BOLT OF LIGHTENING

Usain Bolt was able to bring a ray of hope to fans of people as he took part in a 150 metre street race, on a wet and windy day in Manchester today. Jamaica's very own ray of light took to the streets of Manchester for a special kind of race, a race to try an raise awareness for a number of the nations leading charitable organisations.

Bolt, who was able to show a glimmer of hope to the thousands of fans who had braved the storm to see this amazing young man from Jamaica perform; and bolt didn't disappoint. On the wake of Manchester United's third consecutive premiership title win, Bolt- a self-proclaimed Manchester United fan had no reason to hold back his smile today as he simply brushed his some what show-piece opponents aside in the heart of Manchester.

Yet the Olympic gold medallists wasn't only in Manchester for the race as he was able to meet the stars of Manchester United and manager Sir Alex Ferguson and more importantly World Player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo who bolt is set to help improve his speed and running technique in the summer, subject to Ronald's whereabouts, as the Manchester united front man still continues to create doubt in Manchester United fans minds, as speculation continues to go on linking Ronaldo with a world record breaking £75million move to Real Madrid in the Summer.

Ronaldo who wasn't evident on the streets of Manchester himself was said to have watched the street race with the rest of the team at Manchester United's training ground in Carrington, “I like Usain, he is a funny man, and I look forward to learning a lot from him in the summer.” stated the world player of the year. Bolt simply stole the show; claiming yet another medal whereby position and records almost seemed irrelevant, where a charismatic man from Kingston, Jamaica was able to bring smiles to many on-looking fans on a dull day in Manchester.

Jenny Meadows' stages of history

Journey from Foster building Uclan to Preston sports arena (PSA) to Wigan harriers Athletics Club(A.C)

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Funding Within Northern England's Athletics

Funding within athletics

Funding within athletics is a popular topic of conversation in recent years. The lack of funds given to athletes, who are not on the top level of the sport, is below par to say the least. Athletes like Jennifer Meadows 27, who only recently has received funding to help her raise her game in athletics over the last few months, enabling her and husband/trainer, Trevor Painter to progress in athletics.

Jennifer and husband/Trevor were forced to find funds themselves if they wanted to take part in world wide athletics events in the past. Her, and husband Trevor having to Work in numerous jobs to make her dream come true, leaving the couple jaded and in need of rest, whilst Jennifer Meadows having an impressive season with her club Wigan A.C and at a national level in the summer for Team GB, where Jennifer was recently involved in Team GB’s track and field team at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 completing in the women’s 800 meters event and winning a Gold medal.

The money in athletics seems to automatically go to already famous, southern based athletes the likes of Linford Christie and Dwain Chambers who seem to use the funding in the wrong light. Cheating by choosing to use illegal performance enhancing substances to ‘better their game’, who later find themselves having all forms of sporting accolades rebuked and confiscated, leaving themselves and team mates distraught and very disappointed. Why is the money not being put into the local grass route levels locally in the north of England particularly within the Lancaster area?

I for one am not sure if it looks to hopeful for the future of the northern based athletics clubs and their respected athletes, as the power of Southern England, who are always funded without a doubt is to vast. It almost seems that UK athletics and Team GB is mainly financed in the South of England and not the north of England focusing on the Preston and Wigan area where athletes need the funding the most.

Uclan Map

UCLan map
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Crunch Time For Paula..

With Paula Radcliffe completing her latest gruelling task....showing great stamina and mental strenght to win the some what tedious 10 mile Great South Run compared to Paula's recent events within her life at the moment. the 34-year old mother of one who famously won last years New York marathon, just 10 months after giving birth to her daughter Isla, and comming to terms with her 2008 beijing olympic game failure in the marathon race where she came a disappointing 23rd place....through what appeared to be a guttsey performance it just didnt seem to be her day...and an emotional Radcliffe left Beijing arena visibly upset.

Yet this did not deter Radcliffe who continued to show great determination and mental strenght showing that just months after what seemed a terrible defeat on a major world wide scale.....turn into a minor set back for the Bedford & County Athletic Club star as she went on to win the Great South Run, missing out on the world record by just 21 seconds.

She now looks forward to the 'Big Apple' itself where she looks to repeat last years amazing achievement where she took a gold medal just months after giving birth. should radcliffe win in new york where her currrent record is raced seven, won six and setting a record in five....can radcliffe do it again? she will know and can answer that question for now.....i guess we'll just have to wait until next week, in the big apple...where we will be able to see if Paula is able to take a big bite out of the next challenge put before her.

By Gavin Doyle

British Sprinters...

Believe it or not, but London 2012 is just around the corner and with Team GB's lack of medals within the track and field events at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, this year, how are we supposed to turn that round at the London Olympic Games in 2012? Does Great Britain have our very own Usain Bolt of Jamaica...the fastest man on earth? (who set new world records in both the 100m and 200m sprints) or Michael Phelps? (who won 8 Olympic golds in the swimming events at the Beijing Olympic Games 2008) Is it possible that Team GB have another Linford Christie ready and waiting to imulate his heroic Olympic gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics Games in 1992, hidding away in the locker room ready to be released on the Olympic stage in 2012???

I for one am not sure how confident i am about the matter and would not bet my house on the likelyhood of the Olympic Games in 2012 being any different for Britians "finest" sprinters....with the greats of the past staying firmly in the past and the current 100m and 200m bois representing Team GB simply miles behind the likes of Jamacia's Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt...who showed the world how to break the 100m and 200m world records with ease in Beijing . I simply can't see Mark Lewis Francis or Christian Malcome producing anywhere near as impressive and mind blowing performances as the two Jamacian front men did.

Was Dwaine Chambers the closest that Team GB's and the rest of the British nation are going to see, to win sprinting golds? The man found guilty of taking the illegal substances...the man who along with fellow 4 x 100m team mates...Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis was stripped of his European Championship gold medal in 1999??? Maybe im being slightly septical but i guess im along with the rest of the athletes world are simply in awe at the worlds finest sporting athletes and are just simply not sure if team gb are able to compete with what the worlds leading nations on the athletics track at this moment in time.....yet i guess only time will tell..

By Gavin Doyle