Coventry Godiva secretary rewarded for services to athletics

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat 

COVENTRY GODIVA AC club secretary Bill Adcocks shared the track with the great and good of British athletics at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham at the weekend.

LAP OF HONOUR: Coventry Godiva AC secretary takes to the track with high jumper Tom Parsons at the European Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham (Getty Images)

The 68-year-old from Coventry won the right to do the Aviva Lap of Honour with Olympic high jump finalist Tom Parsons and was presented with a £1,000 cheque to donate to the club as a reward for his services to athletics.

Adcocks - who has been a member of the club for 55 years - celebrates his 20th year as club secretary in 2010 having spent his younger days as a marathon runner.

And after rubbing shoulders with the likes of Parsons, Jenny Meadows and Phillips Idowu in Birmingham, Adcocks admitted the day had exceeded all expectations.

"I found out a bit late that I had won this because I was away and I came back to a message on the answer-phone which was a nice surprise," said Adcocks.

"It is great to be recognised but there are also lots of other people at the club and at all the other athletic clubs who do just as much as me.

"Athletics clubs wouldn't run without volunteers. It's been a great day and it was fantastic to do the lap, although I used to do a lot more than one lap when I was younger and still running."

After presenting Adcocks with his cheque, Parsons recorded a season's best leap of 2.28m on his way to second in the high jump, behind Martyn Bernard on countback.

But despite his starring display, Parsons was in no doubt as to who deserved the plaudits in Birmingham.

"I was delighted to be able to present the cheque and do the lap with Bill because volunteers like him had a massive influence over my career when I was younger," said Parsons.

"So I think it is great that he had his chance to be recognised and walk the track."

Aviva has been proud to have been the N^o 1 sponsor of UK Athletics since 1999 and is committed to developing the sport at every level, from playground to podium. Find out more at aviva.co.uk/athletics