Page 37 - QARANC Vol 14 No 11 2015

Department of Healthcare Education Team – AMS Athletics 2015
Temperatures reaching the high 20’s and little cloud coverage provided an extra challenge this year for all the AMS Athletics Championship’s competitors. However, this sudden burst of hot weather did not seem to deter any team’s enthusiasm for the event and as usual the standards of competition were high and the atmosphere fantastic.
After the success of last year, the Department of Healthcare Education (DHE) entered for the second time against the twelve other teams of the AMSSU. The prospect of being against medical regiments can be a bit daunting for students from DHE as our training puts us in quite a unique situation. Balancing university work, hospital placement and military duties means it is difficult for our schedules to marry up and makes training a challenge before we even hit the field. To add to this, our lack of equipment and facilities does not make the job any easier if we do manage to get out. However, the enthusiasm and support from the chain of command and the eager attitude from all the athletes meant that we were able to collect a team of 27 strong- a credit to our team captain for organising. When the event day came it wasn’t a surprise moral was high and confidence brimmed amongst the DHE team.
DHE started as it meant to continue with one of our men securing our first gold in the first event, the 400m hurdles. This momentum carried on throughout the day with excellent performances by the athletes in both the field and track events. As a team we received medals in thirteen disciplines, contrary to the misconception that we, the ‘pop stars’, lack both physical and sporting attributes. Team spirit never fluctuated and everyone was congratulated
for their effort in each event which went on to earn us points in the final ranking. Gold medals were counted in throughout the day with men and women’s 400m and women’s steeplechase being won by our athletes. A further three silver medals were won in track events; men’s steeple chase, women’s 5000m and women’s 800m. We medalled in four field events; silver in men’s and women’s high jump, women’s long jump and a bronze in women’s shotput. The women’s tug of war team made a great effort and were cheered heavily by our supporters, however, our lack of experience showed against other coached teams. When it finally came to the relays, the last track event of the day and one of the most anticipated, everyone lined up cheering against the fence. Competing against AMS and Army Team athletes over the day had been a challenge but one our own athlete’s had risen too. We snatched a gold in the women’s 4x400m relay and the men only just missed their own gold, coming in second.
Overall, DHE managed to bring back five golds, seven silver’s and a bronze medal to Birmingham; with best male athlete of the event also being given to our team captain. Out of all 13 teams we were ranked 5th, two places higher than last year and all our students medalling had automatic selection into the AMS team. The motivation of staff and students and the contributions made by all ensured us yet another successful year in the event. We are confident in the future generations continuing to represent DHE in AMS championships and hope to be a formidable force for years to come.
Pte G R Roger BSc Student Nurse