liam v. bristol
DESCRIPTION
Raised in a predominantly male family, it was inevitable that Liam Roberts would grow to be competitive. From an early age, he considered education to be a competition, however as this chapter drew to a close, what would he be left to compete with? In realisation of this, Liam set out to discover answers, turning to his character trait to point him in the right direction. After several ciders, he created Liam Vs Bristol, a contest in which he would take on challenges set to him, in any sport or game. Through this journey, not only did Liam find the answer to his question but also learnt life altering lessons, which he has shared throughout this book.TRANSCRIPT
LIAM V. BRISTOL
LIAM ROBERTS
THE UNDERdog story // 5-23
coming out fighting // 25-33
making her cross // 35-43
the spleling bee // 45-63
when seeing red // 65-73
three wise men // 75-93, 145-163, 207-223
brash with brawn // 95-103
isn’t that rice // 105-119
fancy a ride // 121-125, 247-261
The small lebowski // 127-143
pinch ping pong // 165-181
second shrove tuesday // 183-205
spot the ball // 225-245
the pool party // 263-285
settling the score // 287-295
an early bath // 297-299
Now you are probably thinking, whoever you are, why the hell has someone waged war against a lovely city such as Bristol? Well, I say try living here, No, not really. The truth is, at this stage in my life it could have been Liam Vs Anywhere, Cheltenham (my hometown), Dagenham, (a nice sounding place) or even the world. I am a very competitive person and I want to know if it’s a good attitude for me to carry on the rest of my life with.
THE UNDERDOG
STORY
5
01/16
6TH
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ND
ER
do
g s
tor
y
It’s not just suddenly that I have become competitive either, in fact I’m pretty sure of where this came from in me. My dad was and still is very good at sports. I say “still is” only referring to golf now however, as he is now a very large man. He never used to be however winning trophies in everything from Bowling to Gymnastics.
Stephen Roberts
Winner of the 1992
Miln Trophy
Paddabourn, Germany
Photo taken by
Ethal Shaw
7
Liam Roberts
Phillip Roberts
Robert Shaw
Holiday photograph
Ryhll, Wales
Photo taken by
Carol Shaw
8
9
THE
UN
DE
Rd
og
sto
ry
I also have two older brothers, quite a lot older in fact. A difference of four and a half years and around about fourteen. This being the case my whole life I seem to have been playing catch up with them, trying to be able to do things well out of my age range. My mum even told me once;
But now I seem to have hit a wall, well actually the opposite. I have broken through the other side and I don’t know what to do about it.
“When you were little, you used to try walking before you could crawl, just
because your brothers could.”
10
Growing up I have seen everything as a competition with my brothers. We arm wrestled, we fought and played games with each other but that stopped when they got too old for it. All they left behind for me to compete with from the past was their educational legacy and around ten years ago I decided I wanted to “beat” it. It seems silly to say but I really don’t think I would have tried as hard at school if I didn’t have the grades that my brothers got, to “beat”.
Baring this in mind and going back to the point I made about breaking through the other side. I have now surpassed both brothers in their educational history by going to university. My brother Phil did go a few years before me but then opted out after not enjoying the course, never to return to education. This becoming the case, I don’t know who to compete with or even why I feel an urge to compete at anything anymore. In my head I have won, but there was still a hunger for more.
Now it all sounds a bit like I don’t really care about what grade I’m going to get at university, as long as I get a degree and
11
THE
UN
DE
Rd
og
sto
ry
“beat” my brothers, but this is far from the what I really feel. I care a lot about what I’m doing at university and again, I don’t think I would have even gone if it weren’t for competing with their educational legacy.
Before making the move to university I actually took a year out of education after reaching a “draw”, educationally, to revaluate what I wanted to do with my life. I had been heading down the route of Art but wasn’t sure of what path to take. I wanted something, which was expressive but also something I could get a good job out of afterwards. It took me a year but I settled upon Graphic Design and I haven’t looked back since. In fact it was during the application process in which I found a new person who sparked up my competitive side. Not only am I competitive in the traditional sense but I will also almost compete to the death trying to do something, that someone tells me I am unable to do. Some people think this is a flaw, I am as yet, undecided. It stems down from my granddad to my mum and now me. It comes from a saying that has always rung true with me since the first time I heard it.
Grandad
13
“Don’t let any body tell you they are better than you or that you
can’t do something”
And I don’t. I call these people “doubters” and for reasons unknown, they tend to spur me on more than anyone else. Some of the best teachers I have had however I would tarnish with the same brush, and this new person who was bringing out my competitive side was exactly the same.
In Early 2009, during the interview process for university, I was doing well. As I already had the qualifications I need to get into university, people were offering me place after place at their universities. Sheffield Hallam, Liverpool and Bath were all first and then it was Bristol UWE’s Turn.
On the day of the interview if I’m honest I didn’t have the best nights sleep, having gone out the night before in Bristol for my friends 21st birthday. Though, not so fresh, I still turned up confident after the three places I had been offered elsewhere.
Alan Shaw & Friends
The Work Yard. 1967
Sunderland, England
Photo taken by
Unknown
Grandad
14TH
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It was a long day of waiting with hundreds of people in waiting room and so they popped on the film ‘Helvetica’ followed by the film ‘Catch Me If You Can’ I assume, to keep our young minds active. It was a long wait but finally at around 4 o’clock it was my turn. When I eventually entered the interview room it was filled with tables of work and people chatting what seemed nonsense to try and get them a place on the course. But I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t going to chat nonsense. I already had three places at universities and I was definitely going to get offered a place there to, I thought to myself. But I shouldn’t have been so self-assured.
After looking through all of my work the tutor didn’t offer me a place on the course like the other universities had instead he said;
“There are a lot of people with this type of work. I think we would be
takinga risk with you.”
and left it at that. A RISK! I thought to myself who is this guy telling me I’m a risk? I was furious. So furious in fact when they offered me a place 3 weeks later, the words were still ringing in my ears. I’m a Risk?Poas Volcano
National Park
Poas, Costa Rica
Photo taken by
Craig Harley
I THINK WE WOULD BE TAKING A RISK
WITH YOUGabriel Solomons
THE
UN
DE
Rd
og
sto
ry
16
This is were the competitiveness kicked in again, I had to prove him wrong, I had to do well, and so I took the offer of a place turning down Liverpool, a place in which I was certain I was going study. And prepared myself for the three years to follow.
Now I wish I could say that Graphic design comes natural to me, but I’m afraid after the first year of study it was evident that it did not. I was terrible. Moving away from home and not being in education for a year before starting the course, all came as a massive shock and I did terribly. It wasn’t exactly the stick in the face I hoped I would be giving him. In fact when it came to getting the mark for the end of the year, the mark that lets you carry on. It was that same tutor that would be giving me the results and it did not go well. The pass mark was 40 and I got 41.
1st
2.1
2.2
3rd
Fail
PASS
MA
RK
WH
AT
I
WH
AT
I WA
NTE
D T
O 40 41
100
UNIVERSITYYEAR 1
THE RESULTS
DO YOU WANT
TO DO THIS COURSE?
Gabriel Solomons
19
THE
UN
DE
Rd
og
sto
ry
I was gutted, I felt useless, I had lost my edge, my urge to compete, my drive, what was I going to do? And it was at this point when I reached a level of competitiveness I never thought I could, as the tutor for the second time in my life set off that spark when he said.
“It doesn’t come across that you’re trying very hard. I have
only seen you a handfull of times”
The very man that I wanted to prove wrong about being a risk, not only didn’t think I could do it but also didn’t think, anymore, that I wanted to do it. I was furious again, but if I’m honest to myself, his doubt was justified.
Steam Train
The Race Couse
Cheltenham, England
Photo taken by
Craig Harley
20TH
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I had to turn things around so I looked to what I hope all of you turn to in times of desperation, 80’s montage movies. I needed to see what other underdogs felt like and what they did about it. The film that hit home the most, and you are going to think I’m a loser for saying this, was ‘Top Gun’. A film in which Maverick, a fighter pilot battles against his own personality in order to change and become the best pilot in his class and therefore win the title of “Top Gun.” Watching this film I realised that in order to succeed, just as Maverick did, I had to turn university into a contest, and I had to try and earn the title of “Top Gun”. So on 7th of July 2010, I announced to Facebook and thus everyone I knew at the time...
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
I WILL NOW BE TREATING
UNIVERSITY LIKE TOPGUN
Liam Roberts
22TH
E U
ND
ER
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y
And that is what I did and am still doing as I write this, coming up to 2 years later. It has been my competitiveness that has slowly but surely increased my ability in the course, now nearly reaching the highest mark possible in getting a 1st. A massive difference from a near fail. This is the reason when getting into my 3rd and final year the only thing I could really chose as my topic to do a years study in, was competitiveness. It’s the thing that drives me.
Well, there is the background explanation for why I’m competitive, but you are probably thinking what does this have to do with taking on Bristol? Well, as a study into competitiveness, and whether or not it was good for me, I decide that the best thing to do would be compete. Compete with all kinds of people from all kinds of places, and where better than the cultural hub which is Bristol. In doing the project, I hoped through the meeting of other people, hearing of other tails of competitiveness and competing, I would have a lot to reflect on over the next coming months. I would be able to come to a conclusion, on whether I think this way of thinking is a good or a bad thing for me to be continuing, considering after university I will be at the stage of breaking through the other side again just like three years ago.
Bristol Harbour
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
SO BRISTOL, IT’S NOTHING
PERSONAL.Liam Roberts
Coming out
fightingNow in order to take on a whole town on, first you have to let the town know you want to take them on. The way I had decided to do this was by making a blog in which people could contact me over challenges and so people could see what I was upto. This website would also keep the score as Bristol and I entered into battle.
25
02/16
26c
om
ing
ou
t fi
gh
tin
g
Along with a blog I also made a facebook page and several posters in order to get the ball rolling. Posting them up in sports centres, gyms, community centres and anywhere else I could think of at the time.
ROBERTS
BRISTOLCHELTONIAN SUPERMAN
KINGS OF THE WEST COUNTRY
CHALLENGE MEANY GAME, ANY SPORT, ANY CONTEST
LIAMVSBRISTOL-CO-UK /LIAMVSBRISTOL
PHOTO OF POSTER UP
28c
om
ing
ou
t fi
gh
tin
g
Posters all in place, it wasn’t long until I got my first bite on the line, and soon enough I had 62 fans of my facebook page, 62 followers and therefore 62 potential challengers. I could begin. Some people however, didn’t really understand what the project was about and some people also tried to offer their opinion on why I was doing it.
HOLD UP
Ben Archibald
Quote in responce
to the first Liam Vs
Bristol blog post
Me PointingCOME & CHALLENGE ME
BRISTOLLiam Roberts
31
co
min
g o
ut
fig
hti
ng
I needed to set a tone, I needed to show people I was serious. I needed to get the ball rolling. I decided that for website and blog I would right all material to make me sound arrogant and here is what I wrote:
The thinking behind this being, that people would much rather see an arrogant person fail that a regular person and that way more people would challenge me. It worked.
“I have decided to take on the whole of Bristol, Yes you Bristol at any game, any
sport and any contest that you desire. Just put forward your challenge to me
and I will arrange a date. To see if I am better at than Bristol, which I am, at everything. I will be keeping a running tally on events and also
documenting every event into either a video or poster format for everyone to see. So challenge me if you think
you’re good enough, but I doubt you will.”
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Chris Saltmarsh
Next Page
Bristol Harbour
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
Next Page
Cumberland Road
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
Next Page
Cumberland Road
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
co
min
g o
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fig
hti
ng
33
MAKING HER
CROSSThe first challenge was set to be the classic school playground game of tic tac toe. It was very much a challenge to get the ball rolling. A challenge that would let me know I was doing the right thing and a challenge from someone very important to me.
35
03/16
36m
ak
ing
he
r c
ro
ss
T H E
37
Alexandra Nicholson
C O N T E N D E R
38
Liam & Ali
Tandem Ride
Bristol to Bath
Photo Taken by
AlI Nicholson
ma
kin
g h
er
cr
oss
The Challenger was Ali Nicholson, the girl I love dearly. Straight from the word go on this project, Ali had been as supportive as always and was backing me to win at everything. She is the most kind and lovely person I know, and she gives me the belief I need to do anything. With Ali I’m invincible. Well, at least she makes me feel this way.
But, this was the to be the only occasion she didn’t want me to win. She had challenged me to a game of Tic Tac Toe and who was I to turn her down.
Ali, or to use her full name Alexandra Nicholson is my beloved partner. We met just over a year before the project began. we worked together in a library for sometime before one of us final asked the other out. Since the first date we never looked back. Ali currently lives in Edinburgh doing a work placement, which she got after university and comes to visit every other week. Our weekends together are magical, riding tandems, eating strawberries and dancing the night away. One thing they are not is competitive and I love that, I love her.
39
40m
ak
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Ali went first and headed straight for a corner with a glint in her eye. I knew she was going to be good at this. Ali is one of the smartest people I know of course she was going to beat me, in a battle of wits she would beat me every time, so I had to just pray I remembered a trick or two.
