Games beat the rain

Date published: 20 September 2010


RAIN greeted the Saddleworth Village Olympics as the event moved into its second week but it failed to deter young athletes and supporters who turned out in their droves.

Council staff had worked all week to get the athletics facilities into shape at Churchill Playing Fields.

But a downpour on Saturday morning following rain last week meant volunteers had to turn out from 6am.

Said organiser Ben Hilton: “We had to pump off the field for about two hours. There was more water than surface for the track events, but we had plenty of volunteers to help clear it even though the weather was horrendous.

“The long jump was cancelled, but we had hundreds of supporters who are always fantastic.”

Last year, the games had to be postponed because of the state of the fields.


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