Day 2 at the Track & Field

By Volunteer James Irwin

After the novelty and uncertainty of day one, the Mary Peters Track sprang to life this morning as if it plays host to the World Police and Fire Games every day. The Games bubble has enveloped everyone involved; suddenly, normal life, with its pedestrian struggles, seems less important.

The Games have found their groove: a fast-paced rhythm of event after event punctuated by starter pistols, engaging commentary and the undulating hum and applause of watching crowds. It is wonderfully easy to immerse yourself in it. Pick any event around the arena and you can find something to cheer, inspire or, in most cases, something to make you feel hopelessly inadequate.

The 64 year old former police officer who won 100m gold in his age category, cutting half a second from his personal best in the process, for example. Or indeed any of the competitors in the 60 years and over categories, setting times and distances worthy of men and women half their age. Aren’t we supposed to get slower and weaker as we age? Suddenly my personal ‘journey’ from 20-a-day smoker to regular runner, akin to one American spectator I spoke to today, feels simultaneously insignificant in comparison but also necessary and something to be built on. Just recalling these so-called ‘old’ competitors with their athleticism, fitness and general wellbeing should be enough to dispel any risk of falling off the running wagon.

Setting the standard for the seniors is Victoria State Police veteran Valma Walsh. Valma is competing in her seventh World Police and Fire Games and comes to Belfast to defend four titles. Today she took part in the 5k walk and in the coming days will throw the javelin and discus among her other events. She turns 80 tomorrow.

Speaking to me after the walk, Valma told me about her varied career, spending time in the army, training as a nurse, joining the police, leaving when “promotion was too slow”, then rejoining as a nurse officer and moving up steadily until she retired. Combined with her sporting achievements and friendly nature, hers is a life that encapsulates the maxim that it is what you make of it.

Also among the sickeningly brilliant athletes today was Brant Gray. Brant, a charismatic officer in the Los Angeles Police Department, can safely be dubbed the fastest man of the Games, almost effortlessly sealing gold in the 100m with a time of 10.88s. His compatriots Jennifer Kowacz and Sara Shisslak, firefighters in Phoenix, Arizona, were not to be outdone, both sealing gold medals in their respective age groups at the hammer throw. Indeed Sara is now looking ahead to taking part in the Toughest Competitor Alive event next week. No further explanation required on that one.

Through the day many people followed the progress of Brendan McConville as he sailed through day two of the decathlon. Brendan, a firefighter at Knock in east Belfast, was winning overnight and looking to convert that lead into a home gold medal. The natural theatre provided by the terraced hills delivered a charged and involving atmosphere as Brendan put in an imperious display to win all five second-day events.

His day began with a solid win in the 100m hurdles and continued with a comfortable triumph in the pole vault. Then followed his best throws in years in the discus and javelin. It ended with a ruthless crushing of the field in the 1500m, Brendan clearly running for points and not just the victory, with the gold beyond any doubt by that stage. A fantastic victory was topped off by receiving his medal from his idol and former trainer Mike Bull, the local bodybuilding and fitness guru and previous Commonwealth champion.

Another fascinating aspect of these Games is watching people attempting to overcome monumental language barriers when trying to interact. As I listened to Germans speaking with Spaniards, Danes with Brazilians, it became evident that sport can be a powerful bridge between cultures and countries. After only two days, athletes are swapping contact details and vowing to pay overseas visits to each other’s homelands. Belfast, it seems, is a great place to make lifelong friends.

Find out about tomorrow at Track & Field: http://www.2013wpfg.com/2013-sports/track-field

listen to ‘Brendan McConville @nifrsofficial after securing decathlon gold @2013wpfg #wpfgsocialteam’ on Audioboo

Track & Field: Day 1

By Volunteer James Irwin

The first day after the official opening ceremony of the Games and events taking place at 15 venues across Northern Ireland. No disrespect to the soccer and ice hockey, but today signalled for many the real start of these World Police and Fire Games.

I was privileged to be at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast, where the track and field events got under way. The pageantry and colour on display at the soccer 11s yesterday was repeated manifold here, and when the first starter pistol reverberated around the welcoming man-made terraced grass steps surrounding the track, everyone knew they were part of something special.

And from the off there was a local hero to cheer on and be inspired by. Brendan McConville is a 34 year old firefighter stationed at Knock in East Belfast and for him these games represent a competitive swansong on home territory and a unique opportunity to win a medal for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

A decathlete, Brendan was part of that first race, the 100m, and ran out a comfortable winner. By the end of the day, he would be carrying a solid 100+ point lead into day two, having won four of the five day one events.

