Punishing nine-hour day to discover the county’s best athletic superstars

THE hunt was on in September 1984 for Staffordshire’s sporting superstars.

The Burton and District Sports Advisory Council was behind the challenge as would-be champions took part in a gruelling nine-hour day.

The competitors started with a 50-metre free-style swimming sprint at the Meadowside Centre followed by a circuit of the adjacent trim-trail.

The athletes then moved to the Bass Sports Centre for long jump, football and hockey.

After a very light lunch the competitors were then told to complete a 100 metre sprint before taking part in basketball.

Another move was then going by car to the Ind Coope Sports and Social Club for rifle shooting.

It was then back to the Bass sports centre for the final event of table tennis.

At the end of the long day, Neil Richards from Lichfield emerged as the winner with 132 points.

Burton had two athletes in the contest, Same Ireland finished fifth with 109 points and Vince McKenna came sixth with 96 points.

In thew women’s section, Pat Neil from Tamworth took the title with 129 points while Burton athlete Julie Lovatt came fifth with 96 points and Wendy Samways came ninth with 82.5 points.

The awards were presented by East Staffordshire District Council chairman Stan Deeming and the mayor and mayoress of Burton, Mr and Mrs Walker.

The event attracted competitors from Cannock, Stoke, Newcastle, Lichfield, Tamworth, Stafford and Burton.