Having entered a BBC TV competition to commentate at a BBC sports event I was pleased with my runner -up position. In order to enter I had simply to answer twenty questions concerning the public’s attitude to the BBC and leave my email address, calling on a premium call rate number. From the blurb and picture it appeared I might co-commentate on the FA Cup final but reading the small print it became apparent the winner got the North Run tail ender’s and the runner up got the first round of the three counties athletic heats for BBC Radio Shrewsbury.

I attended at the appointed time and location with some interest but little confidence as I know nothing about athletics although my knowledge of football is considerable, according to my dad. After a commentating trial run it was agreed I should instead write a short piece about my day for possible inclusion in the athletics section of the BBC Sports website. They asked I simply write about the first race in detail as to include others would exceed the space available. My piece:-

The First Race

The 8 runners are stretching and one of them does a short, fast run. They are all dressed in singlet’s and shorts with a different number pinned to their chests. Most are short haired and all are quite young men. They line up, bend forward , leaning on their fingers which they hold in a triangle shape. They are very still. I was expecting someone to shout “Ready, Steady, GO!!” but instead, suddenly there was a shot which startled me a little but it didn’t startle the runners who shot off immediately. So, they’re off! Two black men are leading, almost neck and neck. A white man is in third position. Other runners are a little bit behind the front three and more other runners are running behind them. One of the runners nearer the back has grabbed the back of his right thigh, no…his left calf and he has stopped running. I think he’s alright. Meanwhile one of the black men has just “breasted the tape” (I was told to write that) with the other black man second and a white man third, I think but possibly equal with another man and other men crossed the line so quickly afterwards it’s difficult to decide who finished where. After they stop running they shake themselves a bit and jog on the spot for a few minutes while drinking from plastic bottles they throw away on the track afterwards. One or two of them have wandered off. Apparently the first and second get to do it all over again in about an hour when they run against some of the winners from another similar heat. The times are important in a running race and it seems the winning time was not a record but quite a slow time. The winner was interviewed afterwards by a BBC reporter (it would be difficult during) and he said he thought he could have run faster but didn’t go on to explain why he didn’t. The man who was second said he’d hope to run faster next time too. It was all very exciting. Apparently there are events like this most weekends up and down the country that the general public can just turn up and watch. You don’t see them advertised, you have to be in the know. If you like to watch running then maybe you already know where they hold running races. Take a picnic and have a fantastic time.

I submitted this piece but didn’t get a response to my email. I have looked at the BBC Sports website every day for the last 4 months and the piece still hasn’t appeared. I am a little disappointed as it was BBC Staff who suggested I write it in the first place. It has been pointed out to me that my report was newsworthy only for 24 hours after the event so I have wasted my time checking the website. My Nokia bill for the call came in at £18.89 and my fares to Shrewsbury were considerable although I’ve misplaced my receipts so can’t give you accurate detail. I feel a little cheated and wonder if I’d have been better of losing the competition. I would have certainly been richer in pocket but perhaps I am richer through experience? Either way I’m now uncertain whether or not to enter any further competitions. I may attend further sports events if I can find where they are staged and submit my reports to the BBC website for publication pointing out their failure to publish my competition winning piece. I hope they will be shame-faced and put matters right by publishing my new piece. More pieces to follow but only after I have found sports events and written the pieces.