I remembered that there was a strategy to Tic Tac Toe in which you can make sure that you never lose and have a good chance of winning, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember how to do it.
As she had moved for the corner, I thought that best way to deal with her move was to mirror it. It was obvious at first I had overlooked that she would always be one step ahead. My early strategy of minimicing fell through, she had been able to go straight for the win. A few silly move on my part and there was nowhere to go. I tried blocking her attempts to have a quick victory,but failed.
The game was over, as quick as it started. She could finish the game in two directions. She had bamboozled me in less than 6 moves.
Not having a choice I went for the middle, only praying she failed to notice and it was all just a fluke. This however wasn’t the case. Ali quickly sealed the game. I felt like an idiot.
41
42m
ak
ing
me
cr
oss
Ali later revealled that the more corners you get, the easier it is to win the game. Taking three corners because of my poor ability to play the game, had allowed her to have the rows she could win with. Only covering one of the three corners, she had two possible rows to complete and I only had one move to block it, A clever strategy.
Ali beat me fair and square and without sweating a single bead. She was gracious with her win, saying .
“You went easy on me”
but I could tell she wanted to jump for joy. After the contest and her comment to make me feel better, all I could think of was my normal attitude to games. I never let people win.
“I only play for keeps.”
Though this is the case with other people I just couldn’t be like that with her, it wasn’t worth it. And though I had lost my first challenge I didn’t mind so much as it taught me a valuable lesson.
01There is no need to compete with
your partner. if it goes too far
you will both end up losers.
LESSON
The spelling bee was the 3rd challenge and for me it really needed to be a win. After Tic Tac Toe I had played game of Risk with some strangers and lost quickly. I started a project on competitiveness, challenging the city at anything and so far I had lost at everything. I had hoped that the next challenge would be something I was good at, something easy to get me off the starting line but this wasn’t the case.
THE SPLELING
BEE
45
04/16
46th
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T H E
47
Tom Gallagher
T H E C O N T E N D E R
48th
e s
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ee
When the challenge came in I was nervous. Not only was I rubbish at the proposed activity but also it was against someone who constantly would correct my grammar and spelling or should I say spelling and grammer?
Tom is an illustration student and we have known each other from the first few weeks of university, living next door to each other in Nelson House, our halls of residence.
49
Tom Gallgher
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Tom Gallagher
50
Richard Cobley
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Joe Stanton
51
the
spl
eli
ng
be
e
I felt like I was surely going to lose but I would learn nothing if I started to turn down challenges. The competition was to take place on his birthday and so I cooked us a birthday chilli to eat before we got on with the challenge.
So we didn’t cheat or know the words that we were going to have to spell we decided to get somebody in as a referee. The person we chose was Richard Cobley a friend of us both and also former neighburgh from halls of residence. We decided on someone we both knew well so there wouldn’t be any favouritism and it worked.
Rich had wrote the words out so that we had 5 rounds of 1 word each, the winner would be the person with the best score at the end, much like penalties, only letters were the football to a mental block of a goalie.
The contest began and it was me who was to go first. The first word that iIwas given to spell was patience. After a long pause I began.
52
P
ie
53
at
cn e?
54th
e s
ple
lin
g b
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I had done it, I was in the lead, only in the lead because he hadn’t had his go yet, but in the lead nonetheless. It was now Tom’s turn and I was hoping that me answering correctly was going to have a psychological effect on my skillful opponant. Cobley now faced Tom and gave him his first first word.
Tom replied incredible quickly and was spot on with his answer. I was in for a very stiff competition if this was going to be how he played every round. Before I had a chance to let his quick answer make me fear him and his spelling a ability, Rich spoke again.
I spelt this one just as quickly and as sharply as Tom did the last and I hoped it would have an effect on his confidents. During my turn Tom had taken a sip of his beer in much like the smug way that countdown contestants do if they get a 9.
“Tom your first word is…Business”
“The word I would like you to spell Is deceive”
55
Screenshot
The IT Crowd
BBC Television
56th
e s
ple
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g b
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I haven’t asked Tom what he was thinking at this time in the game but I’m pretty certain that he thought I was going to misspell something. This would give him a chance to take the lead. But little did he know that a very good teacher, Mrs.Morrison taught me.
On this occasion it worked but after the game, however, whilst basking in the glory of my answer, I realised that there are acceptations to the rule including words such as Belief. I don’t think I would have been so cock sure had I realised this moments earlier.
It was time for the next words.
Tom shouted quickly and as confidently as ever...
“I before E accept after C.”
“Tom can you spell the word ukulele?”
U
KEL
ELE
58th
e s
ple
lin
g b
ee
Tom Gallagher
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Mirander Latima
I turned away, frightened that I was going to also do the smug victory sip. It seemed that in his attempt to say the answers quickly and thus put me off, Tom had slipped up, something that he didn’t recover from.
My remaining words were; Rhythm, Macabre and Lieutenant. Of which, I managed to spell only one correctly.
Tom’s words were; Consommé, Reykjavik, Chrysanthemum which he also spelt only one more correctly.
This meant after a hard fought battle I had won my first challenge and it was a great feeling as it was a challenge I wasn’t expecting to win. Tom wasn’t very happy with loss and this was quite visible as his attitude became false on camera.
He conceded I was better than him at spelling but in his tone of voice I could tell he didn’t mean any word of it.
59
I CNOCEDE LAIM IS THE
BTETER SPLELER
Tom Gallagher
After the competition had finished we went out and celebrated Tom’s birthday and all was forgotten until I returned. I was a little drunk and did one of the more dangerous things you can do after having drinks and went on the social networking site facebook. Logging on, I noticed someone had wrote on my wall.
These sounded like the words of a desperate and bitter loser. I hoped that this wasn’t how I came across in losing.
60th
e s
ple
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g b
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I’ve actually changed my mind about losing gracfully, I want a rematch,
double or nothing.
Tom Gallagher
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Tom Gallagher
61
I WANT
A REMTACH
Tom Gallagher
Sat at my computer probably around 4 in the morning, with instants’ of me doing the exact same came flooding back to me. Every time I had played fifa only to lose and demand a rematch. I did it with scrabble at Christmas one year and I almost did it after the game Risk, the previous challenge. Seeing how this came across, I realised for the first time that there are negatives to competitiveness, if you let them out. This was something that can be avoided and I vowed to from there on after.
Other than realising the embarrasment of asking for rematches, I felt that I really gained from this competetion. The overwelming feeling I got from winning as the underdog. This made me think hard about writing myself off in the future and maybe things don’t always happen as you think they might. So that is how I learnt lesson number 3 something I think we can all relate to.
62th
e s
ple
lin
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02DON’T EXPECT TO FAIL, YOU NEVER
KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
LESSON
WHEN SEEING
RED
65
05/16
After the revelation of the spelling bee I decided that this might be a good time to look at some self help books and see what they thought about the whole idea of competitiveness. I was pretty sure that no book was going to tell me it was a bad thing so instead I looked at books for inspiration on how to succeed .
66W
HE
N S
EE
ING
RE
D
Throughout my life I have also ways relied on one saying that will calm me down and focus me in a time of need. It was said by Michael Owen during his Kids TV show in the early 2000’s called ‘Zero to Hero’. Michael Owen was a poster on a boys wall, that would speak to him in times of need. This saying has stuck with me and I use it with everything from golf to the 6 a side football league I play in.
Michael Owen
Liverpool, England
Photo taken by
LFC.TV
67
YOU CAN’T READ THE GAME,
IF YOU LOSE YOUR TEMPER
Michael Owen
NICE GUYS, FINISH 7TH
Tim Harris
69
WH
EN
SE
EIN
G R
ED
In looking back it hasn’t exactly been the best tactic as I haven’t seemed to be any better from this, only more polite and more of a respectable player. Barely ever fouling and never losing my rag. But this often comes across as “not fighting for it”, when really I like nothing more but to win. Because this hasn’t been the most successful ways of thinking. This why I was intrigued by a Tim Harris quote from the book ‘Everything you ever need to know about sport’ which stated that
Reading it again and again I realised that I was going to have to try this method of thought against my previous. It was Tim Harris vs Michael Owen for now and the best test would be the following Thursday in the football match I was scheduled to play.
“You don’t have to live by the rules...”.
Tim Harris
Wikipedia
70W
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N S
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8.20, Thursday came quickly and it was time to kick off game. On the bus journey to the match I would normally be laughing and joking with the rest of the team, but not before this game. Nice guys, finish seventh. I knew I couldn’t finish seventh in a game of only two teams but I could put in a terrible performance and I certainly didn’t want to let that happen. This time on the bus, instead of the laughing and joking I was sitting quietly on my own listen to music that I didn’t like to wind myself up.
Silly I know but I had to try it, I wasn’t going to let one of my friends punch me in the face ready for the game, so this seemed like the next best option. My weapon of choice was prodigy something that I would constantly be woken to as a kid by my elder brother and something that triggered anger in me.
“...Come play my game...”
71
Bayern Neverlusen
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
WH
EN
SE
EIN
G R
ED
72
8.22. I had not only fowled but I also swore at an opposing player, this didn’t feel like me at all. Throughout the game I shouted and cursed the whole team and kicked a fair few of them and I wasn’t too proud of myself.
We lost the game 6-0. This score far worse than normal, however I will not lie to you, we don’t win very often. In reflection I don’t think I spoke all the way back from the game, I was not happy.
It took me a few hours to realise I wasn’t feeling myself. Normally even in defeat, I will come away from the game happy but his time i was sad. I was sad because I had become a person I didn’t like, a person I would complain about, if they were my opposition. I became a complete Arsewhole. Tim Harris may have said.
but I can tell you that
and deservedly so. I vowed next time I went on the field, that I would play like I had before having learnt my lesson.
“Nice Guy, Finish Seventh”
“Arseholes Finish Last”
03IT DOESN’T
PAY to be the bad guy.
LESSON
THIS
WAY
UP
Her
e is
an
inte
rvie
w w
ith m
y fa
ther
, Ste
phen
R
ober
ts o
n th
e to
pic
of c
ompe
titiv
enes
s. A
s a
child
it w
as o
bvio
us t
o bo
th h
im a
nd I
that
I
trie
d ve
ry h
ard
to i
mpr
ess
him
as
wel
l as
m
y br
othe
rs. I
n th
e pa
ssed
few
yea
rs h
owev
er
I fin
d th
e sa
me
thir
st f
or a
ppro
val
can
be
Thre
e W
ise M
en01/03
Step
hen
Robe
rts
(My Father)
750
6/16
achi
eved
in
care
er a
spir
atio
ns r
athe
r th
an
the
gam
es I
play
ed g
row
ing
up. W
hat I
aim
ed
to f
ind
out
in t
his
Inte
rvie
w w
as h
ow b
eing
co
mpe
titiv
e ha
s ef
fect
ed h
is li
fe, t
o ul
timat
ely
find
out
if I
can
lear
n fr
om h
is m
ista
kes
or
lack
ther
e of
.
1.
2.
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
We are pretty competitive family I
think you would agree? Why do you
think that it?
I think it’s just because there are
too many male figures. There’s you
and your brothers and me. I think
in your case you’ve been playing
catch up since you realised they
were more able to do certain things
just because they were a little
bit older.
So it’s understandable I am getting
it from my older brothers and you,
but what do you think the reason
for your competitiveness is?
I came from a large family of 8
children, with 4 brothers. We even
fought over where to sit every
evening, never mind about when we
played sport, we never liked losing
to your siblings. I guess that’s
what rubbed off on you, I just
didn’t realise it until now.
I think it’s healthy.
We are pretty competitive family I
think you would agree? Why do you
think that it?
I think it’s just because there are
too many male figures. There’s you
and your brothers and me. I think
in your case you’ve been playing
catch up since you realised they
were more able to do certain things
just because they were a little
bit older.
So it’s understandable I am getting
it from my older brothers and you,
but what do you think the reason
for your competitiveness is?
I came from a large family of 8
children, with 4 brothers. We even
fought over where to sit every
evening, never mind about when we
played sport, we never liked losing
to your siblings. I guess that’s
what rubbed off on you, I just
didn’t realise it until now.
I think it’s healthy.
77
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
”I T
HINK
IT’S A
HEAL
THY
LIFES
TYLE
79
”I THIN
K IT’
S A
HE
ALTH
YLIF
ESTY
LE
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
3.What was the first competition you
ever entered?
Playing football for the school.
When I was 10, I was selected to
play for the school. We played
against other school teams in the
area. It was my first experience
playing competitively with other
children and I really enjoyed it.
Although I was considered small I
was very fit and a good dribbler. I
was also being taken to Blackpool
as an apprentice footballer; I was
told I wasn’t good enough at 15
(too small).
That must have been a kick in the
teeth, Some of the players that
turned out to be the best in the
world in there careers were almost
all once told, you too small. Zola,
Maradona, Messi, Romario, Pele.
Even though you were told that you
were too small this didn’t stop you
entering other competitions in a
variety of sports why was this?
