are owed so much and yet give so little in this me, me, me world. Oh, I am a single parent. So what, get of your fat arse turn off Jeremy Kyle pack up the fags and try and do something with what you have produced, make them proud of you and be proud of them. Did I say it was impossible for people to achieve when coming from more modest backgrounds? No, I just pointed out that its nonsense to say that everyone has the same chance in life. How is it defeatist to point out that we waste a lot of potential in this country through neglecting so many? I would say using the shamefully few that do rise above their upbringing as a stick to beat others is a far worse attitude, it allows a continuation of a system which has left a fair proportion of our schools as woefully inadequate. Still as long as we win a few gold medals every four years in sports no one gives a flying f*ck about at any other time its all rosey. You make and take your chances in life Hairy. Unfortunately those that do and succeed are beaten and ridiculed by the ones that don't. Its oh so easy to sit and back and live that oh so hard done by if only life. The press are great instigators of pulling the rug. Yes it is 'GREAT' that we have won the gold medals and given enjoyment to many. Its even greater that we will inspire many more to come through to do the same through sheer hard work, dedication and support. Within the four year break there will be many who will give a 'flying f*ck' and give there time, experience and support for very little return. Lets not blame the schools Hairy, they are there to actually instigate the chance that people need to take through education. Better to blame ourselves.
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