Games draw in the crowds

Thousands of people descended on the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock to celebrate and take part in the 122nd Wenlock Olympian Games.

Competitors from across the country gathered in the birthplace of the modern Olympic movement over the weekend ready to take part in a wide variety of sporting activities.

Events included archery, fencing, tennis, triathlon, road and cycle races and track and field competitions.

Giles Birt, chairman of Wenlock Olympians said: “It went extremely well. From 8am at the start of the triathlon to 6.30pm to the end of the clay pigeon shoot, it was excellent.

“There was extremely good competition in the event and good weather always makes everything so much better.

“There would be a couple of thousand people there altogether with the athletes and spectators. It’s a very lively well supported event.

“People travel from all over to take part, including the north west, Oswestry, Birchfield, Coventry, Sutton Coldfield, Wrexham and London. It’s a well known, well established event.

“With the growing interest with the London 2012 Olympic Games the Much Wenlock Olympians will only increase.

“But we are also looking beyond that as our event is annual. We’ve got to make sure that we put on a very strong Wenlock Olympians in July 2013.

“A lot of the interest this year has been down to Bejing also.

“We have presentations ongoing throughout the event.

“All of the track and field events were completed yesterday and the presentations take place at the end of each event.

“This was the 122nd Wenlock games, the first one was in 1850, but there has been a few years, during the war period etc when it didn’t take place.

“We’re very proud of the event and it will definitely continue. It’s also about the cultural and arts events.

“It’s about the whole ethos of William Penny Brookes and his ideal for the involvement of people.

“You couldn’t write it in modern times any better than he did. It’s extraordinary.

“I’m grateful for the work of the society and supporters in helping us stage the games.”