Shropshire athletics officials step up to Olympics

The London Olympics will represent the career pinnacle for hundreds of athletes this summer – but it will also be a major highlight for three athletics officials from Shropshire.

Graham Merrington, from Telford, Ross Vince, from Newport and Adie Pottinger, from Bridgnorth, will all be officiating at the summer sporting showpiece – and they could be involved in some of the game's biggest calls.

Merrington will be working as an umpire for the track events while Vince will be a photo finish judge and Pottinger will work as a games maker in the photo finish area.

Merrington is the secretary of the Shropshire Athletics Association and has been a UKA official for 25 years, during which time he covered the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but he admits his first Olympics will be the biggest stage he has officiated at.

The 61-year old said: "It was a surprise to be selected. You always hope to be but it was still a surprise because potentially there are a lot of officials who could have been selected.

"My family and friends are excited and my grandchildren are also excited they might see me on television."

His duties will include monitoring the lanes for potential fouls or obstructions as well as ensuring the correct number of laps are run.

It will also be Pottinger's first games and Vince's second after he led a timing team at the rowing in 1992.