I joined the army when I was 16-17
and they encouraged me to play all
sorts of sports because I was fitter
than anybody else. I played only
sports for the first few years of
the army, It was a good experience
but I started to pull out when I
wanted to pursue my career.
I played all types of different
sport from Gymnastics to Golf.
What was the first competition you
ever entered?
Playing football for the school.
When I was 10, I was selected to
play for the school. We played
against other school teams in the
area. It was my first experience
playing competitively with other
children and I really enjoyed it.
Although I was considered small I
was very fit and a good dribbler. I
was also being taken to Blackpool
as an apprentice footballer; I was
told I wasn’t good enough at 15
(too small).
That must have been a kick in the
teeth, Some of the players that
turned out to be the best in the
world in there careers were almost
all once told, you too small. Zola,
Maradona, Messi, Romario, Pele.
Even though you were told that you
were too small this didn’t stop you
entering other competitions in a
variety of sports why was this?
I joined the army when I was 16-17
and they encouraged me to play all
sorts of sports because I was fitter
than anybody else. I played only
sports for the first few years of
the army, It was a good experience
but I started to pull out when I
wanted to pursue my career.
I played all types of different
sport from Gymnastics to Golf.
81
4.
82
”
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
I WAS
TOLD
I W
ASN’T
83
I WAS
TOLD
I W
ASN’T
”
83
GOOD
EN
OUGH
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
5.
6.
What was or is the sport you have
considered yourself to be best at
through the years?
Football. As I said I tried to
play football but was let go as
a 15 year old. I joined the army
and for the first year, they had me
playing combined services and army
football. I stopped after a while
but I still turned out for each
regiment I was with, playing for
a couple of German teams and local
amateur teams. I won the army cup
with three different clubs it
was great.
Is there any reason that you
stopped entering so many different
types of competitions and just
stuck to golf?
Yes, I had a major car accident,
which curtailed my sporting
activities, but also stopped me
keeping fit enough to play some of
them. With golf you do not need
to be too fit. I still have a back
condition, but I am able to manage
it playing golf.
I understand that it must hard
for you, I don’t I would be best
pleased, But it’s good that you
found Golf to feed the urge to
compete. Are there any competitions
that you regret entering?
No. I always enjoyed entering
competitions.
6.
What was or is the sport you have
considered yourself to be best at
through the years?
Football. As I said I tried to
play football but was let go as
a 15 year old. I joined the army
and for the first year, they had me
playing combined services and army
football. I stopped after a while
but I still turned out for each
regiment I was with, playing for
a couple of German teams and local
amateur teams. I won the army cup
with three different clubs it
was great.
Is there any reason that you
stopped entering so many different
types of competitions and just
stuck to golf?
Yes, I had a major car accident,
which curtailed my sporting
activities, but also stopped me
keeping fit enough to play some of
them. With golf you do not need
to be too fit. I still have a back
condition, but I am able to manage
it playing golf.
I understand that it must hard
for you, I don’t I would be best
pleased, But it’s good that you
found Golf to feed the urge to
compete. Are there any competitions
that you regret entering?
No. I always enjoyed entering
competitions.
85
7.
Okay, are there any competitions
that you regret not entering?
Yes, in my last couple of years in
the army, I entered the army golf
championships; prior to this I
never had the time. I found out,
that I was good enough to beat a
lot of the players who went every
year. I qualified for the last 8
both years, getting beat by the
winner the first year and runner up
the second and final time. I was
also selected to play for the corps
team after the singles and won both
years. I would like to win that
trophy and it is a shame I only
started entering so late.
So, which trophy are you most proud
of in your collection you have
quite a few?
Milne Trophy, which was my first
major trophy at a golf club in my
first year.
8.
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
Okay, are there any competitions
that you regret not entering?
Yes, in my last couple of years in
the army, I entered the army golf
championships; prior to this I
never had the time. I found out,
that I was good enough to beat a
lot of the players who went every
year. I qualified for the last 8
both years, getting beat by the
winner the first year and runner up
the second and final time. I was
also selected to play for the corps
team after the singles and won both
years. I would like to win that
trophy and it is a shame I only
started entering so late.
So, which trophy are you most proud
of in your collection you have
quite a few?
Milne Trophy, which was my first
major trophy at a golf club in my
first year.
9.
87
”
INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
I DON
’T NE
ED
TO SE
E THE
M
I DON
’T NE
ED
TO SE
E THE
M89
TO KN
OW
THEY
’RE TH
ERE
”
”INTERVIEW 01/03
STEPHEN ROBERTS
I know for a fact that you loved
competing and you loved winning
trophies after you were beaming
when telling me about them.
So, why are your trophies kept
in the cupboard away from view?
I don’t need to see them to know
they are there. Plus I would only
get questions if people saw them,
and I do not need them to remind
myself.
I suppose that a good way of
looking at it. During your time
winning trophies and coming close
even, have you ever noticed your
competitiveness going too fa?
One time playing football in
Colchester, I broke my foot,
in the first minute of the game,
but carried on playing because
I thought it was just sprained.
When I finally took off my boots
my foot and ankle swelled so much
I could not put on my shoes.
The doctor said I could have
damaged it permanently. I was
never considered a dirty player,
and never imagined hurting anyone
to win.
Do you think you will always be
competitive?
Yes, I would probably race someone
even if we both had Zimmer frames.
10.
11.
I know for a fact that you loved
competing and you loved winning
trophies after you were beaming
when telling me about them.
So, why are your trophies kept
in the cupboard away from view?
I don’t need to see them to know
they are there. Plus I would only
get questions if people saw them,
and I do not need them to remind
myself.
I suppose that a good way of
looking at it. During your time
winning trophies and coming close
even, have you ever noticed your
competitiveness going too fa?
One time playing football in
Colchester, I broke my foot,
in the first minute of the game,
but carried on playing because
I thought it was just sprained.
When I finally took off my boots
my foot and ankle swelled so much
I could not put on my shoes.
The doctor said I could have
damaged it permanently. I was
never considered a dirty player,
and never imagined hurting anyone
to win.
Do you think you will always be
competitive?
Yes, I would probably race someone
even if we both had Zimmer frames.
91
12.
Aft
er t
he in
terv
iew
with
my
fath
er it
was
ver
y cl
ear
that
the
com
petit
iven
ess
that
I h
ave
tow
ards
alm
ost
ever
ythi
ng i
n lif
e, m
y fa
ther
al
so s
hare
s. T
houg
h he
was
not
one
to r
eally
ch
at a
bout
the
thi
ngs
he h
ad a
chie
ved
in
spor
t, he
had
ach
ieve
d a
lot
but
for
him
it
Thre
e W
ise M
en01/03
Step
hen
Robe
rts
(My Father)
92
was
n’t a
bout
trop
hies
, it w
as a
per
sona
l thi
ng
and
I ad
mir
e th
at. F
rom
the
cha
t ab
out
a ca
r ac
cide
nt i
t w
as c
lear
tha
t yo
u ne
ver
expe
ct
bad
thin
gs t
o ha
ppen
, bu
t so
met
ime
they
do
. It
mad
e a
very
cle
ar s
tate
men
t, th
at I
sh
ould
n’t t
ake
anyt
hing
for
gran
ted.
04DO THINGS
WHILST YOU CAN, YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
LESSON
was
n’t a
bout
trop
hies
, it w
as a
per
sona
l thi
ng
and
I ad
mir
e th
at. F
rom
the
cha
t ab
out
a ca
r ac
cide
nt i
t w
as c
lear
tha
t yo
u ne
ver
expe
ct
bad
thin
gs t
o ha
ppen
, bu
t so
met
ime
they
do
. It
mad
e a
very
cle
ar s
tate
men
t, th
at I
sh
ould
n’t t
ake
anyt
hing
for
gran
ted.
This was the most unexpected challenge of all of the challenges as it happened so quick , I didn’t even have time to prepair. I was asked for an arm wrestle without any warning and with hesitation, I accepted.
BRASH WITH
BRAWN
95
07/16
96B
RA
SH &
BR
AW
N
T H E
97
Jack Franklin
T H E C O N T E N D E R
98B
RA
SH &
BR
AW
N
One Tuesday at university, shortly after a group seminar. I was outside with Jack Franklin, Andy Duncan and CJ Brown, all friends from my university course. They asked me about my project and I tried to keep up the arrogant attitude in which I started the project. I then explained how I was going to make a booth for armwrestling at univeristy. Claiming that I would be able to beat anyone.This seemed to grab their attention as I hoped it would. I wanted them to spread the word.. Though I didn’t have to plant the seeds as far away as I had thought.
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Chris Saltmarsh
99
I CAN BEAT ANYONE IN AN ARM WRESTLE
Liam Roberts
BR
ASH
& B
RA
WN
100
Jack Franklin, after hearing this statement immediately took the bate himself and before I knew it we were sat opposite each other on a bench and CJ was ready with his iPhone about to film. Franklin, whilst looking me dead in the proceeded to say;
If i’m honest I believed him to. My aggressive claim was going to backfire as far as I was concerned but I would still try my best.
“You do realise i’m gonna woop you right?”
RIPE DIGITALPLEASE REMOVE
THIS PAGE & REPLACED WITH Seperate Fold
out pageFoldout.101
PAGE SHOULDAPPEAR LIKE THIS ONCE FOLDED.
05YOU DON’T
ALWAYS NEED TO PREPARE, THOUGH
SOMETIMES IT DOES HELP.
LESSON
Over the passed few weeks the slow decent into the cold of winter had really began to take hold of the city of Bristol, so when the next challenge came along I wasn’t so sure if my freezing cold hands could take it. I had been challenged to a game that was dreamed up by a classmate of mine, Alextye or Alex for short. He had decided that our contest would be based around rice and chop sticks.
ISN’TTHAT RICE
105
08/16
106IS
N’t
th
at
ric
e
T H E
107
Alextye Wen Hong
T H E C O N T E N D E R
108
THE CHALLENGEEXPLAINED
MOST SINGLE GRAINS OF RICE ON THE CARD
IN 1 MINUTE
109
ISN
’T T
HA
T R
ICE
We each had a full bowl of uncooked rice and during one timed minute we had take pick up single grains from the bowl and place them onto some black card, which was visible to a video camera. The winner would be the person who had placed the highest amount of rice on the card without cheating.
Freezing cold and after a long tutorial Alex and I decided the time was right for our challenge and set up all the equipment. Luckily the room was warmer than we had expect however, so the temperature of my hands was not an issue, though I was kind of hoping I had an excuse, if I lost.
The reason I say I needed an excuse was because Alex was the clear favourite to win the competition. Not, only had he dreamed it up but he also admitted that he regularly eats rice with chopsticks, whereas I haven’t eaten with them since I ate a pot noodle in playschool, over 20 years ago.
110is
n’t
th
at
nic
e
111
112IS
N’T
TH
AT
RIC
E
As we were both tired and we wanted the filming of the challenge to go smoothly, we decided that it would be a good idea to have a practice round. It was a very tough game and the final score only proved it. For the practice round the score ended 20-19 to Alex. It was very close considering his higher expertise in the area. This is when I noticed something however, something that changed the competition completely.
Alex didn’t look like he was bothered whether he won of not, he was just happy taking part and it was clear to see. After the first round he said to me;
Previous Page
Chris Saltmarsh
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
Previous Page
Alextye & Liam
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Chris Saltmarsh
Alextye
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
113
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
Alextye Wen Hong
114
But not in the sarcastic way you may think. He said in sincerely.
Alex had made me lose all sense of why I was competitive. If he could be as happy as he was just taking part why did it matter if I ever won or lost anything? If I’m honest he made me feel like I was a bit of an idiot for being so competitive and that’s why when we got round the actual competition I didn’t feel I could do it. That was until Chris however, my housemate who had beat me previously in the game of Risk a few weeks earler said;
This was the moment when looking back, I regret. Chris had doubted me just like my tutor did a few years previous and just like how a lot of people have through the years that has led to me trying harder than ever to achieve something. This challenge had become must win, for little more reason than Chris was cheering someone else.
Chris was in charge of the clock and after his encouraging words to Alex, set of the time and shouted,
“Go on Alex, you can woop him!”
ISN
’T T
HA
T R
ICE
115
“Go!”
Enraged by the comment from Chris, my feeling of weirdness I had felt from Alex’s relaxed attitude to competing had left me. I tried much harder than in the practice.
Half way through the challenge around 30 seconds in to the bought, I looked over at Alex to see how he was getting on and I can confidently say I was wooping him, instead of the other way round. I then continued going as quick as possible for another 15 or so before realising that weird feeling had begun to creep back.
I was taking this challenge far to seriously and ruining a game invented as a little bit of fun between friends. The buzzer sounded to signal the end of the challenge and the rice was counted.
116
0 10 20 4
0 50 8
0 91 0
117
0 2 0 3
0 5 0 60 7
1 0 1 1
118is
n’t
th
at
ric
e
The results were in and it was a shock , I had Won, though it was a hollow victory. This was something I expressed to the camera immediately afterwards. After the contest was over, to prove even more how much he wasn’t into competing, he turned to me and said,
“Practice makes perfect.”
