Nothing better exemplifies the truly national nature of the Scottish Athletics Championships than the commitment shown by the Shetland contingents that participated at both last weekend’s age grade contests in Scotstoun and will do so again over the next two days at Grangemouth.
Setting aside the substantial cost - the parents of one junior athlete have calculated that the annual cost of involvement in the sport is £3000 - getting down to the central belt to compete involves a five day round trip, setting off from Lerwick on a Thursday evening and returning the following Tuesday.
Such commitment is, however, something they take in their stride as pointed out by Paul Woods, their Club Together officer, who has made both trips this time around and believes it is vital that the club continues to attend such gatherings.
“It couldn’t be more important for Shetland as a community to be here,” he said.
“Just moving around the stadium, speaking to people. They are asking the same questions you are and some of them are absolutely gobsmacked at the commitment. I’m lucky, I’m here as a club official and a chaperone, but we’ve got parents down here who are teachers who flew down after school on Friday and they will be back up to Aberdeen tonight to get the red eye tomorrow so they’re in school on time. It’s just part of island life.”
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