Fantastic Performances by GB Deaf Athletics Team in the Deutscher Gehörlosen-Sportverband
14 July 2005
The GB Deaf Athletics Team was fortunate enough to participate in the 16th International Festival of Sports, which was held in Darmstadt. Darmstadt is about 30km south of Frankfurt in Germany. This Festival was held from the 8th to 10th July 2005. On the morning of the 7th July, half of the Team had intended to catch a train from Abbey Wood Train Station, SE London, which would have taken them to Charing Cross. At Charing Cross, they were planning to change lines and then get the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow airport. This was at the time that the 3 tube bombs went off.
Fortunately, the train was missed by a few minutes and, from the platform, the confusion of the unfolding tragic events was becoming apparent. The Team was shocked and saddened by what happened, but even so were determined not to let terrorists prevent them from taking part in the track and field events for which they had entered.
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A struggle to get to the airport followed. With all of the underground systems closed, the only choice left was to take a bus or a taxi. After waiting around for over an hour, a taxi became available, which slowly crawled through the traffic jam to Heathrow Airport. There were only 10 minutes left before the flight departed. Every Team member ran as fast as they could. Luckily they managed to board the flight 5 minutes before take off.
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At the same time, the other half of the Team was also struggling from Newcastle to Frankfurt. The intended flight to Frankfurt via Amsterdam was diverted to Paris. Eventually everyone arrived at the hotel nearly 5 hours after the anticipated time. On arrival at the hotel, the host of the Championships rushed over to the rest of Team. The host was really pleased to see the Team. They were all aware of the tragedies in London and as some Team members were 5 hours late, it was a major worry for them and the rest of the GB Team.
With each member’s mobile phone constantly ringing every minute from worried families, relatives, friends, coaches, supporters and educational establishments, the Team had a sleepless night. Even more frustrating was the inability of the Team to respond to UK calls due to the more than usual activity of the airwaves.
The GB Team consisted of
Athletes
Nelson Bolumbu - just missed out on the 2005 Deaflympics due to passport problems. A budding youngster, coached by Dwaine Chambers’ ex-coach at Haringey, was making his debut at an international competition in the 100m and 200m.
Colette Doran - new comer after the 2005 Deaflympics. Her speciality is the Javelin. Her PB is close to the World Record. Colette has won Scottish Championship titles and several medals in the counties and AAA Championships. She also represented the GB hearing team in the match against Germany and Italy in Manchester in July 2004.
Candy Hawkins - 2005 Deaflympics double bronze medallist (800 & 1,500m) – has won several races for her club, Ashford Athletics Club in Kent, this year ranging from 400m to 2k Steeplechase! She is current World Deaf 1 mile and 10km record holder.
Lauren Peffers - 2005 Deaflympics 800m gold and 1,500m silver champion. Lauren recently did the 'double' (800m & 1,500m) at the Scottish Championships - winning gold in the U17 age group competing against non-deaf/hearing impaired athletes! She currently holds World Junior Record (WJR) over both distances.
Jason Steadman - Missed the 2005 Deaflympics due to injury. He is a 100m and 200m specialist. Jason has just recovered from a shoulder injury and this was his second international competition since reaching the semi-finals in the 60m at the European Indoor Championships in Bulgaria, March 2004.
Officials
Brian Kokoruwe - Team Manager.
Sandra Campbell - Child Protection Officer, Coach and Assistant to Brian Kokoruwe.
Prior to the start of the competition, Team Manager, Brian Kokoruwe, requested to the host, that a minute’s silence was held in memory of all those who died as a direct result of the tragedy in London. This was very much welcomed and announced at the start of the Championships. Everyone was touched. It was then down to business.
Debutants
Jason Steadman, 25, who has just recovered from injury, was the first GB athlete to compete in the first event of the day – the 100m round 1, heat 2. Drawn in the same race as the ex-European 100m, he was unable to adapt to the starting system that is used in Germany and consequently had a poor start. Jason finished sixth. Unfortunately he missed out on a place in the final as only the first two went through to the final from each of the four semi-final groups.
18-year-old Nelson Bolumbu’s race followed Jason’s. Bolumbu is the youngest male member of the Team and was making his international debut. Unfortunately, he was drawn next to the current European 100m & 200m, and 2005 Deaflympics 400m champion, Osmel Cejas Rodriguez of Italy. Nelson was still suffering from jet lag and also found the ‘flash’ light gun system difficult to grasp. A poor start meant Nelson had to work hard to keep up with the race. He finished fourth, just narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
1,500m Gold and Silver
It was now down to the ladies to perform. 16 year-old Lauren Peffers and Candy Hawkins, 33, both were competing in the 1,500m final alongside the German European indoor 1,500m champion and the multiple long distance record holder, Nele Alder-Baerens. From the gun, the race was run tactically. No one wanted to take the lead, so they ran in a tight pack for the majority of the race. They kept bumping into each other, causing the blood to flow through their calves and Achilles tendons.