No fighting talk, no excuses just a polite well done.
The reason it felt like a hollow victory was because unlike Alex, I had forgotten something that is really important something that I realise now was an important lesson.
06DON’T forget to have fun,
winning isn’t always important.
LESSON
After the lesson I had learnt from the great rice challenge I decided I needed to bring the fun back into the project. I thought that it would be good to set a challenge for once instead of receiving one. Effectively taking the challenge to the people of Bristol, instead of the other way round. The medium of which I chose to do this was simple.
FANCY A
RIDE (1)
121
09/16
122FA
NC
Y A
RID
E?
Bike riding is one of the most popular pass times of Bristolian life and that is why the town has been dubbed;
“The bike capital of the UK.”
This is an part of the Bristol community in which they take great pride in and so I found it as a good area in which to target them and start trying to bring out my fun side.
LIAM ROBERTS BRISTOL AVON
TIME TRIAL
V
SENSATIONAL MAIN EVENT
BIKE RACEBRUNEL BRIDGE - HIPPODROME
STAGE 1
LIAMVSBRISTOL@GMAIL-COMSEND YOUR 2 PHOTOS
TO
YOUR TIME IS TAKEN FROM THE TIME BETWEEN THE TWO PHOTOS CREATION DATES/TIMES. THE LEAGUE TABLE WILL BE POSTED ON THE LIAM VS BRISTOL WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE
‘I’M SO FAST I CAN HIT THE LIGHT SWITCH AND BE IN BED BEFORE IT’S DARK’
/LIAMVSBRISTOLLIAMVSBRISTOL-CO-UK
6:48LIAMS TIME
124
me on bike photo
125
FAN
CY
A R
IDE
?
The challenge was to ride from the Brunel suspension bridge to the famous hippodrome. You could do it in your own time and as long as you sent me photo or any other type of legitimate evidence. Your time would be put onto a league table. The time I set for the race was 6:58, a modest time, a time in which I knew could be broken and a time that would seem intriguing to anyone who rides a bike.
The challenge all set up it was now time to sit back and wait for people to give it a try.
Liam Roberts
On Bike
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Piers Rossiter
After I had posted the bike race I decided to post up another challenge though this one would have a time and a date. I decided that bowling would be a good option as it is something I enjoy and also the first sport that I would be challenged in.
THE SMALL
LEBOWSKI
127
10/16
LIAM VS BRISTOLTHE SAGACONTINUES
PRICES: £3.00 WITH STUDENT CARD
THE LANESBRISTOL
THIS MONDAY NIGHT23rd JAN 5.30 p.m.
TOP UK & WORLD STAR IN ACTION
THE BIG NAME CLASH
TRYBEAT HIM
COME DOWN TO THE LANES AND SEE IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
PIERSROSSITER
CHRISSALTMARSH
HANNAHTRIBE
NATHANCLARK
CONFIRMED CONTENDERS
ONE GAME, ONE WINNER
THE
SM
ALL
LE
BO
WSK
I
129
To make sure I would get enough people involved, I decided to create a poster that challenged anyone to a game of bowling and the first 9 people to respond would be my competitors. Responses came thick and fast. before the poster was up for an hour, all the places were filled.
The majority of the people that responded were men but there was one woman, my housemate Hannah Tribe. I knew she wasn’t going to be a fierce competitor but as I learnt before it’s not all about winning. All of the other men however I did see as a threat. I had played against nearly all of them before, bar Nige and I knew what to expect. Generally everyone was ok but if they were on form they could wipe the floor with me, Luke especially.The line up for the bowl went as follows:
THE
SM
ALL
LE
BO
WSK
I
T H E
Hannah Tribe
Chris Saltmarsh
Luke Stanbury
Noah Campeau
130
C O N T E N D E R S
T H E
Nathan Clark
Tom Henderson
Nige Power
Piers Rossiter
Iain Allchrch
131
C O N T E N D E R S
133
THE
SM
ALL
LE
BO
WSK
I
It came to the day of the event and I was confident as usual that I was going to win the competition. I wanted to carry on my winning streak by destroying all the contenders. Though I was taking nine other people, I decided that as it was one challenge and not nine individual it was only worth one point though the odds of winning were low, I thought that this was a fair scoring system.
One hour before the competition started, I went to the location to set up camera before everyone arrived. In this time a also managed to haggle a little discount from the alley owner as I was bringing him so much business. All paid for and ready to go I received a phone call from one of the contendors.
The Lanes
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
134TH
E S
MA
LL L
EB
OW
SKI
IainSafe man, I’m not going to be able to make
it today too much work on.
MeYou sure man it’s not going to take long it
would be good to see you.
IainNo can do man too much, fancy doing
something this week though?
Me Yeah man give me a bell talaa.
WHAT WAS sAID
135
IainI’m not coming bowling because I am lazy
and could very well have a sleeping disorder.
MeIt’s fine mate, but why didn’t you tell me
earlier so I could get a replacement?
Iain Sorry mate only just woke up/thought about
it, would be good to see you but not sure when I will be awake next.
Me call me when you do.
WHAT WAS MEANT
136TH
E S
MA
LL L
EB
OW
SKI
And so then there were 9, I wasn’t too bothered by this however as it only increased my chances of winning, something you have probably gathered by now, I love doing. With no more cancelations, I sat tight and let the others arrive one by one.
In the time it had taken for everyone to arrive and set up the cameras I had now had two pints of cider and was feeling relaxed. This is something that I often find calms my nerves about competing, though it is frowned upon with certain games. I mean you can have a pint playing darts but if you decided to have a gin and tonic whilst playing badminton, I’m sure everyone would look at you funny. This was a just a little bit of Dutch courage and as the competition started I could see it was having a positive effect.
After the first set round of bowls between everyone I had started the best, the only person to knock down all ten of my pins, there were a few nines but only one ten. With this the fighting talk had begun to come out and I loved it.
Nathan Clark
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Yazmin Crouch
DON’T LET THE PRESSURE
GET TO YOUNathan Clark
THE
SM
ALL
LE
BO
WSK
I
140TH
E S
MA
LL L
EB
OW
SKI
Everyone was trying to put each other off and the atmosphere was hostile but fun at the same time. Everyone was enjoying himself or herself and after all that’s all competition Is about right? Wrong. Competition is also very much about winning and despite all the trash talk and whilst having fun I still had the focus to bring home the win. ands that’s exactly what I did.
Previous Page
Bowling
The Lanes, Bristol
Photo taken by
Piers Rossiter
Previous Page
Bowling 2
The Lanes, Bristol
Photo taken by
Piers Rossiter
Previous Page
Bowling 3
The Lanes, Bristol
Photo taken by
Piers Rossiter
141
HA
NN
AH
85
112
74
Scores
10890
73
117
PIE
RS
NIG
E
NA
THA
N
TOM
NO
AH
CH
RIS
LUK
E
ME
88
141
142TH
E S
MA
LL L
EB
OW
SKI
Much to the disappointment of all the other contenders I had won my fourth challenge. It was a good victory good it was even greater to spend the afternoon with my friends. Though the victory seemed like a formality in the end I think it was the lack of nerves which made me the victor. Some of the contenders after the initial nervous shot, scored just as well as I did, so I could say I learnt another lesson that day.
07being nervOus
doesn’t get you anywhere.
LESSON
THIS
WAY
UP
Her
e is
an
inte
rvie
w w
ith J
osep
h M
urré
ll,
Form
er p
roff
esio
nal
skie
r, tu
rned
coa
ch.
In t
his
inte
rvie
w w
e di
scus
s th
e w
ay i
n w
hich
w
hich
sp
orts
ph
ycho
logy
he
lps
athl
etes
and
how
it’s
tec
hniq
ues
can
be
used
for
all o
ther
wal
k of
life
.
Thre
e W
ise M
en02/03
Jose
ph M
urré
ll(Sport Psychologist)
145
06/
16
”INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
Joe, you sent me a link to a sports
psychology website that you run
specifically for skiers. I wanted to
know, how did this come about?
I started writing this a couple
of years ago and it was basically
because I injured myself. I tore
the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) in my knee and I was out for
a season. In that time I could not
ski so I thought it would be a good
opportunity.... I actually started
watching loads of ski videos and
then, its weird, I used to fall
asleep at night and I would be able
to dream about it. Then I started
to research visualisation.
One of the things I talk about in
my blogs and it is one of the most
powerful things that you can do in
terms of preparation.
I don’t think I’ve heard of that
could you explain a little further?
They say that practice is the
mother of skill and if you
visualise it means you can spend
all those hours really effectively
by visualising as opposed to going
out and trying. So I got really
interested in visualisation, and
because I could not ski I would
just learn a lot of tricks without
strapping on a pair of ski’s, its
weird. It made me pretty confident
that I could do them.
1.
Joe, you sent me a link to a sports
psychology website that you run
specifically for skiers. I wanted to
know, how did this come about?
I started writing this a couple
of years ago and it was basically
because I injured myself. I tore
the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) in my knee and I was out for
a season. In that time I could not
ski so I thought it would be a good
opportunity.... I actually started
watching loads of ski videos and
then, its weird, I used to fall
asleep at night and I would be able
to dream about it. Then I started
to research visualisation.
One of the things I talk about in
my blogs and it is one of the most
powerful things that you can do in
terms of preparation.
I don’t think I’ve heard of that
could you explain a little further?
They say that practice is the
mother of skill and if you
visualise it means you can spend
all those hours really effectively
by visualising as opposed to going
out and trying. So I got really
interested in visualisation, and
because I could not ski I would
just learn a lot of tricks without
strapping on a pair of ski’s, its
weird. It made me pretty confident
that I could do them.
147
2.
”INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
I also realised that the years when
I was skiing before when I didn’t
understand about visualisation, thats
exactly what I was doing anyway.
I would watch a ski movie and I would
watch exactly how someone would move
their body. Then I would think about
it in my minds eye, I would run through
it and slow it down into slow motion,
draw on all my senses to see what it
would feel like in the movement. It was
the equivalent of me being on ski’s and
practicing it. I would do that over and
over again and I would normally fall
asleep at night and dream about it.
I would wake up the next day and feel
confident that I knew how my body was
going to do it. And generally I’ve been
pretty good that when I try things first
time, I usually get it the first time.
Thats because you visualised it?
Yea, yea and I didn’t understand what
I was doing at the time but that was
because without knowing I was doing
this process of visualisation. Then I
started reading about it and realising
how powerful it is. It can apply to
anything, obviously I was doing it with
skiing. Its funny, now I do it at uni
when I have to give a presentation.
And it sounds weird but just visualise
yourself giving an amazing pitch and
your already training yourself to be
in that situation.
I also realised that the years when
I was skiing before when I didn’t
understand about visualisation, thats
exactly what I was doing anyway.
I would watch a ski movie and I would
watch exactly how someone would move
their body. Then I would think about
it in my minds eye, I would run through
it and slow it down into slow motion,
draw on all my senses to see what it
would feel like in the movement. It was
the equivalent of me being on ski’s and
practicing it. I would do that over and
over again and I would normally fall
asleep at night and dream about it.
I would wake up the next day and feel
confident that I knew how my body was
going to do it. And generally I’ve been
pretty good that when I try things first
time, I usually get it the first time.
Thats because you visualised it?
Yea, yea and I didn’t understand what
I was doing at the time but that was
because without knowing I was doing
this process of visualisation. Then I
started reading about it and realising
how powerful it is. It can apply to
anything, obviously I was doing it with
skiing. Its funny, now I do it at uni
when I have to give a presentation.
And it sounds weird but just visualise
yourself giving an amazing pitch and
your already training yourself to be
in that situation.
149
3.
150
”
INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
POW
ERFU
LPR
EPAR
ATION
IT’S T
HEMO
ST
151
POW
ERFU
LPR
EPAR
ATION ”
151
INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
So, because your saying imagining
yourself without the nervousness and
without stutter and things like that,
so when you come around to doing it
your body is ready for it.
Well, exactly and when you think about
anyone who gets nervous about public
speaking its because anytime they
think about it they imagine themselves
getting it wrong and messing it up so
thats exactly what they do. So you
can use it the other way round. So
visualisation is just a massive thing.
You can apply it to anything, like
public speaking, acting or all you
things you are going to be doing, all
of your competitions.
Use visualisation because that is
one of the most powerful things. You
talk about training for something you
haven’t done all that much. You can get
in all of those hours of practice, not
by actually doing it but by visualising
for when you actually come to it.
So I’ve got a table tennis competition
on Tuesday. So for the next few days
building up to that just imagine myself
being really good at table tennis?
Yea and the other thing which we are
going to talk about in a minute is
drawing from previous experiences.
4.
So, because your saying imagining
yourself without the nervousness and
without stutter and things like that,
so when you come around to doing it
your body is ready for it.
Well, exactly and when you think about
anyone who gets nervous about public
speaking its because anytime they
think about it they imagine themselves
getting it wrong and messing it up so
thats exactly what they do. So you
can use it the other way round. So
visualisation is just a massive thing.
