Welcome to 2022 from the new Chair of Cardiff Athletics

Wednesday 19 January 2022

Gordon Harold (Chair)

Croeso i Athletau Caerdydd – welcome to Cardiff Athletics!

It is my great pleasure to welcome all athletes, volunteers, coaches, parents and members to Cardiff Athletics and the start of a new and exciting phase in the club’s proud and illustrious history.

It is a particular honour to write this welcome note as the new Chair of Cardiff Athletics.

A little background about me for those who don’t know me. I am originally from Dublin and have been a competitive middle and long-distance athlete most of my life. It is fair to say that everything I enjoy in my life today (from parent to academic professional) has been facilitated as a result of my involvement in the wonderful world of competitive athletics. I have competed for Ireland (a long time ago now!), travelled to the United States on an athletics scholarship (Iowa State University), spending a decade in the US as an athlete and student, where I had an amazing opportunity to run, compete and develop friendships with some of the world’s finest athletes, many of whom remain friends today.

Sport opens doors across all ages and abilities, Cardiff Athletics has a huge opportunity to be a broker of new opportunities for its athletes and members and an exemplar of excellence across all areas of the club’s operation, with significant potential to promote multiple positive impacts locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

To achieve this objective, we must work together through a supportive, inclusive, respectful, encouraging and professional ethos, acknowledging the hard-work and achievements of our athletes, volunteers, coaches and members at all times and across all levels of competition represented by the club’s membership.

This club has a proud history and a genuinely impressive roll-of-honour in producing some the UK’s most successful athletes. I want to acknowledge three important club members to help highlight the unique opportunities the club offers. First, Bernie Plain (MBE; Cardiff Athletics Life Member), Bernie is an icon in the Welsh long-distance running community and has been an ambassador for this club for over 50 years. Second, Rhys Williams (Cardiff Athletics President), European 400m Hurdles Champion (2012), among many other international titles and global achievements. For any young (or older) club athlete, make 2022 the year where you take the opportunity to say hello to Bernie and Rhys. You will find that as club members and world leaders in their respective events, they epitomise the values and attributes that this club aspires to promote – humility, enthusiasm, passion, energy, respect, support and drive! Attributes that will not only help you succeed in sport and our sport of athletics, but also in life. Third, and perhaps the most important club member to highlight, YOU (every athlete, coach, volunteer and member of this club). No single athlete or member of the club makes this club what it is today, you all make the club what it is and what it can be in the future. So, ask yourself, how can you make this club not just great, but fun, something you want to be part of, what can you bring to make Cardiff Athletics a club YOU feel proud of and part of?

I look forward to working with you and to collectively promoting exciting opportunities and new achievements as we move this great club forward.

Diolch yn Fawr – Thank you,

Gordon