Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “.
It wasn’t unexpected, but it was no less disappointing to be informed by the organizers that the 2020 Bob Atkinson Memorial Cross Country Meet was being cancelled.
The meet for Bluewater West Elementary students has been running, according to most estimates, since the mid 70’s.
After starting in a farm field, the meet shifted years later to the Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area which provides a simplistic but efficient venue.
With that many years of operation, the function in mid-October was always smooth, or as smooth as you can conduct an event with 500 or more youngsters in close proximity for 5 hours.
Sometimes the weather on race day was beautiful.
Sometimes the weather was brutal.
Regardless, the organizers, many of whom ran in the meet through the years, managed to create a great day for kids from Grade 3 to 8 to have fun, to compete and also take pride in representing their school and town.
The towns are also represented and well supported by their local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.
In fact, the meet in recent years was named in honour of Bob Atkinson, a sturdy, almost typical example of a Canadian World War II veteran who showed up year after year after year, rain, shine or blizzard to shake hands and congratulate the youngsters.
That tradition continued after Bob’s passing with a half dozen Legion reps on hand annually, all day, no matter what the weather was on that day.
So yes, I fully understand the health and safety concerns that ultimately led to the cancellation of the 2020 meet.
In fact, I applaud the organizers and Bluewater West committee for doing the right thing.
But, come October 14th, I’ll notice a BIG X on my calendar and realize I really should be at Saugeen Bluffs for the Bob Atkinson Memorial Cross Country meet.
I’m Fred Wallace