You can apply it to anything, like
public speaking, acting or all you
things you are going to be doing, all
of your competitions.
Use visualisation because that is
one of the most powerful things. You
talk about training for something you
haven’t done all that much. You can get
in all of those hours of practice, not
by actually doing it but by visualising
for when you actually come to it.
So I’ve got a table tennis competition
on Tuesday. So for the next few days
building up to that just imagine myself
being really good at table tennis?
Yea and the other thing which we are
going to talk about in a minute is
drawing from previous experiences.
153
5.
INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
Another quick thing, visualisation is a
skill in itself. Just saying, visualise
is fair enough but it actually takes
practice. To be able to actually use it
as a technique and be good at it, you
need to practice.
I think its something I used to do when
I was younger. I used to rollerblade at
quite a good level and I used to go to
sleep and dream of tricks and then be
able to do them.
So your body is already doing
it anyway. I suggest you begin doing
it with Table Tennis straight away.
Are their any other ways I could
improve my chances? you mentioned
drawing from past experiences?
Well actually yeah there is it called
linking. Basically what you have to do,
and i want you to try this, is remember
a time when you were outstanding at
something, a sport of some kind, even
if it was only for a split second.
Well I remember I was playing for
a football team not so long ago and
i scored 6 goals in a game, it was
probably the best sporting day I’ve
ever had.
Well, okay think back to that day. What
were you warring? What could you smell?
What was the weather like? Try and
remember as much as you can, feel it
like you did then
6.
Another quick thing, visualisation is a
skill in itself. Just saying, visualise
is fair enough but it actually takes
practice. To be able to actually use it
as a technique and be good at it, you
need to practice.
I think its something I used to do when
I was younger. I used to rollerblade at
quite a good level and I used to go to
sleep and dream of tricks and then be
able to do them.
So your body is already doing
it anyway. I suggest you begin doing
it with Table Tennis straight away.
Are their any other ways I could
improve my chances? you mentioned
drawing from past experiences?
Well actually yeah there is it called
linking. Basically what you have to do,
and i want you to try this, is remember
a time when you were outstanding at
something, a sport of some kind, even
if it was only for a split second.
Well I remember I was playing for
a football team not so long ago and
i scored 6 goals in a game, it was
probably the best sporting day I’ve
ever had.
Well, okay think back to that day. What
were you warring? What could you smell?
What was the weather like? Try and
remember as much as you can, feel it
like you did then
155
”
INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
THE M
IND
IS LIK
E
THE M
IND
IS LIK
E ”
157
A CO
MPUT
ER
”
INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
MISS
ING F
ROM
THE M
ANUA
L
WITH
ONLY
AFE
W PA
GES
MISS
ING F
ROM
THE M
ANUA
L
”
159
WITH
ONLY
AFE
W PA
GES
INTERVIEW 02/03
JOSEPH MURRÉLL
At the moment that you think you are
really back in that mood that you
once were in, pinch the back of your
hand. The reason I say there is that
I’m guessing you don’t do that often.
What this will do, is now every time
you pinch the back of your hand it
will take you back into the winning
mentality that you had when playing
football, I think this could help you.
Wow thank you.
It’s Okay Quick method for getting
better at visualisation. You see a
jurassic improvement. It sounds pretty
weird but you can look at someone and
look at just their lips and you close
your eyes and try and just imagine
those lips.
I’m not going to be thinking about
your lips
“Haha” You take small visual thing and
you open your eyes and you see and then
you close your eyes and you imagine
it until you can’t see any difference
between seeing and imagining them.
When you can do this effectively it
allows you visualise any situation,
so you can be forever confident you can
suceed at anything you wish.
At the moment that you think you are
really back in that mood that you
once were in, pinch the back of your
hand. The reason I say there is that
I’m guessing you don’t do that often.
What this will do, is now every time
you pinch the back of your hand it
will take you back into the winning
mentality that you had when playing
football, I think this could help you.
Wow thank you.
It’s Okay Quick method for getting
better at visualisation. You see a
jurassic improvement. It sounds pretty
weird but you can look at someone and
look at just their lips and you close
your eyes and try and just imagine
those lips.
I’m not going to be thinking about
your lips
“Haha” You take small visual thing and
you open your eyes and you see and then
you close your eyes and you imagine
it until you can’t see any difference
between seeing and imagining them.
When you can do this effectively it
allows you visualise any situation,
so you can be forever confident you can
suceed at anything you wish.
161
With
that
I d
ecid
ed th
at I
wou
ld d
efini
tely
ha
ve to
try t
he pi
nch t
echn
ique
and d
efini
tely
ru
n th
roug
h th
e ga
me
in m
y he
ad b
efor
e I
atte
mpt
to b
eat s
omeo
ne a
t the
ir ow
n ga
me.
I rea
lly u
nder
estim
ated
the p
ower
of th
ough
t in
all
of t
his,
but
I gu
ess
that
’s w
hy s
port
s
Thre
e W
ise M
en02/03
Jose
ph M
urré
ll(Sport Psychologist)
162
phys
iolo
gist
s ex
ist. Y
ou h
ave
to h
ave
a cl
ear
head
in o
rder
to p
rogr
ess o
r ach
ieve
.
phys
iolo
gist
s ex
ist. Y
ou h
ave
to h
ave
a cl
ear
head
in o
rder
to p
rogr
ess o
r ach
ieve
.
08don’t focus
on what might happen. Focuson what will.
LESSON
Two days after the bowling I had received my next challenge, Table Tennis. I have never been good at the sport but accepted the challenge confidently. I had played it a number of times throughout my childhood and a few more times at the student union, never impressing anyone yet never depressing them either. As Simon Cowell would put it, “I’m mediocre”.
PINCH PING
PONG
165
11/16
166pi
nc
h p
ing
po
ng
T H E
167
Tom Bennett
C O N T E N D E R
168PI
NC
H P
ING
PO
NG
The challenge was with Tom Bennet, a friend from my tutor group, though it has not always been this way. During the first couple of months at university I had met tom and hung out with him quite a lot, even playing on a football team together. This took a sour turn however when drunk one night him and some other friends of his, broke my ceiling in halls of residense, leading to a stand off between me and five others. I think just for the fact I had even confronted that many people at once, the situation didn’t esculate.
169
Tom Bennet
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Unknown
170PI
NC
H P
ING
PO
NG
It took a while to forget about this but I can assure anybody it’s all forgotten, we all do silly things now and again. We now play football regularly together again and all is well. One thing that has remained however is we are still very competitive towards each other. I’m not sure weather it’s the fact we are both graphic designers, one day knowing we might competing for the same job or whether we are just to hard faced to admit either of us could beat each other at anything. One thing was clear though, when he did challenge me, I was going to try anything to beat him.
Tom days before the challenge had announced to me that not only would he win but also he used to play quite a lot when he was younger. I think he was playing mental games with me.
Tom Bennet
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Tom Bennet
171
I AM DEFINITELY
GOING TO WINTom Bennet
172PI
NC
H P
ING
PO
NG
This gave him the upper hand so I decided that I would try and use some of the psychological techniques in which Joe had taught me. I was going to try and recall a memory of past sporting greatness and try harness it’s power at the time of competition.
To try and find one of these of moments of greatness I had to think hard and long about it, eventually settling on a football game I had played about 3 years earlier. I was playing for a team called W.F.E.F.C, I would love to tell you what that meant but for the life of me I can’t remember. We played regularly on a Thursday and we were going to play that particular Thursday against a work colleague called Aaron. He had been mouthing off at me a good week before the match even started but it was me who was to have the last laugh.
Growing up I had always played striker. I was quick and seemed to always hit the target when i was required to. This team however until that day had played me as right back, a position I hated. This is why at the start of this game when the usual striker was injured, I said that I would give it a go. I proceeded to score a double hat full of 6
173
goals in this game and even better was that the colleague who had been mouthing off at me all week was the goalie in which I put them past. It felt great.
Needless to say this was one of my greatest days of sporting memory and the memory in that I would be calling back on to try and give me the boost I needed to beat Tom. I had to remember it in detail and then apply a physical link that would be able to flood me with those same emotions of winning. I had chosen pinching my palm, as this was something I would ever do, thus the effects wouldn’t be weakened.
5pm on a Tuesday after university, it was time to play against Tom. We had set up cameras and cleared the student union. I could tell the pressure was getting to him. Graciously in realising this I decided it would be good to have a warm up, not counting scores and it seemed to work as neither of us were nervous when it came to the match, though I did try to syke him out a little.
I’ve got a secret weapon. you had better be scared mate.
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PIN
CH
PIN
G P
ON
G
I pinched my palm again in a desperate effort to get my composure back and it worked for a short while. I brought the score back to a respectable 8-11 before a pounding of a life time came from Tom. He won the next 9 points with ease leaving me with one of the hardest comebacks in Table Tennis history (well in our Table Tennis history) and I wasn’t going to shy away from it.
Big Pinch
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Piers Rossiter
178PI
NC
H P
ING
PO
NG
I pinched my palm for a third time and then took the serve. I had hit it right in the corner [1] and Tom struggled to hit it back but did, unfortuntely for me[2]. I then hit another hard ball down the line hoping that Tom would be able to return [3] but he did again and it was a powerful one at that [4]. I then darted back across the other side and hit the ball spiralling it upward and just over the net [5]. The pace on the ball was far too slow, I had set him up for a smash.
Me knowing the smash was coming and Tom getting ready to smash it, time seemed to slow down for a second.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
180PI
NC
H P
ING
PO
NG
Milliseconds later with a yelp of disgust and shout of glory Tom had beaten me fair and square, with a giant smash and a huge margin.
After the match was over I proceeded to tell Tom about my secret weapon, my weapon that hadn’t worked. Though he admitted that I had siked him out at the start, it was apparent that this technique just didn’t work for me but it had taught me a valuable lesson.
09Don’t assume
something is just going to work,
test it first.
LESSON
Right in the beginning stages of the project I received a challenge that involved eating. This challenge started off as a eating contest, scoffing down IKEA home brand hotdogs, but over the course of a few months changed competiter and also changed food variety.
SECOND SHROVE TUESDAY
183
12/16
184sh
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ay
T H E
185
Chris Saltmarsh
C O N T E N D E R
186Sh
ro
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Tu
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ay
The challenge that was set in place months before the actual event was due to take place and the challenger was from Luke, a former housemate from my days living in Hotwells. Luke had decided to challenge me to eating the hotdogs after a visit to replace furniture we had broken in our old residence and I was excited to have him involved.
Fast forward only a few months later, to the time the challenges had begun and Luke had seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. Luke completely forgot about the challenge and I wouldn’t see him for a few months after it was due to take place.
187
Luke Stanbury
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Liam Roberts
188Sh
ro
ve
Tu
esd
ay
So, this is where Jack Franklin stepped in. Hearing that Luke had dropped out he wanted to be the next person to challenge me at an eating contest. Apparently there was a few waiting in case it failed and he was the first person to contact. Still not pancakes however.what Jack had challenged me to eating was Hooter’s Chicken Wings and basket of over 30 chicken wings that had to be eaten the quickest.
Now I would like to say that I thought I could have thrashed him but truthfully I wouldn’t have been able to. The thought of eating 30 chicken wings wasn’t as appealing to me and it was to Jack and I wanted to turn him down. I don’t understand how much fat and grease would be in that much chicken but I think it’s a lot. Stupidly despite me not wanting to do it however, I decided to give it a try. So far I had done all the challenges on what seemed to be my terms and it was time to change that.
Flash forward another few months and it wasn’t Jack that had disappeared off the face of the earth, it was Hooter’s. The bar famous for its chicken and scantily clad girls closed down due to its lack of custom and for that I salute you Bristol people.
189
Hooter’s
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Unknown
190
LET’S EAT SOME PANCAKES
Chris Saltmarsh
191
Shr
ov
e T
ue
sday
The challenge was once again void until in stepped Chris Saltmarsh, my large friend and housemate. The day he had chosen to challenge me was a few days after Pancake Day, a day we had forgotten and what better way to celebrate it than by eating pancakes until one of us throws up. Now that didn’t happen but I can assure you one of us was close.
Chris Saltmarsh
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Alexandra Nicholson
192
Pancake Batter
Bristol, England
Photo taken by
Chris Saltmarsh
193
Shr
ov
e T
ue
sday
To start the challenge, we had a load of eggs, water, flour and milk to get things underway. We also had several bowls and whisks and even a designated chef in Hannah Tribe to cook the pancakes on demand.
Hannah had started to make the batter for the pancake as me and Chris started giving each other a bit of fighting talk. I was pretty sure I would at least give him a run for his money as long as I made him sweat a little I would be happy.
Hannah quickly and precisely cooked the pancakes and placed five on a plate each. We would take it in turns to eat a pancake so the other could watch their opponent either wolf it down or struggle to continue.
194Sh
ro
ve
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ay
Pancake one was eaten very quickly by Chris and even quicker by me I wasn’t going to let Chris’s size intimidate me out of a victory.
Screen Shot 01
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Hannah Tribe
195
Pancake two and Chris wolfed his down again seeming to not even touch the sides. I followed slightly slower than I had the first time but still at a pace.
