Watching Bradford Grammar School alumnus, Emile Cairess (2016) finishing the London Marathon in sixth place with a time of 2:08:07, making him the third-fastest British man in history, was amazing.
Emile’s latest achievement, and the manner in which he has acknowledged it, makes me proud. His name joins that of other Old Bradfordian ‘greats’ such as Richard Nerurkar (1982) and the Brownlee brothers who are part of BGS’s successful cross country running tradition, a heritage that inspires today’s pupils to engage positively with sport and exercise. It’s hard not to be reflective in the glow of Emile’s marathon effort. I remember my first step into the world of competitive school sport, a pre-season rugby trial in Year 9 (Third Year in old money), a breezy field fringed by unruly hawthorns overlooking the Rother Valley, South Yorkshire. Earlier in the week, Mr Heritage, the Head of Sport, had rocked back on his office chair and instructed: “Hinch, rugby,” and I was dutiful in response.
I enjoyed sport but was wholly unremarkable. But I did what my teachers encouraged or told me to do, trusting their judgement. So, I turned up after school, admittedly in an unnaturally snug Rotherham market football top but with gaping nylon shorts – decidedly unready for rugby.
I didn’t know the rules of the game. Happily, back in the day there was a place for such folk and, accordingly, I was directed to the front row. Suddenly, I was a tight head prop. Lucky me. It was a test for a young lad with no real rugby experience. It was a test for my shorts too, one they did not meet.
Mr Heritage and Mr Selkirk soon realised that I didn’t fully grasp everything that was going on around me. They were kind in reproach, and I listened, tried hard, learnt, and didn’t embarrass myself entirely away to Wickersley for the first game of the season. And my mum invested in some proper rugby shorts. I was part of a team. I played for school and soon for Rotherham RUFC Colts. It felt good. A not particularly sporty or confident young lad began a relationship with physical challenge that later developed into a consuming passion for the mountains and climbing, with rugby, cricket, and kayaking bobbing alongside for variety.
I am, therefore, unashamedly biased. I understand that a positive relationship with physical activity in some form or another is a wonderful, enriching and potentially life-changing thing. And so it is for many children at Bradford Grammar School, including those like the Headmaster who regard themselves as enthusiastic participants rather than able athletes.
Sport has evolved in schools. We have made deliberate changes at BGS in recent years to widen our programme and diversify its delivery, and also to achieve a more equitable balance between a range of sports. Our ambition to foster greater levels of participation and support young athletes of various ages and ability levels is being achieved. We are not done yet, as we wish to tweak and improve, but the direction of travel is set. Our vision is being realised. Of course, we like to win. But we also lose with grace. Overall, the annual medal and trophy count grows, reflecting homegrown talent and not scholarships.
Emile is one such homegrown success story. On a recent visit back to BGS he said: “I got my first taste of competing at the Junior School when Mr Reddish entered me in a race. I came second and got the taste for it from then.
“It’s been fantastic to come back to the school. BGS was very good in giving me a bursary and the teachers were always very understanding if I had competitions and needed to leave early. The school invested in me, and I’m delighted to help them in any way I can.
“There’s a really lovely team spirit among the runners at BGS. They’re such nice kids and they all really get on together and support each other.”
In simple terms, rugby helped me to be part of something good and a little less cautious about giving new things a go. Being part of a team, a community, a tradition, can be transformative. For me, distant mountains soon seemed less far off, and it is now a privilege to watch our young people embarking on similar journeys of their own.
“We have made deliberate changes at BGS in recent years to widen our programme and diversify its delivery, and also to achieve a more equitable balance between a range of sports. Our ambition to foster greater levels of participation and support young athletes of various ages and ability levels is being achieved.”
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