B4

I'll never forget this day. Our school used to have a ritual day of torture, embarrassment and humiliation for the less athletic pupils at the school. It was called Sports Day.

LITTLE

B5

Traditionally we were treated to this day of horrors two days before the end of the school year. Even now I remember well the awful practice afternoons leading up to this inglorious spectacle!

LEAD

B6

And indeed there were many spectators: parents, teachers and classmates were all there to cheer and applaud the fittest, fastest and most successful athletes in the school.

SUCCESSFUL

B7

For useless athletes like me, these were the worst days of our school lives.

BAD

B8

However, I eventually developed a strategy that made it a little better. I took up throwing the hammer. That Hammer throw demanded little energy. A fast spin and then letting the thing go at the right moment (and hopefully not killing any innocent spectator) was all that was needed.

Amazingly I became quite good at it. At least I was no longer the poor, red faced fool coming in last on the race track!

NEED

B9

Finally, on my last Sports Day - two days before my last ever school day - I came third in the Hammer Throw, stood on a podium and was presented with a bronze medal!

I

B10

Finally, on my last Sports Day - two days before my last ever school day - I came third in the Hammer Throw, stood on a podium and was presented with a bronze medal!

THREE