196Sh
ro
ve
Tu
esd
ay
Pancake three and just as easy as the previous two Chris swallowed his pancake down. But I had begun to slow right down. I don’t know what it was about that third pancake but it didn’t go down to well.
Screen Shot 02
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Hannah Tribe
197
Pancake four and Chris was making this look easy whilst I was beginning to take long pauses between each mouthful. I was beginning to feel the strain and stated it for the first time, much to Chris’s enjoyment.
198Sh
ro
ve
Tu
esd
ay
Pancake five I don’t actually remember Chris eating due to the pain I was feeling in my stomach but I assume he ate it with ease. I on the other hand was now eating very slowly. The thought of putting anymore pancake in my mouth had begun to make me heave. I wasn’t going to be able to last much longer.
Screen Shot 03
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Hannah Tribe
199
Pancake six and this time he ate even quicker so he could return to watching me struggle. I began to eat my pancake slowly knowing it was only a matter of time before I was going to lose, and that’s when it struck me. No matter how hard I pushed myself in this competition it was inevitable I was going to lose.
200
I’M OUTLiam Roberts
201
Shr
ov
e T
ue
sday
And with those two words the competition was over, and I had lost another point to the Bristolians and another point to Chris. I shook his hand a declared him the victor though didn’t realise until watching the footage back, from the contest, that I actually called him a “bastard” not a very nice thing to say but I guess I just didn’t like, him getting the victory. It wasn’t just a victory either it was a slaughtering. Chris had not only beet me but decided to humiliate me by continuing to eat as many as he possibly could.
Screen Shot 04
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Hannah Tribe
202
0 80 7
0 91 0
1 1
1 2
203
1 31 4
1 5
1 6 1 7
204Sh
ro
ve
Tu
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ay
We ran out of batter after 18 but it was safe to say he kicked my arse. Even though I had quit quite early on into the competition, it was good to see that if I did continue all my effort and pain would have been in vain. This taught me a valuable lesson.
10KNOW WHEN TO CUT YOUR
LOSES.
LESSON
THIS
WAY
UP
Her
e is
an
inte
rvie
w w
ith m
y fr
iend
and
ho
usem
ate
Chr
is S
altm
arsh
. Chr
is h
as b
een
a ke
en s
wim
mer
sin
ce a
n ea
rly
age
and
for
man
y ye
ars
has
been
tea
chin
g al
dults
, as
w
ell a
s ch
ildre
n to
Sw
im. T
hrou
gh h
is y
ears
of
tea
chin
g C
hris
has
lea
rnt
a fe
w t
hing
s
Thre
e W
ise M
en03/03
Chris
Sal
tmar
sh(Swimming Instructor)
207
06/
16
abou
t hu
man
cha
ract
er a
nd t
he n
atur
e of
co
mpe
titiv
enes
s in
w
hich
he
w
ishe
d to
sh
are
with
me
afte
r “k
icki
ng m
y as
s” a
t a
panc
ake
eatin
g co
ntes
t.
1.
INTERVIEW 03/03
CHRIS SALTMARSH
Could explain what your Job is
at the swimming pool? And which
swimming pool that you work at?
I’m currently working for Splash
Happy Swimschool. They’ve got their
swim school set up at two different
swimming pools in Bristol; one
at Clifton High School, and the
other at Badminton School towards
Westbury-on-Trym. I’m currently
teaching children between the ages
of around 3 – 14 years old, with
a variety of mixed abilities. The
classes are set up according to the
children’s abilities, rather than
their ages, so there’s an eclectic
mix of kids in each class.
Have you ever competed in a
swimming event of any shape or
form? If so could you elaborate?
When I was younger, yes. I did a
very small stint of competitive
swimming, but lost interest once
I became a teaching assistant.
Instead, I became interested in
water polo, and was inducted into a
team for a short while. It was fun
whilst it lasted, but I didn’t see
myself as competitive enough to get
fully involved in the sport.
2.
Could explain what your Job is
at the swimming pool? And which
swimming pool that you work at?
I’m currently working for Splash
Happy Swimschool. They’ve got their
swim school set up at two different
swimming pools in Bristol; one
at Clifton High School, and the
other at Badminton School towards
Westbury-on-Trym. I’m currently
teaching children between the ages
of around 3 – 14 years old, with
a variety of mixed abilities. The
classes are set up according to the
children’s abilities, rather than
their ages, so there’s an eclectic
mix of kids in each class.
Have you ever competed in a
swimming event of any shape or
form? If so could you elaborate?
When I was younger, yes. I did a
very small stint of competitive
swimming, but lost interest once
I became a teaching assistant.
Instead, I became interested in
water polo, and was inducted into a
team for a short while. It was fun
whilst it lasted, but I didn’t see
myself as competitive enough to get
fully involved in the sport.
209
3.
INTERVIEW 03/03
CHRIS SALTMARSH
Personally, how long have you been keen
on swimming? And what got you enthused
to work in that environment?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m
that ‘keen’ on swimming; out of every
sport I tried when I was younger, I
guess that I found swimming to be the
most liberating. I took up swimming
outside of regular school hours when
I was around 7 or 8 years old, and
progressed through the classes until I
became a member of the lanes session;
swimming for fitness, rather than
improving my ability. At about 11 years
old I was asked to become an assistant
to the teachers at the swim school I
was part of, which was a great honour,
and I’ve made my progression into
teaching from there.
I got my first teaching qualification
when I was 16, and my second at 18;
I’m now pretty much at the top of my
game, with around 6 years or teaching
experience under my belt; a pretty big
achievement in my eyes, as I’m still
only 22 years old. There’s always room
for improvement, and definitely more
to experience.
I enjoy the work that I do because I
find that interacting with the children
levels me out; I can have the stresses
of my studies and other everyday life
get on top of me, and then completely
forget about them when I’ve got a
classes full of happy children ready to
have a good time!
Personally, how long have you been keen
on swimming? And what got you enthused
to work in that environment?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m
that ‘keen’ on swimming; out of every
sport I tried when I was younger, I
guess that I found swimming to be the
most liberating. I took up swimming
outside of regular school hours when
I was around 7 or 8 years old, and
progressed through the classes until I
became a member of the lanes session;
swimming for fitness, rather than
improving my ability. At about 11 years
old I was asked to become an assistant
to the teachers at the swim school I
was part of, which was a great honour,
and I’ve made my progression into
teaching from there.
I got my first teaching qualification
when I was 16, and my second at 18;
I’m now pretty much at the top of my
game, with around 6 years or teaching
experience under my belt; a pretty big
achievement in my eyes, as I’m still
only 22 years old. There’s always room
for improvement, and definitely more
to experience.
I enjoy the work that I do because I
find that interacting with the children
levels me out; I can have the stresses
of my studies and other everyday life
get on top of me, and then completely
forget about them when I’ve got a
classes full of happy children ready to
have a good time!
211
4.
INTERVIEW 03/03
Chris Saltmarsh
Do you consider yourself to be a
competitive person in or outside
the pool?
I think that I have a relatively
small competitive streak, as I
would expect most people do,
but I’m not one of those types
of people that get completely
disheartened when they lose.
I think competitiveness is just
another standard part of the human
nature, and isn’t a bad element
if it’s controlled. I wouldn’t
isolate my competitiveness to just
one group of people like my friends
or my family; I’d say that I’ll be
competitive wherever necessary.
Is there a sense of competition
within the children that you teach?
When you’re their age, there’s
nothing better than racing against
people. I can quite easily set
the kids off to do their warm up,
and you can see them watching one
another, trying to see who’ll get
to the other side first. Countless
times I’ve had to remind them that
“it’s called a warm up, not a
“knock yourself out”!” I guess
that it is ingrained in humans;
an instinctive process.
5.
Do you consider yourself to be a
competitive person in or outside
the pool?
I think that I have a relatively
small competitive streak, as I
would expect most people do,
but I’m not one of those types
of people that get completely
disheartened when they lose.
I think competitiveness is just
another standard part of the human
nature, and isn’t a bad element
if it’s controlled. I wouldn’t
isolate my competitiveness to just
one group of people like my friends
or my family; I’d say that I’ll be
competitive wherever necessary.
Is there a sense of competition
within the children that you teach?
When you’re their age, there’s
nothing better than racing against
people. I can quite easily set
the kids off to do their warm up,
and you can see them watching one
another, trying to see who’ll get
to the other side first. Countless
times I’ve had to remind them that
“it’s called a warm up, not a
“knock yourself out”!” I guess
that it is ingrained in humans;
an instinctive process.
213
6.
INTERVIEW 03/03
Chris Saltmarsh
What are you thoughts on competitiveness
in a learning environment? Would you
encourage it in youngsters if you knew
it would help etc.
There’s nothing wrong with introducing
competitiveness into the learning
environment, in my opinion. I have
found that introducing a small amount
of competitiveness into some of the
activities in my lessons brings out the
best of their abilities; introducing
competitive elements pushes the children
into pushing their own limits. I will
always encourage and congratulate every
child after each competitive element, as
I think it is important that they receive
this praise in order to recognise that
they’re able to do well if they put their
mind to it.
Has here ever been incidences where you
have had to teach somebody you wouldn’t
have normally?
Where I used to teach back home in
Basingstoke, I was approached by my
boss to provide training to a marine.
I was completely daunted by the task and
didn’t particularly know what to expect.
When I first met the guy, he was probably
about a foot taller than me, lean,
and covered with tattoos; completely
intimidating. It turned out that he was
in need of developing his Breast Stroke
technique; he’d been heckled by his
officers in the military, and found that
they were no help at all. Instead he
wanted to approach a teacher in order to
get some professional advice, as well as
not being shouted at constantly whilst
doing so!
7.
What are you thoughts on competitiveness
in a learning environment? Would you
encourage it in youngsters if you knew
it would help etc.
There’s nothing wrong with introducing
competitiveness into the learning
environment, in my opinion. I have
found that introducing a small amount
of competitiveness into some of the
activities in my lessons brings out the
best of their abilities; introducing
competitive elements pushes the children
into pushing their own limits. I will
always encourage and congratulate every
child after each competitive element, as
I think it is important that they receive
this praise in order to recognise that
they’re able to do well if they put their
mind to it.
Has here ever been incidences where you
have had to teach somebody you wouldn’t
have normally?
Where I used to teach back home in
Basingstoke, I was approached by my
boss to provide training to a marine.
I was completely daunted by the task and
didn’t particularly know what to expect.
When I first met the guy, he was probably
about a foot taller than me, lean,
and covered with tattoos; completely
intimidating. It turned out that he was
in need of developing his Breast Stroke
technique; he’d been heckled by his
officers in the military, and found that
they were no help at all. Instead he
wanted to approach a teacher in order to
get some professional advice, as well as
not being shouted at constantly whilst
doing so!
215
INTERVIEW 03/03
CHRIS SALTMARSH
”IT
ISN’T
A BA
D ELE
MENT
IFCO
NTRO
LLED
217
IT ISN
’T A
BAD E
LEME
NT ”IFCO
NTRO
LLED
8.
INTERVIEW 03/03
Chris Saltmarsh
As well as teaching the children
skills on swimming are their any
other things that you hope they
are learning from your lessons?
For instance equality and how do
you involve this in your teaching?
My own upbringing was based upon
Victorian values passed through
my dad’s side of the family; I’d
remember my manners, I had to ask
to get down from the table, I never
fought with my brother, things like
that. I’m pretty old-school I guess
when it comes to the way in which
the children behave in my classes;
I’m all for having a good laugh with
them, but they know the limits.
I’ll always tell them what I
expect from them, they have one
more warning if they’re pushing
their luck, and then they’ll be
disciplined; I think it’s a pretty
fair method of working with them.
I’ve watched plenty of other classes
turning into wild riots whilst the
children under my wing are very
well behaved. They’re not going to
get very far in life if they can’t
deal with an authority figure, so
that’s what I hope to bring to the
table for them; an ability to follow
instructions without issue.
As well as teaching the children
skills on swimming are their any
other things that you hope they
are learning from your lessons?
For instance equality and how do
you involve this in your teaching?
My own upbringing was based upon
Victorian values passed through
my dad’s side of the family; I’d
remember my manners, I had to ask
to get down from the table, I never
fought with my brother, things like
that. I’m pretty old-school I guess
when it comes to the way in which
the children behave in my classes;
I’m all for having a good laugh with
them, but they know the limits.
I’ll always tell them what I
expect from them, they have one
more warning if they’re pushing
their luck, and then they’ll be
disciplined; I think it’s a pretty
fair method of working with them.
I’ve watched plenty of other classes
turning into wild riots whilst the
children under my wing are very
well behaved. They’re not going to
get very far in life if they can’t
deal with an authority figure, so
that’s what I hope to bring to the
table for them; an ability to follow
instructions without issue.
219
It w
as c
lear
that
Chr
is ha
d a
very
diff
eren
t ou
tlook
on
com
petit
iven
ess
than
I d
id b
ut
the
one
thin
g th
at s
tood
out
for
me
in th
is in
terv
iew
was
the
sold
ier.
