The 32nd  British Transplant Games 
30th July - 2nd August 2009
Coventry

My Games Review

As always I must stress that this report of The Games is purely personal, for which I make no apology.   After all it is my personal website. 
 I welcome any feedback, good or bad, in my 'Guest Book' and if anyone wishes to use some of this material please do me the courtesy of an acknowledgement.

The Freeman Adult Team as always was one of the largest at the Games. 

We had 23 competitors and 11 official supporters.   All of the competitors having had either a heart and or lung transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.  The age range of the team was from 20 - 77.    There were many others too but why should I register them when it costs £10 per head to do so and all they want to do is make their (own) way to an event and watch their nearest and dearest.    We also had a small children's team competing at the games.

We may not come out on top in the medal table but all of our squad, like me, are
 "Just happy to be here!"   For  those of you who count such things our medal tally was:

11 Gold  / 10 Silver / 10 Bronze

Thursday 30th July - Day 1

Once again the majority of the Freeman squad, all but 4,  were staying in the city centre Ramada Hotel and we had a team meeting before proceedings got officially underway.   This is an excellent opportunity for some 'team bonding' and a good way for new members to immediately feel at home  as we present them with their official kit and generally make them blush.   The campus accommodation, I hear, was excellent but given a choice most of our team, especially the couples, much prefer the luxury and location of an hotel.    The extra cost is negligible

Before the opening ceremony got underway we had already won a gold medal in the archery thanks to Sue Wrightson.    Sue was not allowed to use her own bow which was a ridiculous and incorrect decision imposed by the officials and something which I queried at the AGM on the Friday evening.   Imagine a golfer not being able to use his own clubs, although in my case it could be beneficial, or a cyclist being told he has to ride a penny farthing or a racquet player being told he had to use 'one of these'.   I don't think so.   If we are to encourage people to participate who have a talent and are good at their event the last thing we should be doing is 'dumbing down' simply because others are 'having a go' at the event.

The opening ceremony was awful.  

Thankfully it was not only me who thought so and the eloquent Jean Howard-Jones made the point very forcibly at the AGM for which she received a round of applause from those present.   In fairness to the committee in general and Peter Ford in particular, remedial steps were taken immediately and the idiots who led the parade were not seen again during the Games.

If I may add my two penn'orth to the debate; and why wouldn't I because it is my website; The MC from the BBC was hopeless and his 'interviews' with those taking part in the parade were disrespectful and simply demonstrated his complete ignorance of the raison d'etre of the Games.

Whoever set up the PA address obviously had not done a sound check beforehand because the majority of the athletes, who again had to stand around for over an hour, were left to watch dignitaries mime their speeches.   Not a peep could be heard which is a great pity because the new competitors and their families miss out on so much of what is, should and can be a very moving occasion.    There is a case for moving the opening ceremony indoors if a big enough venue is available.    A minimum requirement would be to have seating available.

Friday 31st August - Day 2

With volleyball, tennis, fishing, canoeing, table tennis, ten pin bowling and darts being held at various venues throughout this jigsaw puzzle of a city my time is spent on the golf course.    Brandon Wood Golf Club was an excellent venue for the competition and a true test of golf.   My favourite Welshman (or is he Scottish?) won the title for a third consecutive time, with a gross 80, which is a fantastic achievement and fully deserved.   It is what the Americans call a 'threepeat' but I wouldn't dream of using such a phrase.  

Frank Clark was runner up and Norbert McGarr claimed the bronze, both beating Jeremy Nicholls on countback with 88's.   I was just behind with an 89 but have no excuses and congratulate my opponents.

In the >18 hcp stableford comp, John Barnes triumphed ahead of Andy McGarry and Tony Miskelly and in the <18 hcp category Nick Condon won on countback from David Lilley with Keith Atherton finishing in the bronze position.    Rachel Reynolds again won the ladies gold medal and the nearest the pin prize went to Jeff Sutton with John 'the beast' Barnes out driving the rest of us to claim the longest drive.  

All in all a very good day's golf on a fine golf course and our thanks go to the many volunteers and officials from Brandon Wood Golf Club for their hospitality and excellent management of the competition and scoring.

A short drive across the city and on to The AGM of the TSUK which I mentioned earlier.

When eventually we got around to questions from the floor I asked for clarification as to the make up of the teams for the Five Nations Golf.   Namely England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.   Seems easy enough doesn't it?   The days of Scotland asking the best golfer in the Five Nations to play for an amalgamated Scotland / Wales team are surely over, if not  I have made my last appearance at the event.

If those on the top table didn't spend so much time chewing over the minutiae of committee business and 'cut to the chase' it would leave more time for those present to ask relevant questions and possibly encourage more members to attend, although I very much doubt it.   I think there were about 30 - 35 members present at the AGM and if total membership stands at about 650 -700 then that represents 5% in attendance, which some would say isn't so bad.    Were all members of the committee there?   If not, why not?

