Croydon Volunteer Extra-ordinary

Far from resting on his laurels since last winter, when he was voted England Athletics London Region “Young Volunteer of the Year”, Croydon Harrier Terry Lapins has continued his mission to smarten and refurbish various aspects of the Club Headquarters.

Having using his carpentry and decorating skills clearly to the club’s benefit, but   to the possible detriment of his training, Lapins 21, is now making up for lost time in preparation for the season ahead in his tripartite role as steeplechase enthusiast, track official and joint National Junior League team manager clearly in mind.

As if that is not enough he has also just acted as joint team manager for the Croydon Borough Mini-Marathon teams, and was so thrilled by the 11-12 event win of his young training group colleague, Trinity School student Peter Chambers. Anyone hearing his excited telephone call from Trafalgar Square to coach Mike Fleet shortly afterwards, might quite easily have he was reporting on a triumph of his own.

The buoyant, seemingly tireless Lapins’ , diary bursting with commitments as competitor and official for the months ahead, provides an example which many other young men and women in the sport would find rewarding to follow.

He is a credit to the sport having put more back into his club in two years than many an older athlete might do in ten.

Mike Fleet