Not
onl
y ha
d he
to
ok it
upo
n hi
mse
lf to
bet
ter h
is sw
imm
ing
abili
ty b
ut h
e did
it w
ithou
t em
barr
assm
ent,
Thre
e W
ise M
en03/03
Chris
Sal
tmar
sh(Swimming Instructor)
220
with
em
barr
assm
ent o
f his
age
com
pare
d to
th
e in
stru
ctor
. I th
ink
this
is so
met
hing
we
can
all l
earn
from
, as
it is
so e
asy
to c
ower
do
wn
with
emba
rras
smen
t.
11DON’T BE
AFFRAID TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW
No matter your age.
LESSON
with
em
barr
assm
ent o
f his
age
com
pare
d to
th
e in
stru
ctor
. I th
ink
this
is so
met
hing
we
can
all l
earn
from
, as
it is
so e
asy
to c
ower
do
wn
with
emba
rras
smen
t.
During the whole competition I had been waiting for a football challenge to arise, so it was a great feeling when my best friend from childhood picked up his phone and asked if I wanted a penalty shoot out. Of course I did.
SPOT THE
BALL
223
13/16
224sp
ot
the
ba
ll
T H E
225
Chris Smith
C O N T E N D E R
226sp
ot
the
ba
ll
This friend whom I speak of is Chris Smith, my next door neighbour growing up. We met in year 9 at school, aged between 13-14. I was the new kid on the block moving from Chester and Chris had been in Cheltenham all of his life. One night when I was locked out of my house, forgetting my key, Chris and I spoke for the first time as he asked me if I wanted to play basketball with him and his brother, whilst I waited. I answer was a yes and since then we have been great friends right up until now were I am scheduled to be his best man at marriage, to the love of his life Sophie or “Smoph” as he calls her.
Ever since the night in which we played basketball Chris and I have had a very competitive friendship. We competed with sports, girls, computer games and even school, believe it or not. Once in fact we even started our own scoreboard in a thing we called Chris vs. Liam in which every competition we did we would keep tally. This all stopped though however when I moved away to university.
227
Chris Smith
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Liam Roberts
228sp
ot
the
ba
ll
I don’t think me moving away from Chris had too much of an effect on him but he constantly tried to make me feel guilty about it. Truth is Chris has moved on and has plenty of friends in Cheltenham as well as remaining mine. Because I hadn’t got to do challenge in a while when Chris called me to say he wanted to do penalties, I jumped at the chance.
If I’m honest I know Chris is better than me at football. We used to play on the same team together but all I was good at was scoring goals, though recently he had been doing that very thing himself. I expected that it would be a close game and was happy to find out it was.
Chris had decided to come and see me in a Tuesday but it wasn’t any ordinary Tuesday, it was derby day. Not only are Chris and I fierce rivals but so are the football teams in which we support. Both our families, though living in Cheltenham, now both came from the city of Liverpool originally and different sides of the city for that matter. Chris supports Everton and I support Liverpool so it was a great delight for me that a double victory might be on the cards, in out shoot out and in the football that evening.
229
Chris as always turned up in his Everton attire and I was wearing my Liverpool top. We were to have a true derby experience but one last thing was needed, a goalie. In order for the competition to be fair we didn’t want to get someone who would take sides and we didn’t want anybody who support either Liverpool or Everton to be the goalie, in case subconscious bias crept in. We did eventually find someone who fit both those descriptions in Tom Henderson, a Manchester United fan.
The set off to the local park in order to find some goals and we got just that at Dean Lane park, just minutes from my house. I was on home turf and I was going to try and let that feeling take over.
We flipped to see who would go first as Tom got ready for the first penalty. It was to be me to go first. I always have seen going first in penalties as advantageous because the added pressure of a “we need to score this or were out” is harder to come by.
230sp
ot
the
ba
ll
I took my first penalty striding up to the ball with confidence. My strategy was to hit the ball as hard as possible and not down the middle of the goal. I hoped that Tom didn’t have very quick reactions, not being a goalie People are generally more reluctant to put their body in front of a really hard shot. I did hit that ball hard but the only thing is, I hit it straight down the middle and straight into the hand of Tom. I missed the first penalty [1]. t penalty.
Chris stepped up to take his penalty. He told me after the competition that his strategy was to look one way and place it in the other. This is a common strategy used by professionals. I think it must be hard being a goalie. Chris true to his strategy did exactly that, looking right the whole time and placing hard and left. It hit the post and went crashing in, leaving a stunned Tom only to watch in pure wonderment. It was a perfect penalty [2].
231
Penalty 1
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
Penalty 2
Chris Smith
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
0 1
0 2
232sp
ot
the
ba
ll
I soon stepped up to take my second penalty of the five and was ready to try the same technique again, as hard as possible. I ran up to the ball with tremendous pace and blasted the ball. Unfortunately not towards goal however, as it screamed over the bar and over Tom. I had missed the first two penalties something which is remarkably hard to come back from.
Penalty 3
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
233
WHY THE FUCK DO I KEEP HITTING
IT OVER? OVER!Liam Roberts
234sp
ot
the
ba
ll
Chris stepped up to take his second penalty confident after waking in the first and seeing me miss again. It seemed Chris had me in a position he wanted me in. He hit the ball with venom yet again but this time, luckily for me it hit the crossbar and went over. He had given me another chance [3].
Third time lucky, I said to myself as I stepped up the ball again. Bang, straight over again and this time my anger at missing came out. Not towards Chris but aimed at myself [4].
I had missed another penalty so Chris was confident as he stepped up to take his third. On this penalty it was clear he thought I was never going to score and he took his eye off the prize. Not faking Tom he hit the ball just hoping it went in, not a good tactic at all. The ball went straight down the middle and hit Toms leg, rebounding out without Tom even knowing he had saved yet another penalty [5].
The score was still only 1-0 despite my poor performance so far and I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to start a new tactic. So I thought back to where Tom had dived previously.
235
Penalty 5
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
Penalty 6
Chris Smith
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
Penalty 4
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
0 3
0 40 5
236sp
ot
the
ba
ll
237
238sp
ot
the
ba
ll
I realised that tom hadn’t moved to the left, thinking therefore that this was his weaker side for diving. From then on I thought to myself I should hit the ball with pace into the bottom right of the goal.
I stepped up to take number four unsure of whether the new tactic would work but willing to try something at least. I hit the ball hard and low. Low enough and right enough in fact that Tom didn’t even move as the ball went sailing into the bottom corner. I had scored my first penalty, now it was game on [6].
After seeing my previous goal Chris stepped up nervous claiming that I am always lucky with stuff like this. I think he had lost his winning mentality. I struck the ball hard but in no real direction again, and Tom dived down quickly to save it again. It was honours even going into the final penalty [7].
239
Penalty 7
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
Penalty 8
Chris Smith
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
Previous Page
Tom Henderson
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Liam Roberts
0 6
0 7
240sp
ot
the
ba
ll
I placed the ball nervously on the spot and took a few step back. This was make or break I had to score this to make sure I went to at least a tie break or maybe even the win. I stuck with the same tactic as the fourth penalty and placed the ball bottom right. Tom knew that time what I was going to do, but was too slow to stop it I was 2-1 up with only the one penalty to take [8].
Chris was no left in the “you have to score this to win” situation in which I expressed a hate for in choosing who went first. It’s a hard situation to deal with, a lot of added pressure. Too much pressure it seemed for Chris. He blasted the ball left of the goal in an attempt to place it, missing by inches [9].
241
Penalty 10
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
Penalty 9
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
Video Filmed by
Liam Roberts
0 8
0 9
242sp
ot
the
ba
ll
With a scream of joy I ran up to Tom and then Chris for the handshake. It felt like a great victory, which always seems the case if you come from behind. I think it was the changing of the tactic, which really taught me something that day.
Later that evening, if you wanted to know Liverpool beat Everton in a historic 3-0 victory with Gerrard, our captain, scoring all three. It was a good day for me and a for Liverpool FC.
12IT’S GOOD
TO STEP BACK AND EVALUATE THE SITUATION.
LESSON
The challenge hung around for a while on the internet, in bike shops and in gyms across Bristol for weeks before anyone challenged my time, but like all things once one person has tried, more will follow.
FANCY A
RIDE (2)
245
09/16
246fa
nc
y a
rid
e?
Mike Stabley
Harry Tomlinson
Christian Smith
C O N T E N D E R S T H E
247
Steve Jones
Chris Saltmarsh
C O N T E N D E R S T H E
248fa
nc
y a
rid
e?
In the end I had five contenders for the race and possibly more though people who wouldn’t admit it. The reason I say this is because of an enlightening conversion with a friend called Steve who had been telling me for ages that he was going to have a go at beating the time.
Weeks after he initially told me he wanted to try the challenge I wanted to see how he got on to post the result on my blog. Steve then said he hadn’t tried the challenge yet but seemed to have a lump in his throat when saying it. It seemed as if Steve was lying but I didn’t understand why?
Later that same evening I received a phone call from my friend Nathan.
Steve Jones
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Unkwown
249
NO...ER...I..
HAVEN’T DONE ITSteve Jones
250fa
nc
y a
rid
e?
NathanSup man? you fancy coming for
a drink later?
MeMaybe is this a result celebration?
Is everyone going?
NathanI guess. What did you get?
Me Higher than normal I fancy a drink.
How about you?
NathanYeah alright, what I expected. Do you
wanna come here?
Me Yeah man i’ll be over soon
as possible.
WHAT WAS sAID
251
NathanHow are you and do you fancy coming for
a drink later?
MeI’m thinking about staying in but might come
out if Steve’s there I want to ask him a question.
NathanYes. What was your result?
MeSmashed it for the first time ever i’m exstatic.
What mark did you get?
NathanNot as good as I hoped. Do you want to come to
my house first?
Me Yeah man i’m just going to finish this bit of
work and then i’ll be over.
WHAT WAS MEANT
252
Not only would this be a celebration however it would be a chance to once again ask Steve about the bike race and this time he would have had a drink.
We got to the bar and sure enough Steve was there and already drunk, so a seized my opportunity after a few pleasantries.
“Have you really not done the race?”
and that was all I need to say after that he spilt his guts about how he had tried twice missing out by seconds, two to be exact near enough both times, making him my first ever entrant.
The very next day the real entrants began however. First roll up Harry Tomlinson. Harry is a great friend of mine who I hadn’t seen much of late so it was good to here from him, though the news he delivered was sour. He had kicked my arse and that was a bitter pill to swallow. Though there was another bitter pill to swallow for Harry as he too was beat by a lot. Everybody had expected that if Harry were to take part he would win but there were some other people in Bristol who begged to differ. Steve Jones
& Anita McBride
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Unknown
253
I WAS TWO SECONDS
OFF IT!Steve Jones
254fa
nc
y a
rid
e?
When posting the challenge for everybody I to see I had posted it on several a professional bikes person page and people started to get in contact with times. First in stepped mike Stanley a professional biker. He contacted me via the blog to ask.
“Where do I send these photos , your in for a shock?”
I replied swiftly. The email did not only contain his photos and times however, it also included a friend of his named Christian Smith and all of their iPhone data on routes.
It was evident immediately that they had beaten Steve, Harry and myself fair and square it was only a matter of time before I would posted the results and let Bristol know they had beaten me again.
I decided that I would wait one more week and in that time I received a response from my housemate Chris whom had tried the challenge on his way home from work as a swimming instructor. Chris also beat Steve and myself but fell just short of Harry’s time it was time to publish the results.
255
When looking through the data that the pro riders had given me I realised that they hadn’t gone the same way as I did [1]. They had gone a route I wouldn’t have originally thought of though seemingly a route that paid off. After realising this I proceeded to ask the other contenders which directions they took and they all described the same as the pro riders route and not mine[2].
Christian Smith 4:57
THE TIMES
Mike Stanley
Harry Tomlinson
Chris Saltmarsh
me
steve jones
5:07
5:16
5:43
6:48
6:50
[1]
fan
cy
a r
ide
?256
[2]
257
258Fa
nc
y a
rid
e?
This made me think of what time I could have gotten if I was to do the race again, but then that wouldn’t have been fair, I lost. The reason for the other rider going a different way was because they had all thought about traffic and gone a way to avoid it unlike me. This taught me a valuable lesson.
Previous Pages
Bristol Map
Screenshot
Image Created by
13Don’t always take the most
obvious route,it might not
always be the best.
LESSON
This was a big challenge as it was to the final of Liam Vs Bristol. I mentioned early on in the book that there was a running total, a score system in which to find out who was the victor. It came down to the last competition and we could both still win it.
THE POOLPARTY
261
14/16
262TH
E P
OO
L PA
RT
Y
T H E
Chris Saltmarsh
Jack Franklin
Nathan Clark
Tom Bird
263
C O N T E N D E R S
Jack Franklin
Luke Stanbury
Noah Campeau
Tom Henderson
264TH
E P
OO
L PA
RT
Y
Just as the Pancake eating contest wasn’t the original challenge, the finale was planned to be a much more different event to what it actually turned out to be. The original grand finale, due to popular demand was set to be a 100m sprint, something I was rather good at during my years at school. In fact I had never lost a sprint race under 200 metres and was excited to see how I would fair now. However, two days before the race, people were dropping out of the race with an alarming rate. Now I don’t know whether people just couldn’t make it or whether they were afraid to run on camera but out of the possible eight people and two stand-ins I had for the day, only three of us were able to make it with two days to go. So I had to cancel.
