Most regions have traditions which are associated with Boxing Day. The “Boxing Day Dip” is possibly the best known for our area, an unenviable short swim in the very cold water that is the North Sea. Madness!
A less insane but no doubt equally painful tradition is the South Shields Athletic and Harrier Clubs “Boxing Day Parloff”, an event which has been held annually (continually) for at least 25 years, but one which has a much longer history. Basically the event involves runners being drawn from a hat as pairs. One runner from the team stands half way around the track. His fellow member starts running towards him from the start. When they meet, the second runner continues the lap. The first runner turns around and either walks, jogs or runs (depending on fitness ability) back to the finish and/or meets his partner coming the other way. The process is repeated. The first pair to run two miles in this way are the winners and receive a trophy for a year. It may sound complicated, but it isn’t.
This year saw a RECORD turn out for the event, with eleven teams competing, with treble the number of family members watching the event. And it was all washed down with coffee and mince pies. All in all, a great community event and as a reflection of the health of the Club at the moment, a good day for the voluntary organisers and runners.
The sad thing is however, if the Gypsies Green development goes ahead, it will be the LAST Boxing Day event ever.
THERE WILL BE NO NEW RUNNING TRACK OR STADIUM BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE CLUB WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AT LEAST
A GREAT TRADITION WILL HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
THE BOROUGH WILL LOOSE A VALUABLE COMMUNITY GROUP WHICH ENCOURAGES AND HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE MORE OF THEIR LIVES
The time has come for South Shields Harriers and other interested sporting groups to come of the fence and lend their support and voice to the fight to oppose the Tavistock development. The Council can prevaricate and promise as much as they want, but no new facilities will emerge.
Join us now and let’s stop this development in its tracks!
A less insane but no doubt equally painful tradition is the South Shields Athletic and Harrier Clubs “Boxing Day Parloff”, an event which has been held annually (continually) for at least 25 years, but one which has a much longer history. Basically the event involves runners being drawn from a hat as pairs. One runner from the team stands half way around the track. His fellow member starts running towards him from the start. When they meet, the second runner continues the lap. The first runner turns around and either walks, jogs or runs (depending on fitness ability) back to the finish and/or meets his partner coming the other way. The process is repeated. The first pair to run two miles in this way are the winners and receive a trophy for a year. It may sound complicated, but it isn’t.
This year saw a RECORD turn out for the event, with eleven teams competing, with treble the number of family members watching the event. And it was all washed down with coffee and mince pies. All in all, a great community event and as a reflection of the health of the Club at the moment, a good day for the voluntary organisers and runners.
The sad thing is however, if the Gypsies Green development goes ahead, it will be the LAST Boxing Day event ever.
THERE WILL BE NO NEW RUNNING TRACK OR STADIUM BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE CLUB WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AT LEAST
A GREAT TRADITION WILL HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
THE BOROUGH WILL LOOSE A VALUABLE COMMUNITY GROUP WHICH ENCOURAGES AND HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE MORE OF THEIR LIVES
The time has come for South Shields Harriers and other interested sporting groups to come of the fence and lend their support and voice to the fight to oppose the Tavistock development. The Council can prevaricate and promise as much as they want, but no new facilities will emerge.
Join us now and let’s stop this development in its tracks!
1 comment:
I remember a coach at South Shields Harriers, (his name escapes me for the moment) saying to me in the 1970’s that Shields could have been “in the top position that Gateshead is in now… if only the council had supported the necessary improvements to the training facilities.”
After all these years I’m paraphrasing what he said, but it’s sad that generations of councillors in the borough have failed to give grass roots athletics in South Shields the support it deserves.
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