A Pathway of Dedication and Growth 

My journey as an athletics official began in March 2016, when I attended a field officiating course organised by Avon AA at Clevedon School. Encouraged by my club to become one of the officials needed for both YDL and Avon League fixtures, I stepped into the unknown, motivated by a desire to give back to the sport my daughter was so invested in. 

At the time, gaining a Level One qualification required attending the course and officiating at four meetings that must include officiating a vertical jump, a horizontal jump, long throw and shot put as part of the duties.  On completion, I was proud to be awarded my Level One. 

Quickly, I found myself connected with Somerset officials, thanks to Stephanie’s involvement in the Mendip AC midweek opens. Andrew Rumley became a pivotal figure, inviting me to get involved wherever possible and introducing me to accomplished officials like Nick and Sally Higman, both of whom officiated at the 2012 Olympics. Their mentorship, along with six more officiating experiences and a set of exam questions, led to my Level Two Field Judge qualification in March 2017. 

By then, I was regularly officiating at Yeovil’s open competitions and supporting YDL teams whenever needed. It wasn’t long before I set my sights on Level Three – a goal that required ten additional meetings and a written report from a suitable competition. My report came courtesy of Jane Dakin from Wales, who observed my leadership when I managed a high jump pool of 28 girls (part of a 55-strong competition) at the Somerset Schools Combined Events in 2018. That experience was both challenging and rewarding. 

As Stephanie progressed to higher-level competitions – County Championships, South West Inter Counties, South West Schools Combined Events, and other regional fixtures – I had the privilege of working alongside many seasoned officials. The knowledge I gained from these experiences was invaluable and I took great satisfaction in bringing new insights back to the clubs I served. 

In 2022, Stephanie joined Yate & District AC. My wife and I quickly became active club members, integrating into the officials’ team and sharing the experience we’d accumulated over the years and helping the club develop its officials base through mentoring.  

Over the last three years, I’ve had the honour of officiating at the YDL final twice for Team Avon and assisting at the South West Inter Counties. In 2024, I was invited to officiate at the EA U15, U17 & U20 Indoor Championships in Sheffield – a formative experience that underscored the importance of teamwork and humility, as even the country’s top officials sometimes make mistakes but always unite to support athletes and colleagues. 

Inspired by these experiences, I set out to achieve my Level Four Field Judge qualification, which enables officiating at the premier events nationally and in Europe. The requirements are rigorous: a minimum of six reports from six different Level Four officials on the national list, as well as a demanding set of questions. Alongside the guidance of previously mentioned mentors, I received invaluable support from Paul D’Arcy and Roger Lee, who helped me secure the necessary reports and provided ongoing mentorship. 

Once all documentation is gathered, it is submitted to a peer group for validation before being assessed by the national committee. I was proud to be awarded Level Four in December 2024, currently making me the only Level Four Field Judge to come through the Avon system. 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about officiating (glgb@sky.com) or come and have a chat – we as a club, and region, are desperately short of people to do this and the old adage of many hands make light work is so true.  If we can get more people engaged then we can all enjoy the sport our children, and us, love and we can all watch the development of our athletes from inside the track as well as outside.