Shropshire Hospital Sister chosen to Judge at the 2012 Games

Mrs Cathy Briggs, a Sister in the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) at RSH and Staff Side Chair for the Royal College of Nursing, said it was a ‘dream’ to be involved in the Games.

She will be one of about 60 National Technical Officials for the eight field events at the Games – long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, javelin, hammer, shot and discus. She could judge at any of these events.

Cathy, who joined the Trust in December 2002, said she could not wait to be involved in the Olympics.

She said: “When I found out it was absolutely amazing. I didn’t believe it at first. Being at the Olympics will be brilliant.”

Cathy began training to be a judge in 1996 when two of her three sons joined Oswestry Olympians.

She used to stay to watch the sessions and when the group joined the National Young Athletes League it needed qualified officials and Cathy was asked if she would consider training.

She qualified as a judge in track and field and worked her way up and is now a Level Three National Official for field events and a County Official for track events.

She will be at the Olympic Stadium from 31 July until 13 August for the Olympics.

“When I started it was just helping my boys out at the local club,” she said.

“My boys aren’t involved in athletics any more but I’ve carried it on. I had no idea I’d be doing anything like this.”

Major events she has judged at in the past include the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in New Zealand in January 2011, the Trials for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and the World Indoor Trials in Sheffield last February.

She is also a judge for Shropshire Athletics, Shropshire School Athletics Association, the English Schools Athletic Association and the North West Regional School Athletics.

Cathy added: “I’ve done televised events before but never with 80,000 people there in the stadium like there will be at the Olympics.”

“It’s been like a dream to know I’ll be judging at the Games. My family are amazed and impressed with it and my colleagues are asking me about it quite a bit.

“I’d like to thank my fellow Sisters and Charge Nurses on the ward who have swapped weekends with me when needed so I can do the judging.”