Margaret Werrett's officiating journey

As well as being a very experienced official, Margaret Werrett is also the Upgrading Secretary for the Midlands and South West tri-region. We chatted with Margaret recently to find out more about her officiating journey and her current volunteering roles in athletics.

Margaret has been involved in athletics for over forty years - first as an athlete while at school in Scotland and, from 1982 onwards, as a starter/starters’ assistant predominantly in England, with the occasional return to Scotland to start meetings there.

How did you get into officiating? Was there a particular moment or person that encouraged you to take the first step?

My Physical Education teacher, Charlie Meldrum was the Chief Starter in Scotland. I was never guilty of a false start on the track; however, in an inter-house swimming gala I false started and was told off. From then on, athletics starting was the only officiating discipline I wanted to pursue, with the ambition of becoming the first Scottish woman starter. I achieved this with a little help from my English friends. Charlie remained as my role model even after his passing.

What does your role of tri-region Upgrading Secretary involve?

As the tri-region National Officials’ Group (TRNG) Upgrading Secretary, my role is to identify officials who have reached Level 2 or Level 3 in their discipline. When the official and their mentor feel they are ready to progress, I help ensure they are appointed to larger regional meetings with suitable reporters to support the upgrade process - and hopefully move up the officiating ladder.

What do you enjoy most about officiating and your role as tri-region Upgrading Secretary?

Having been a teacher all my working life, the tri-regional role allows me to continue to interact, train, and facilitate the officials move towards their chosen goal(s) in athletics. The reward is always when I meet them at meetings after their upgrading and they come over with a huge smile on their face having achieved their own personal goal. In short, I enjoy facilitating their journey.

Has there been a memorable event or moment from your time as an official?

The first moment was the 2012 Paralympics T44 final – the Jonnie Peacock race. The pressure he must have been under was immense. I felt part of that as the starter, especially as the race had to be stood up due to a spectator incident, then again because of crowd noise. Fortunately, on the third attempt, it was an excellent start.

Roll forward to 2020(21) Tokyo Paralympics and the same race: the men’s T44 100m final which closed the games in Japan. The weather was awful - raining heavily - I was the starter and made the decision to start in dress uniform minus the waterproofs. Unknown to me, the entire start team, all 21 officials, also came out minus the waterproofs. A great memory and shows the camaraderie between officials from different nations.

What are some common misconceptions about officiating?

That it is paid! You may get travel expenses depending on the level of the meeting or a per diem if you are officiating at championships, but the real reward is being part of the sport and working alongside friends.

Another misconception is that some disciplines are closed shops or male dominated. This has changed beyond all expectations, and athletics officiating is for everyone - regardless of age, gender, or background. Parity is based on ability, not gender. Starting, long seen as male dominated, has seen a huge increase in women starters and assistants since the early 2000s.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming an official and progressing to the next level?

• Find a Level 1 course, take the plunge, choose a mentor who suits your learning style, get out onto the track and try it out.
• If times get tough talk to your mentor and be determined to reach your goal in whatever officiating discipline you choose.
• If you want to succeed, as I did after the swimming gala eons ago, then you will. I had a lot of help along the way from my family.

Finally, I hope - and perhaps know - that I will have made Charlie Meldrum proud on many occasions and hopefully a few more to come.