Victoria Park Harriers and Tower Hamlets AC


	My love of this great sport of athletics
	By Roger Daniels


	I love this great sport of athletics with all my heart. I love the sheer variety of track and field, road running and cross country events, although running in mud and slush has never appealed to me!



	As a boy of about nine or ten years, my father instilled in me the interest in the sport by showing me a few Athletics Weekly magazines dating from 1946. My father was a member of Surrey Athletics Club, an old established club based in Kingston-Upon-Thames. He took me along on occasions and I met some of the runners of those days, including Brian Barrett, Stan Belton and others.

	My father started telling me of the exploits of Paavo Nurmi of Finland and others such as Haag, Heino and of the young Bannister, Pirie, Chataway, Disley and Brasher.

	We talked and dreamed of the day when we might see the first 4 minute mile. Of course it is now a matter of history that the young Roger Bannister was to record the first 4 minute mile, actually 3:59.4, on 6th May 1954. Nowadays, the record is around 3:43 and sub 4 minute miles are regularly recorded.

	One of my fondest memories is of being taken on the coach by my father to follow the Surrey AC Southern and National Road Relay team on the London to Brighton Road Relay. Other great memories include watching the National Cross-Country Championships when it was held at Parliament Hill and the AAA Championships at White City Stadium. Back then, crowds of 40000 plus were common place.

			My most prized possessions is a programme from Carnival Sports at Fallowfield Manchester. Dating from 12th June 1926, the programme details events in which my father took part as a Surrey AC athlete, including the three mile, in which he has recorded his times as leading at 1 mile in a time of 4:59 and also at 2 miles in 9:56 and finishing in 14:49.

	My own running has been mostly distance running, having completed 4 London Marathons, in 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1991, with the best of these being the 1985 which I finished in approximately 4 hours 25 minutes.

	I have found great enjoyment and comradeship from my involvement with Victoria Park Harriers, now merged with Tower Hamlets AC. I see many rising young stars emerging from this partnership and I look forward to following their progress.

	I remember with great affection all those superb athletes who have given me such great enjoyment through the years. I wish all those who are working hard to be great in this sport today all the very best. I hope you achieve all that you are capable of and perhaps more importantly, that you get as much pleasure from the sport as I have.

	I look forward to following the progress of all young up and coming athletes, both locally, nationally and indeed world wide.

	All the very best.

	Roger Daniels.