Well-known on the local athletics circuit, Brendan has competed for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at various levels and established himself early on as the man to beat. He secured victory in the first three events, adding victories over the field in the long jump and the shot put to that 100m win, and finishing second in the high jump, a remarkably versatile display.

Decathletes often specialise as throwers, jumpers or runners. Few can perform so strongly in all three areas. His coach, family and supporters – who style themselves as ‘Team DECA’ – explain to me that he would also have won the high jump but for a chronic ankle injury sustained in previous competition.

His day finished with a fourth event win – the 400m in a very respectable 52.27s. Yet despite what was a brilliant performance, he was slightly disappointed and felt he could have done better. Hopefully a sign of a champion’s high standards and that he is ready to win what is one of the most prestigious gold medals of any athletics meeting.

Other local competitors secured medal success on this first day. Brian Coombes won the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service’s first medal of the Games, a silver in the 35-39 year old category in the hammer throw. NIFRS personnel Paula McAllister and Christine Murray secured medals in the 5000m, along with Lisburn-born Metropolitan Police officer Mel McClure. And the Police Service of Northern Ireland secured gold, silver and bronze in various hammer categories.

It was this spirit of competitiveness and all-round festival of sport that was envisaged by Dame Mary Peters herself when she first started working towards securing the Games in 2004. Attending today, she was justifiably beaming with pride, and it was a matter of great personal delight that she gave me five minutes of her time to record a brief interview. A true Northern Ireland great.

Activity was frenetic throughout the day. Among the many spectators were some who had travelled huge distances. I spoke to one lady from Vancouver, Canada who added the Games to her itinerary while travelling in Europe, in between visits to Scotland for hill walking and the Edinburgh festival.

Another man from the USA told me coming here was a “bucket list” item ticked off and the Games a must-see. An indication, had there been any lingering doubt, that Northern Ireland is a genuine player in the global tourism market.

Volunteers came into their own today too. A strong contingent of red-shirted, team-spirited helpers, from school age to retirement and from across Northern Ireland and beyond, were integral in ensuring that everything from seating arrangements to medal ceremonies ran smoothly. Helping co-ordinate the operation was soon-to-be Masters graduate and volunteer Laura Smyth. She, like many others, sees the Games as an invaluable opportunity to not only deliver the biggest sporting event Northern Ireland has ever hosted, but gain real and unique work-based experience at the same time

It is that confidence-building opportunity and the availability of a stage for young people on which they can demonstrate and hone their talents that, for me, will be a cornerstone of the legacy these Games will leave afterwards.

Tomorrow is our very own Super Saturday. Eleven men’s and six ladies’ 100m finals at various age ranges are peppered by the day two events of the aforementioned decathlon. We are just getting started and I, for one, can’t wait.

listen to ‘Decathlete Brendan McConville @nifrsofficial @2013wpfg #wpfgsocialteam’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Dame Mary Peters on day one of #2013wpfg #wpfgsocialteam’ on Audioboo

100 days to go until the opening ceremony

Today there are 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 2013 World Police & Fire Games at the King's Hall in Belfast! Over the next hundred days, we'll be profiling lots of fantastic competitors from around the world who will be coming to Belfast for the Games. We'll also be sharing stories from our Volunteers and the 2013 Team. 

Below is the first contribution from Jim Currell of the Victoria Police. If you would like to contribute to the blog, please contact Karen in the 2013 WPFG team.

My name is Jim Currell and I am a sergeant with Victoria Police in Melbourne, Australia. I am originally from Northern Ireland - I was born in Bangor and left with my family for Australia at the age of 14 months. This will be my first time returning to Northern Ireland since I emigrated and I am very excited about my trip home after over fifty years!

I have competed in the World Police and Fire Games before – I took part in the 4 x 400 metre event in my home town of Melbourne in 1995. This year, I am taking part in the Track and Field 200 & 400 metre events. I have competed in several Australia and New Zealand Police Games where I won gold and set an ANZPG record for the 400 metres which was surpassed a few years later. I am passionate about sport and am a qualified Track & Field coach where I have been involved with the National Junior Development Program (up to under 20 level).

Not only am I looking forward to my visit home and competing in the Games, but I am also thrilled to celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary with my wife on 6 August (right in the middle of the Track and Field events!). Hopefully I can bring some Aussie sunshine with me to share with everyone! 

Click here for more information about Track and Field events.