I think the same is true for newspapers; well at least for sports reporters. Before you become famous, not a whisper – unless you happen to do something stupid like step on your opponent when he is down, or smile at the tv when the American swimmers get disqualified. But once you win some medals at international meets; like our sailors, .......
Thus as expected, there was not a whimper of news last week about the Singapore Canoeing Federation’s National Junior Canoeing Championships which was held on 31st of March and 1st of April at the MacRitchie Reservoir. Instead, the Straits Times carried a huge item on 2nd April about kayaking in our rivers; even had a warning that only certified kayakers can participate.
So I take it on myself to do a bit of reporting about this event which saw lots of thrills and spills with teams from schools like ACS(I), ACJC, BPGHS, CJC, HCI, SJI, NJC, SAJC, MJC, PJC, NYJC, MCSC, SP, NYP and BHSS (please don’t ask me what some of these acronyms stand for hor. I just copy them from the score sheets). But of course, being a blogger and not a professional reporter, my news is a bit delayed, and I am probably biased and got some of my facts wrong; for example:
- That the girls from Balestier Hill Sec had the loudest screams that even the beef cakes from ACS couldn’t match.
- NJC seems to have an official medal collector. She shook the guest-of-honour’s hands at least 6 or 7 times.
- ACSI seemed to have brought home the most number of medals (or perhaps this reporter is just biased because his son happened to be in the ACSI team)
Oh dear. It looks like news reporting is not so easy after all. I think I will just let the photos do the talking lah. I assure you the youngsters in these photos will have no problem qualifying to kayak in the rivers of Singapore.
Acknowledgement: Thanks to my friend Cheng Liang Fang who took all but two of the photos above.
12 comments:
Nice report - keep this up!
And thanks for sharing this with us.
Chun See
looks like a great day and given your evident interest in canoeing perhaps I should recall my days in my dug out canoe paddling off Changi in the 1960s? I used to get over to Pulau Ubin and some smaller islands in it.
Oh yes Brian. Pls do share your stories about those 'kayaking' days at Changi beach. We used to rent the wooden boats by the hour. I have also blogged earlier about the time I had to row around Pulau Tekong on one such wooden canoe.
A short piece plus a photo is on its way - and loved the story about Pulau Tekong, I am sure I never got that far and it looks quite a distance around
Good move. I think blogs can do their part to report what mass media don't think are worthy posts.
Who knows, decades later, one of those champions in the National Junior Canoeing Championships becomes famous, everyone would start using the search engine to find those invaluable posts on him/her when he/she was younger.
I think a good way to understand a person is to understand how he has overcame the odds in the past.
Ah, who knows, Uncle Chun See, decades later, all the mass media will contact you through your blog to request for permission to republish your posts on prime-time sports news.
So, would it be a good idea if you could please also report some names of some of the outstanding young sportsmen?
The last photo should be taken with all the young men bare-bodied. Great arms but with their shirts on, how do you expect all the SYTs (sweet young things) who visit this blog to see their "six-packs"?
But take off only their shirts hor.
Your are right Oceanskies. Who knows, those 2 guys in the water may well be future champions. I heard, when the Marina Barrage is ready, Spore wants to host the World Kayaking C'ship. Media attention will certainly increase then.
But it's too troublesome to get their names now. Maybe next time. Afterall, this one is only the 2nd most important event. The most imp event on the kayaking calendar, the Inter-schools, is coming up soon. After the mid-year exams. I believe.
Nice diversion from the usual nostalgic posts, which we also love. The question I have though is who amongst those macho hunks is your son? ;)
I haven't seen his reaction yet; or his friends'. Better not push my luck.
I just found 2 very young bloggers who link to this blog. Don't think they would like me to refer to them as SYTs tho.
zsh95 and Jonathan Soh.
Chun See - A real SYT whom you missed out.
Mr Lam, thanks for your email and great pictures!
If anyone is able to give me the results and some captioned pictures, Red Sports will be more than happy to carry the story! Please feel free to email me at dawn@redsports.sg
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