GoodGym Olympics 2019

164 Goodgymers helped their local community
Beth Hoskins
Bryon Chan
Sarah Moore
Sophie H
Steph Turner
Steve Coman
anne malcolm
Brahma Pochee
Paul Bown
Tom Benson
Alice Ridgway
Polly Skeats-Beswick
Richard Breakspear
Mark Gilyead
Claire Thomson
Patrick Luong
Jessie Woodward
Steve Jenkins
Claire Rees-Sewak
Hilary
Catriona Sibert
Lucy J
Jay Rosenberg
Frances Powrie
Steve Lee
Daniel Allen-baines
Graham Atkins
Jacqueline Francis
Kate Holmes
Alex Murtough
Jim
Emily Waller
Peter Van Tongeren
James Gilbert
Steve Murtough
Helen Angharad Fagan
Eva Sharpe
Sarah Place
Alex Passa
Liv Parker-Scott
Alix Guerber
Sarah-Jane Messenger
Mireille
Toyin
Dom Tooze
Lucy Ranson
Matthew Stuart
Sophie Humphrey
Jade Jones
Tav
Christian Brown
John D Wren
Sarah W
Vic
Claire C
Tabitha Skinner
Sharon
Issac Gideon Young
Frances Collier-Wright
Amber Maurice
Susie Crafer (Longworth)
Luke Woodward
Amy Crawford
Tori
Catherine
James Hotham
Kevin Prince
Leanne
Chi Nwa
Michael Welsh
Clair Sim
Alex Brown
Al Smith
Alex
Julia
Helen Killingley
Beth Nelson
Salwa Wardeh
Phoebe
Emily
Stefan Durkin
Abigail White
Tara Shanahan
Jack Concanon
Mike C
Nicky Woodall
Tim Wheatley
Remy Maisel
Pete
Michelle
CJ Jessup
Andy Wright
Christopher O'Driscoll
Sara Brimble
Charlotte Martin
Dan Benwell
Ella J
Chris
Katie Carew-Robinson
Chris
Stephanie Stevenson
Removed User
Claire Oxlade
Paul Kelly
Philip Woodall
David Ewens
Tom Clough
Tony Hewett
Paul Fawcett
Jo Kitching
Luis
Alice Newstead
Keith Borrett
Angela Chick
Rebecca
Latoya Stephens
Abi Perrin
Catherine Moore
Rob Riley
George
Callum
Beth Sawyer
Helen
Oliver
Caz Steer
Charlotte
Jonny Knight
Anwen Greenaway
Amanda Bater
Teresa Gebski
Bethan Greenaway
Kapil
Removed User
Rebecca
Alexander Majewski
Oliver Cannon
Linda Sharman
Lenka
James C
Sarah
Minh
Laura
Wilson
Lucy Hill
George Woolfrey
Elizabeth Gold
Momoko
Liz
Sharon Graham
1 / 54

Saturday 3rd August 2019

Credits
Tom Benson
Tom Benson

SESSION ORGANISER

Find out about GoodGym TaskForce

Report written by Tom Benson

Share the love

Update: Photos are now ready: Please click this link for the wonderful pictures of the day taken by Tom Hunter and Sarah Rajabalee Photos

Well what a day, on Saturday 3rd August I checked the weather forecast and was relieved to see the chances of rain was limited, however what they failed to say was just over Hampstead heath, there was going to be from 12 o’clock onwards flashes of red thunder would be seen. The local residents should have been warned a sea of red was heading to Hampstead heath armed with cakes, carved vegetables, frying pans and bags full of energy, witnesses said that it was very infectious.

So after lots of emails and badge/medal making the third GoodGym Olympics took place. Over 160 folks from all over the GoodGym community came to London to compete in the annual sports day. Events on offer were classic running events such as the 400m and elimination mile to more novel but just as serious ones such as the egg and spoon and a first time entry the Bucket stilt relay. The day was amazing and brought together some fantastic competition and lovely fun sprint. We saw photo finishes on so many races including a tense 100m to a mass final lap on the 5,000m, the energy and sprite was amazing and just sums up GoodGym.

This years event had a marching band created from a competition I set up to create an Olympic anthem, James and Laura from Lambeth created two entries and Mark, Lambeth leader, joined them together to make an amazing effort and brought together a number of musicians to create a marching band for the day, it was beyond words. Alongside the events we had a loads of lovely baked goods taking part in the bake off and some amazing carved vegetables in the veg competition. I have included a few pictures as they say it better than my typed words. Loads of new things were introduced this year from medals hand made from clay, amazing village games, area badges and temporary tattoos which all look great.

I have organised this for the last three years and every year folks contributions and enthusiasm amazes me and makes it all worth it, although this is a lot of work to put it together there are a number of people whose effort and ensure the days goes on without any hitches, from the first aiders to the commentators, timing team, village games organisers, start of the day setting uppers, marshals, bake off helpers and bakers, loads and loads of people. Also mega shout out to the areas that travel far and wide to come, you made such an effort and it was lovely you made the effort, shout out to Colchester, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Portsmouth and York

When I can compile the results I can find I will make them public as with when more photos come available. Anyhow, thank you so much for coming and getting involved it was truly a great day and everyone contributed to it. Next year as we have had three years in London, I am looking for an area outside to host it, stay tunes for announcements coming up in the next few months.

Nice one, Tom



Discuss this report
Jay Rosenberg

Mon 5th Aug 2019 at 2:20pm

Solid performance Tom and to prove it many of us didn't depart until past midnight!! Thank you :D

Jessie Woodward

Mon 5th Aug 2019 at 2:46pm

Thank you Tom and all the Benson clan! Your efforts pulled out another outstanding event!

Alex Murtough
Alex Murtough (he/him)

Mon 5th Aug 2019 at 10:03pm

Thank you Tom for such a beautiful day full of positivity, smiles, and just a touch of red thunder! Christmas has some competition for best day of the year... bring on 2020!

Richard Breakspear

Mon 5th Aug 2019 at 11:43pm

Thanks so much for organising this! Great fun! Enjoyed watching the bemused locals watching the parade and all the shenanigans! 😆

Angela Chick
Angela Chick (she/her)

Tue 6th Aug 2019 at 7:28am

Thanks so much for such a fun day! I can't wait til next year!

Wilson

Tue 6th Aug 2019 at 5:59pm

Tom you are awesome! To organise such an event takes some doing, thankyou so much, I loved it! See you next year, Sarah :)

Anwen Greenaway

Wed 7th Aug 2019 at 8:42am

Thank you! We had so much fun!

Pritesh Mistry

Wed 7th Aug 2019 at 2:46pm

Just incredible - what a hero!

Join us on our next session