Opportunity knocks for athletes at the Wenlock Olympic Games on 2nd July 2023...
Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Make a diary date to become a small part of athletics history, as the Wenlock Olympian Society are promoting the 137th Wenlock Olympian Games on July 2nd this year.
Events include Track & Field activities with special commemorative pentathlon medals, and a 7-mile Road Race, amongst many other varied sporting, and arts related activities.
* The start of a previous 7-mile road race at the Wenlock Olympic Games.
Preserving the ideals of Dr William Penny Brookes – the inspiration for the modern Olympic Movement: The Wenlock Olympian Society is a significant contributor to the development of the modern International Olympic Movement.
It was founded by William Penny Brookes in 1850 as ‘Wenlock Olympian Class,’ to provide “annual competitions in sports and the arts for people of every grade” – and so Wenlock Olympian Games was born. It continues today, and is still held in Shropshire, centred around the town of Much Wenlock.
*This year is a special year where the event organisers are reintroducing the Society’s pentathlon winners medal in memory of the performance 100 years ago of Harold Langley, who went on in 1924 to represent England at the Olympics in Paris.
Langley Centenary – the 2023 Wenlock Pentathlon Challenge.
One-hundred years ago, Harold Langley, an athlete from Sparkhill Harriers in Birmingham, won the multi-event competition at the Games.
He was awarded a medal that he was so proud of that he considered it the most important award he received, despite winning multiple awards at regional and national levels and going to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924.
In his memory, the Society is reintroducing this medal for the Wenlock Olympian Games pentathlon.
*So, why not sign up and compete for a pentathlon medal by jumping (high and long), throwing (shot put) and running (800m for all with 100m for Senior Men and hurdles for all other). Age groups U15, U17 and Senior, plus Men and Women categories.
*Athletics: The Athletics Track & Field events for the 137th Games are organised by the Wenlock Olympian Society in association with Wenlock Olympians Athletics Club. The event is a recognised meeting with England Athletics and results are included on Power of Ten. This year all the events will be held on Sunday, 2nd July 2023.
*Events and entries: A full list of events and entry registration can be found at: https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/wenlockgames/
*Contact: For further details on all the athletics events please contact Ian Dadswell via iandadswell@f2s.com or 07463 928396.
*Road Race: The annual road race is held through Much Wenlock and Broseley areas. The event is on approximate 7-mile course through the historic area in a rural setting, starting, and finishing on the Gaskell Field, the home of the Wenlock Olympian Games since 1850. The 2023 race will take place on Sunday, 2nd July 2023.
*Location: Gaskell Recreation Ground, Much Wenlock TF13 6JE. Parking is near the track but not at the leisure centre – please follow direction signs to dedicated free parking.
*Entries: Entry and age group information can be found at: https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2023/GBR/r7mr/
Results from last year:
*Contact: Kevin Evans: 01952 728016.
kevin136evans@btinternet.com