Book Review: Reliving 100 glorious years of Champs

Title: 'CHAMPS' 100 A Century of Jamaican High School Athletics 1910-2010

Author: Hubert Lawrence

Reviewer: Alfred Sangster

'CHAMPS' 100 A Century of Jamaican High School Athletics 1910-2010 is indeed a historical milestone as it captures the athletic performances of the boys' competition for the 100-year period 1910 to 2010 and the girls from 1957-2010. It is comprehensively written, faithfully executed and brilliantly presented.

Hubert Lawrence, the renowned broadcaster and statistician and the book's author, is closely associated with Michael Grant, the CEO of Great House Publishers, the book's design editor.

The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association, headed by President Dr Walton Small, must be congratulated on the sponsorship of this seminal publication on Champs history, which records the amazing 100-year journey.

Lawrence, in his opening 'thanks' and, Grant, in his 'editorial

comments', catalogue the many sources that have contributed to the comprehensive coverage of those 100 years.

There have been personal recollections of athletes, fans and schools, which have contributed personal recollections and memorabilia.

Lawrence agrees with the comment that "Champs has evolved from a school meet run by phys-ed teachers and headmasters into a mini-Olympics."

The book is dedicated to those two stalwarts in Jamaican athletics - Nor-man Manley and Herbert McDonald - visionaries of the National Stadium and sports administrators.

A timeline of significant events is recorded, from 1911 - Norman Manley's 100-yard record, which was the gold standard for 41 years - to 2010, the celebration of the 100th staging of Champs.

A brief review of the contents of this nearly 400-page book reveals the breadth of its coverage and the quality of the presentation.

Part 1: Boys in Barracks: The origins of the Champs spirit. 1910-1929

Part 2: Standardisation, Evolution and Expansion 1930-1956

Part 3: The girls get their own show 1957-1961

Part 4: A purple comet and the first golden age, 1962-1975

Part 5: An immovable object: The Vere years, 1979-1993

Part 6: Champs to the world: The second golden age, 1993-2010

The years 1976-1979, boys and girls results are covered in part four.

The historical analysis does not stop at the details of specific years but gives important insights into many of the associated developments that are part of the history of Champs.

The lost Champs and the birth of the 100-year tradition.

How Herb Mckenley was the first to profit from a scholarship to the USA.

How the stop-and-start girls competitions of the early 1900s, 1930s and 1940s finally grew out of the labours of Joyce Taylor and the phys-ed group of teachers to be a strong Champs partner to the boys.

How the 14-year KC dominated streak grew out of the vision of Foggy Burrowes and Howard Aris to create a support athletics team for the school.

The story of the missing year, 1944, when the headmasters called a halt - dampening the usual enthusiasm shown by students during the Champs season - and the initiative by the Old Boys solicitors, which led to its restarting in 1945.

How Jamaican schools came to dominate the Penn relays.

It interesting to note that Wolmer's boys won the first competition in 1910 and also the latest in 2010, but this is not in the book.

The book highlights athletes and administrators, who have contributed to their schools' win or who have made a difference to athletics over the years. The individuals listed below are among those identified as Champs Icons. Many of these athletes went on to represent Jamaica with distinction at the Olympics and other world games.

Norman Manley (JC 1911); Arthur Wint (Calabar 1937); Leroy 'Coco' Brown (JC 1940); Lindy Delapenha (Munro 1945); Merlene Ottey (1979 Vere); Bertland Cameron (St Jago 1979); Michelle freeman (St Jago 1988); Melaine Walker (St Jago 1998); Veronica Campbell (Vere 2001); Kerron Stewart (St Jago); Usain Bolt (William Knibb 2003).

Thoroughly researched with exciting real-life photographs, this book is for any serious fan of athletics. The thousands of athletes who have run before the cheering crowds and are mentioned in the book will swell with pride, as they reflect on those days of Sabina Park, other cricket grounds or the National Stadium. Others of us are given the opportunity to reflect with pride at the achievements of our schoolboys and girls over the last 100 years.