Until the last 200m, Lauren suddenly increased her speed. Candy, knowing Lauren’s tactics, was fully prepared to chase Lauren to the finish line. Both the British girls were now about 30m ahead of the pack, sprinting side by side as they fought for the gold medal. It was a photo-finish, which determined that Lauren had actually won the gold by a fraction of a second. The GB ladies achieved gold and silver.
Silver & British Records in Javelin
Immediately, it was the turn of Colette Doran who was making her international debut in the Javelin. She was going to try to emulate the middle distance ladies, but of course not on the track but in the field! Colette, 22, is the first lady to represent GB in Javelin since Sharon Reeves did so in the 1987 European Championships. Colette’s first huge throw was disallowed. It was judged not to have tipped the ground; however after an appeal by the GB Team Manager, she was allowed to re-take the throw.
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Unfortunately her re-throw did not fly as far as the previous throw and was placed second, slightly behind the first throw of Satu Leinonen from Finland. The position remained the same after five further throws despite Colette’s very best efforts and determination to beat the Finn. No one else could better these performances. Colette was eventually awarded the silver medal in her debut. All of her throws smashed the previous British Deaf Record! What an achievement for Colette!
At the end of the first day, GB had achieved 1 gold and 2 silvers.
Day 2
Day 2 saw everyone in action again.
This time both Nelson and Jason were drawn in the same 200m heats. In their race was the European champion, Osmel, and the very strong and experienced German, Matthias Fischer. Despite the very best efforts of both the GB men running very hard from the block to the finishing lane, Nelson managed a very respectable fourth position and Jason was awarded seventh. Both learnt a lot about the strength and standard of international sprinting events.
800m Gold and Silver
An hour later, the current Scottish under 17, European indoor, outdoor and 2005 Deaflympics 800m champion, Lauren Peffers had to face the World Deaf 1 mile and 10km record holder and fellow Briton Candy Hawkins again. This time over the 800m.
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Lauren was determined to prove that she is the best hearing impaired 800m athlete in the world. As soon as the gun went off, Lauren decided to avoid hanging back with the crowd, which had slowed the 1,500m. Also this allowed her not to be bumped and scratched. She sprinted the first 50m. As soon as she was in a comfortable position, she managed to settle down. This enabled her to hang on and run her race.
Candy, knowing Lauren’s strength over the last 200m, decided to conserve some energy so she had enough reserve to challenge Lauren to the end. It was a cat and mouse game between GB’s top world class leading middle distance ladies.
They were both ahead of the crowd. It was sheer excitement and all the spectators jumped to their feet cheering them on with the waving of flags. This time, Candy decided to challenge for the gold medal with 250m to go.
Lauren was shaken, but not stirred and fought alongside Candy for the gold. Eventually Candy’s legs gave in with only 10m to go. There was nothing left and Lauren overtook Candy at the closing stages. Lauren emulated Dame Kelly Holmes, by doing the ‘double’. Candy once again, had to settle for the silver.
400m Gold
Candy, who is enjoying her first full injury-free season, had to put on her spikes again. She was competing again! This time, she had to compete in the 400m race – her first international 400m race since the 1997 European Championships in Switzerland, which she had won.
Candy showed her strength as well as her fitness ability by flying off the starting block as soon as the gun went. Everyone was amazed and wondered whether the earlier, tough mid-distance 800m and 1,500m races had taken their toll on Candy. Candy built up a huge lead in the first 200m. She held on for the next 200m and incredibly achieved the most sort after – the gold medal!
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Female Athlete of the Championships
Lauren’s ‘double’ medals won her the title of ‘Female Athlete of the Championships.’ This was awarded to her as she was the only female to win double gold medals. Incredibly, Lauren has not lost an 800m race against any deaf or hearing impaired athlete in the world. At the age of 14, in May 2003, she burst into the scene at the DUKA European Championships trials, at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Each season since, Lauren has decreased her World Junior Record (WJR) times over the 800m and 1,500m.
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Overall, the GB Team won 3 gold and 3 silver medals. However it was a learning experience for all of the Team including the athletes and the officials. Many memories will be kept – many good from the Championships and others from the tragic events in London.
Deaf UK Athletics continues to work to identify new talented athletes to represent GB. For further information, please visit www.deafukathletics.org.uk.
Contact details:
Postal: Deaf UK Athletics
PO Box 2360
Silverdale
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire ST5 7WA
Fax: 01782 561 665
Email: info@deafukathletics.org.uk
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