Belgrave Globetrotters

An Interview with Club President John Powell and Club Secretary Matt Threadgold

While Belgrave Harriers athletes all over London and the UK begin final preparations for the summer season, two of the club's management committee have been globe trotting, with President John Powell hitting four continents in less than 10 weeks!Club Secretary, sprinter Matthew Threadgold, was one of four athletes selected to take part in the filming of a pre-Olympics commercial in South Africa.  John Powell had also been selected as consultant advisor to the Californian production team, and so also spent long days alongside Matt starting before the crack of dawn on mountainsides north of Cape Town filming with two other athletes - one British, one South African.Earlier in the year, forays to the USA and Thailand had occupied John's January diary, with selection as England team coach (sprints) for an indoor international in Austria in February.  In addition, he also delivered a Masterclass on sprinting to selected coaches and athletes from Sussex County just 48 hours after returning from Cape Town!

Matthew is now looking to visit Portugal for a warm weather training stint, while John, who has remained also as Committee Chairman during his two Presidential years with the club, is taking some of his athletes to the USA (Florida) again for five weeks.

Matt' said: "The South Africa experience was amazing, although the early morning starts were a bit dramatic.  It was hard work with numerous takes, but everyone got on really well and I think the end result will be superb."

John was equally impressed, but is focussing now on minimising travel lag before his next trip (Orlando).  "Four continents with two trips to the US in less than three months is going some even for me," he said, "The England selection was a nice surprise, but now I'm hoping once we are settled in Florida things can calm down for a few weeks, or my body won't know what planet it's on!"