Cross-country woe

Another B3TA Question of the Week. "Tell us your school sports day horror stories". Righty ho:

"When you get to the railway line", said Mr Prince reminding us of the route of the annual muddy slog, "turn right and return to school."

Jimbo was new to our school, and quite the best athlete we'd ever had. He was, unfortunately, not entirely blessed in the brains department.

He got to the railway line in first place, turned right and proceeded to run down the tracks on the London-Bristol mainline. Everybody else, not caring one jot where they were being led, followed. It was just like The Railway Children, only without a lightly-oiled Jenny Agutter and with more police.

The following week, they made us all do it again. Jimbo was found, several hours later, wandering the streets of Henley, some six miles from school. Poor Jimbo. Or, as he's now known: Lord Coe*.

* May contain traces of lie