So 2018 is now upon us and we can start thinking about all these wonderful things ahead of us. It’s also a time in sport to reflect on the past year, did we do enough in 2017 or could we have done more?
With sport there is always room for improvement, perhaps you wish you had taken that first step to get fit again? Or improve on your bowling figures? Or get that extra goal to make you top scorer in your club? Whatever your reasons for looking back, the new year always brings with it new opportunities to try again.
This is the main focus of our cover story this month. A young girl from Sevenoaks once dreamed of making the Olympics one day, and she made that dream become a reality in 2014 when she won a Gold medal in the Skeleton at the Winter Games in Sochi.
However, Lizzy Yarnold wants to win gold again, this time in PyeongChang, South Korea, and after a stuttering 2017, what better time to go for glory again when she hopefully competes in the Olympics again in early February.
In this month’s issue we also discuss off-road Cycling with Ollie Ireland at Live Biking and how Valence School is aiming to become a centre of excellence for Paralympic sport. Plus we have our regular features on fitness and nutrition from our friends at The Better Body Group and The Health Boost.
Lastly, as we go forward into 2018, I want to mention someone who is fast becoming a local hero of mine. I first met Edward Oatley MBE back in July last year just after he had heard about Sevenoaks Sports magazine’s imminent production. Since then, Edward has been a great asset to the magazine and the team with the wealth of knowledge and interaction he has with local sports. I now feel obliged to give him a little something back if I can.
On page six of the magazine this month, you can read a news story about Edward and his challenge to cycle nearly 500 kilometres from Vietnam to Cambodia, all in aid of raising funds for a new school minibus.
I am told that Edward is not the kind of person to sit back and let others take the lead, however he is also not the kind of person who likes to sing and dance about the work he [continually] does for others in the local area.
If you get a chance, please get behind Edward on his challenge, whether it be in the form of sponsporship or simply using the hashtag #EdwardinAsia on social media to let him know he has a team behind him.
Happy New Year to you all and may I wish you all a year full of sporting greatness whatever your role at your club.
You can view the digital edition here.
Kind regards,
Steve Rowley, Publishing Editor
