Wenlock Olympian Games: 9,000-mile trip no bother to runner Lavinia, 74 - with pictures
The historic Wenlock Olympian Games returned, with a special visitor from 9,000 miles away taking part.
This year’s games included a wide variety of track and field sports in the grounds of the William Brookes Primary School and neighbouring fields.
The event, which pre-dates and even inspired the modern Olympic Games, welcomed Lavinia Petrie of Victoria, Australia. The 74-year-old and her son Rob were sponsored to travel to Much Wenlock after she got the best result respective of age in a road race Down Under.
Lavinia and Rob, 47, both took part in the Games’ seven-mile road race, giving them a chance to experience the Shropshire countryside in the blazing sun. On finishing the race she was congratulated by a succession of well-wishers who had heard her story.
She said: “The route wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I expected it to be about 16 or 17 degrees, which is what we get in our winters, and not as hot as it was. I’m glad it’s over.
“All of the hospitality here has been fantastic. I have been treated like a princess, people have been taking us all over and have been so supportive.”
Asked whether jet lag affected her run, she replied: “I never have a problem with jet lag. I actually think it is just an excuse.” people use after the fact when they don’t do well.”
Lavinia also took in the Telford parkrun on Saturday, and will spend the rest of her time in England touring with a hire car before flying back to Australia on Tuesday.
Mac Bardsley from the Wenlock Olympian Society said: “Lavinia travelling from Australia embodies the Wenlock Olympian Society ethos. The message it sends out is that the Games are for everyone, no matter the age.”
The games themselves have been running with only a few interruptions since 1850. They were inspired by Dr William Penny Brookes, who set up an ‘Olympic Class’ to promote physical and moral wellbeing in Much Wenlock and the surrounding areas.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France visited the market town in 1890 and, inspired by what Dr Brookes and his team had built, went on to establish the International Olympic Committee.
The programme for this year’s event was dedicated to former president of the Wenlock Olympian Society John Simpson, who helped revive the society in 1977.