Saturday 1st August - Day 3

Mrs Boggy and I take on the role of supporters and general gofers as we support our team mates at the other venues.    We spent the morning in the badminton and indoor bowls halls before moving to the swimming pool in the afternoon.   We enjoyed all of the sport on offer and it is also a good way to meet up with friends from the other teams and chat over a cuppa and catch up on all of the gossip.

Normally we would support the Donor Run which is an excellent and very well attended newcomer to the events list but as the Coventry skies darkened so the call of a nice restaurant in Coventry's remarkable Spon Street beckoned.   I say remarkable because the buildings in Spon Street date way back to the 1450's yet the rest of Coventry city centre is all of the tin shed and concrete type buildings except of course for the magnificent original cathedral.  The new cathedral is still controversial some 50 years after it was built.   I must be a traditionalist.

Sunday 2nd August - Day 3

An early start and it's off to the UOW for the track and field events.   Again this year we, the Team Managers, did not have to register all of the competitors on our arrival but simply inform the officials of withdrawals.   Simple but brilliant.   John Timms and his team deserve a lot of credit for many of the initiatives that have been introduced and it makes life a lot easier.

My events are long jump, or to be precise the (not very) long jump, 100m, 200m  and the 4 x 100m relay.   My aching bones and lack of any discernable technique mean that my (not very) long jumps are getting shorter by the Games and despite what I said last year entered again.   John Sheehan took the gold and somehow I won the silver but that's all I will say on the subject.

For the fifth time in nine attempts I won the 100m title and also took gold in the 200m which gave me the sprint double for a second time.   I suspect retaining these titles in the coming years will become ever more difficult as good runners move up into my age category and I reach my mid fifties.   Having said that my name is in the record books and I am proud of that.

In 10 years post transplant my medal tally at British, European & World Games is:

The organisers should be congratulated for the way that the track and field events kept to the timetable and it makes for a much better day for competitors and spectators alike.  

One criticism though.   What only one?

Whoever thought it a good idea to have the presentation area and dais stuck behind a wooden hut and downwind of the BBQ stand made an error.   Good idea but simply in the wrong place.

The Gala Dinner

This was an extremely slick evening with speeches kept to a minimum and the presentations not taking too long.   The MC was very professional and made for an enjoyable evening.   The food was of the highest standard, arrived hot and was delicious.

I am happy to report that the two screens in the auditorium were clearly visible to everyone but yet again the photographs that were shown on the screens seemed to be very selective showing  the usual suspects time and time again.   Surely with the thousands of photographs which are on sale a wide selection could be shown as we tuck in to our food.

The new Peter Griffin award which replaces the Novartis Award was presented to the deserving Sarah Lewis and rightly not given to any of the inner sanctum, which I feared and passed comment upon last year.   My nominee who I have now put forward for four years in a row must surely be getting closer to being the recipient.   It would be a fitting tribute for all of the voluntary work that he and his wife do which is way beyond the call of duty.

Following the dinner and presentations we were entertained downstairs by a live band and disco which brought the curtain down on these, the 32nd Games.

To sum up the 2009 British Transplant Games:

Without wishing to come across as a grumpy old man it was a pleasure being at these Games and although there were lots of things not quite right there were many more which were excellent.   I try and give a balanced and impartial view and to simply say that everything is rosy would serve no purpose.   It was great to meet up with everyone again and many new friendships were made.   I was definitely.............

........"Just happy to be there!"

All being well I hope to see you at the
 33rd British Transplant Games
in Bath from 19th -22nd August 2009

If you have any views, good or bad, about my report (remember it is only my personal opinion) feel free to leave a comment in my Guest Book.   If you wish to use any of this material please acknowledge where it came from otherwise I may have to sue.

© Graham Marsh

The first Games were the brainchild of Maurice Slapak, who at the time was a consultant transplant surgeon.   They were staged in Portsmouth in 1978 and attracted 100 competitors.   This years event is expected to attract over 600 competitors and as many (at least) supporters.

17 cities have hosted the British Transplant Games since their inception; Portsmouth, Newcastle, Leicester, Leeds, Norwich, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Exeter, Liverpool, Sheffield,   Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh,  Belfast, Bath and Coventry.

All competitors must be a current member of the Transplant Sports of UK (TSUK).   If in doubt contact your Team Manager or Joyce Gill:  joyce-and-ian@supanet.com

3 Year membership costs £30

Each competitor may enter 5 individual events, with a maximum of 3 from any one discipline with the exception of the relays and volleyball.   A signed and completed medical certificate must be provided.   Unfortunately, anyone receiving dialysis treatment is not allowed to enter, but this may change.

Future Transplant Games

2009 World Transplant Games
The Gold Coast, Australia

2010 European Heart & Lung Transplant Games
30th June - 4th July
Vaxjo, Sweden

2010 British Transplant Games
19th - 22nd August
Bath

There is another European Transplant Games taking place somewhere but I am not giving it legroom on my site because the TSUK doesn't mention ours.   So there.

2007 British Games / 2006 British Games / 2005 British Games / 2004 British Games