And So I went back to the drawing board, to all the requests I had been getting along the journey and there was one that really stood out.
Phil Roberts
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Unknown
DISLOCATED SHOULDER. AWESOME
Phil Roberts
266
I’LL BEAT YOU AT POOL
John Paul Dowling
the
po
ol
par
ty
267
During a tutorial I had been chatting to a tutor named JP, when he offered me a pool competition. At the time and for months after this book was first written, I thought he was making an offer in jest, however, he told me later he was serious. For this I apologies JP.
Now I have always fancied myself to be okay at pool, since my family just seem to be naturally good at it and also I spent a lot of time in art foundation playing game, with my friends Sami, Loui and Scottny. I then saw it as a challenge as usual and tried my best to thrash them every time, even entering some small competitions at the University SU bar. But I wasn’t the only person who had been practicing.
After putting at the call to everyone and anybody on Facebook I got some quick responses from some people I know are darn good at pool. It would stand to make the contest more interesting. In total I had twelve replies for the pool comp but decided that I would select the best 8 for the competition of a life time.
The contendors set, we decided the best way to select the matches would be pick the players out of a hat. So it didn’t appear to be bias I let one of the 4 spectators do the honors.
Pool Table
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Luke Stanbury
the
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A table was then drawn up to show the matches that would follow the Quarterfinals. Each of the Quarter finals were to be a best of 3 set up and then after that is would be straight knockout.
I’m not sure how anybody felt about their parings but I can tell you I was quite happy with mine. I had drawn Chris, The swimming instructor that I had interviewed, the housemate in which I had lost to at pancake eating and the same Chris that beet me in the bike competition. Chris had been a big part of this project and also a big part of my life for the past three years, so for his troubles, I wanted to kick his arse more than anybody else there.
The games started and it was straight away evident who were the favourites to win. Noah and Tom Bird looked very on the cue whereas Nathan and Tom Henderson seemed like they had left their pool heads at home. Not only was Tom Bird on form either but he was also a champion fighting talker. The quote on the page opposite was said after an amazing snooker from himself for Jack Franklin to deal with.
Tom Bird
Bristol, England
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“I’m the favourite and I’m also a prick”
I’M THE FAVOURITE
AND I’M ALSO A PRICK
Tom Bird
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Tom did win his first match and so did Noah and Luke, with ease, so then it was my turn. I took the break even though Chris won the toss and potted 3 balls of the same colour, making me stripes.
Chris was devastated by the break and found it hard all game to pot anything in fact he consentrated more on the fighting talk than actually playing the game saying things like,
“You tryna touch my balls you gay”
Even though there was insults flying all around the table it was my ability to keep my head clear and pot all my balls without retaliating that won the match. In fact I potted all my balls and one of Chris’s during the game, meaning he only potted 1 during the whole match. This was something he was not happy about.
Chris Saltmarsh
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Noah Campeau
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“I let him win”
I LET HIM WIN
Chris Saltmarsh
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Round 2 of the quarters began with Nathans announcment,
“I’m going to take my coat off ”
Meaning he meant business from now on.Nath, Tom, Chris and Jack could all go out in their next games so that had to turn on their ‘A’ game. Though this was nowhere near the case for Nathan and Tom who despite remaining confident until the end bowed out without a fight unlike Jack that is.Jack had turned all of his anger from the first game into pure focus and thrashed the favourite Tom. No body expected this to happen and whispers began to go around the room as to if Tom Bird was still the favourite.
Whispering
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Noah Campeau
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jack could win this
JACK COULD
WIN THIS
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Liam & Tom
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Chris Saltmarsh
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After those three matches it was me turn and I started just as condiently as the first time I had played Chris, potting 4 of my balls before he had the chance. But then I did something really stupid I had let Chris back in by doing the most stupid thing you can do in pool. I potted the Black.
Chris somehow had taken me to a tidebreaker only potting 1 of his own balls I was furious.
“NO”
The final round of Quarter finals started and un expectadle Franklin almost cleared the table from the break. Tom was quiet after his earlier ravings about his talant. He potted a few back but you could tell that Jack had broken him. He calmly then potted the rest of his balls said nothing to Tom and sat down ready for his Semi final bought against Noah.
It was then time for my finale with Chris and I decided to take a leaf out of Jack’s book, to become as calm as possible. It was evident that Chris wasn’t playing so well so I just concentrated really hard on not potting the black and slowly potted all of my balls and reached the other Semi final. I was due to play luke.
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The semi finals began with Jack vs Noah. Jack took the break and potted a few balls which was to be expected due to his form in the last two games. It started to prove that if you stay calm and keep your head in the game you can do well. As for Noah, due to the poor performance from Tom Henderson no one had really seen how good he was and we were all in for a shock. Noah with only two goes on the ball potted all 6 of his balls leaving Jack with a 2 balls and the black to pot. But this is when something terrible happened. Nathan put him off.
Now knowing Jack for as long as a have I knew that this would have put him off usually leading to a reaction about it. but this time it didn’t seem to anger him even though it did make it throw the game. Nathan had said
“ He’s going for a number 2”
I can only think that this instead of angering him made him laugh. Noah took his turn next and he finished what he had started 2 turns ago, he was in the final.
The match between me and Luke was a poretty univentful one or it may have been
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quick because I need a wee really badly, after downing 2 pints. I remember Stephen Fry, presenter of QI saying once that
“It is scientifically proven that you make your best decisions
when you need the toilet’
So i’m going to put it down to that. I left Luke, remarkably with 6 left on the table. Noah may have been the favourite for it, but I was on form.
It was time for the final.After a handshake, I flipped the coin
and Noah shouted heads. Head it was. Noah decided to take the break after seeing the luck I had had with the previous few I had taken, potting one at least each time. But on this occasion it was Noah who was to get off the mark with scoring. He potted one from the break making me solids.
I had my go and missed everything on the table, fowling for the first time in the contest. Noah then came back to pot 2 more as I had to sit back and watch him take his 2 goes.It was my turn again and for the second time in a row I fowled but luckily for me Noah did again staright away allowing me two shots and boy did I take advantage.
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I potted 6 balls in a row and if I’m honest I don’t think I had ever done that before that day. I was confidently striding around the table using pocket after pocket completely blanked from anything else going on around the table, Despite it being full with 11 other guys talking loudly too each other. I was in the zone all until someone shouted before my next shot.
I don’t claim to now what they shouted or even if the ball would have gone in if it had not happened, but what I can tell you, is it made me lose my focus. Someone had shouted so loudly it could have burst a childs ear drum.Not only did I miss either but when I walked around the table trying to regain focus and get my head back in the game, I realised that Noah had 2 easy shots left for the win.
I stood back in silence as the crowd began to get louder. He got his last colour in and I waited even more intensely for the final shot. It was a sitter, yet he really took his time to aim, blocking out the audience, as I once tried.
I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer so I turned away not wanting to look, But just as I turned I heard a yelp of excitement, not just from Noah but also from everyone in the crowd.
Noah Campeau
Bristol, England
Photo Taken by
Liam Roberts
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FUCKING! YES!
Noah Campeau
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Noah had won the pool competition on the last ball and I was gobsmacked.
It wasn’t until the walk home that I started to not mind the loss. It may have been the finale of Liam vs. Bristol and Yes I did lose in the final but the overwhelming feeling from that day wasn’t one of keeping my head down, it was one of joy.
Truthfully doing this 3rd year of graphic design really has taken its toll on me. Where once before I would not hesitate in the slightest in going out for a drink with friends, my evenings had now been taken up with doing university work and I had missed seeing everybody .This event had made me realise above all else that...
14you need to
find a balance between
work & play.
LESSON
And so with the loss in the pool tournament Liam vs. Bristol was over. It had been a great experience and I had learnt a great deal about myself along the way and if I’m honest I wasn’t glad it finished, but it had to at some point.
settling the
score
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I would have liked to go out on a win but I think in someway it did me good to leave the project losing at pool. It left me with a chance to reflect on my mistakes. If I had left the Pool competition the victor I just don’t think that I would have thought about it as much as I did, for the few days afterward. I sat in my room alone not listening to music and just writing down everything I learnt along the way realising that some of the time, there wasn’t really much to take from some of challenges, but they still left me with a smile on my face when thinking about them.
The challenges I refer to are the several challenges that I have left out of this book. Some I won and some I didn’t. I just don’t think that I put my all into them and that’s what this project was all about. Out of the book, I left Fifa 2012, Othello, Staring Contest, and Risk. I had won Othello and Fifa and Lost Risk and the Staring Contest.
Now I’m not sure if anybody has ever played risk but I should tell you don’t play it. The fatal flaw with the game is that you have a winner maybe 20 minutes in yet the game last
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another 3 hours. It’s not fun and if I could, I would banish it to Room 101.Speaking of Room 101, another thing I would put in there is the scoring that I told you I would be adding up at the end of the book. Truthfully I learnt very early on, an old clichéd term and that was
“It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part
that counts”.
As you may have noticed, and I left it in the book on purpose, I began to forget to write the progression of scores as I went along after drawing level in ‘Brash with Brawn’ chapter. If truth be told I had stopped caring about the score completely. It hadn’t been about that, it had been about learning. Learning about myself and where I will be focusing my attention after university.
If you are really desperate to know the final score however it will be very small at the back of the book but for anybody who doesn’t want to know, I urge you don’t read it.
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At the beginning of this journey I had set out to find out what it was to compete with next in my life as I finally reached the goal that I set the achieve almost 10 years before. The goal was to succeed my brothers in their educational legacy. It’s not really something that matters essentially but something I did to make sure I tried hard and did well in school, college and university.
During the process of the project and my 3rd year of university in which I wrote this book, there were a few more changes. You maybe remember the chart from my first year at university in which I scraped a pass mark getting into the 2nd year. Well this chart looked a lot different after my last marking.
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1st
2.1
2.2
3rd
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THIR
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41
60
72
UNIVERSITYALL 3 Years
THE AVERAGES
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The level of effort I put into finding where to go with my life after university had shone through in my work, and the results were pleasing to see. Being Top Gun wasn’t as far from my reach as it was once before.
Not only in my 3rd year of university did start hitting the grades I wished to achieve, but I also finally managed to change the tutors opinion of me. The tutor, which questioned my very place on the course, now had respect for me as a person and a designer saying that one day I might be ask back to help out on the module he teaches. This was a module I had previously skived in my 2nd year. A module I regret skiving in my 2nd year.
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Bower Ashton
Bristol, England
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Liam Roberts
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As you can probably tell writing this feels great and achieving what I set out to do even better but there is one thing still left unanswered. What next?
I knew after this experience that competitiveness does in fact help me through things I want to achieve and that it healthy for me to set goals. But, I didn’t just want to compete with an idea or an achievement that I can do in a year, like this project. I wanted to compete with something huge, something like the 10 year plan to “beat” my brothers and something that would take me years or maybe even the rest of my life to achieve. And so I settled on this statement.
Liam Roberts
Bristol, England
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ONE DAY, I WILL BE AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED DESIGNER
& PROUD OWNER
OF A WORLDS BEST DAD MUG
Liam Roberts
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That what’s next.I hope that in reading this book it may
have inspired you to realise that can you can take charge of your own life and turn things around if you need to, or in my case just focus it. In my adventure I have used competitiveness to find out who I am and what I am going to do next, but you can use anything. Don’t just sit and wait for the answers because the people who do that are the people who look back and think what could have been. The people that actively go out find the answers are the people that have.
One thing I never mention is what made be stop doing the competition, why I thought it was time to stop, so hear it goes.
An early bath
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The reason that I stopped was that one-day, maybe a week or so before the last challenge, whilst working at the local ASDA, I was recognised by someone. But I wasn’t recognised for anything else but being...
“There’s that guy who competes with people.”
I did not like it one bit and In that moment some words that Chris Saltmarsh said to me came ringing into my ears. It was a lesson he had said off cuff and a lesson I had not listened to at the time, but it all made sense afterwards. It taught me one last lesson, one that was with me from the start, yet I hadn’t realised.
15IT’s okay for
you to compete, but don’t let
competing become who
you are.
LESSON
THE FINAL SCORE WAS
8-7
TO ME
Raised in a predominantly male family, it was inevitable that Liam Roberts would grow to be competitive. From an early age, he considered education to be a competition, however as this chapter drew to a close, what would he be left to
compete with?
In realisation of this, Liam set out to discover answers, turning to his character trait to point him in the right direction. After several ciders, he created Liam Vs Bristol, a contest in which he would take on challenges set to him, in any sport or game. Through this journey, not only did Liam find the answer to his question but also learnt life altering lessons, which he has shared throughout
this book.