Medal girl Heather’s hard work pays off
MORAY’S (and Lossiemouth’s) very own golden girl! Who would have thought that cry would be going up at the Olympics?
Well, Heather Stanning probably did, judging by the supremely confident, barn-storming performance with Helen Glover in winning the women’s pairs rowing final this week.
They left their rivals trailing with a remarkable show of power, fitness, technique, true grit and determination.
The duo had set out their stall in the heats by posting an Olympic record time, and amid the mass of pressures emanating from representing a home nation, became the first British women ever to win an Olympic gold medal in rowing, and the first Britons to win gold at London 2012.
The latter feat, coming as a huge sigh of relief to many, has earned them massive publicity, and Heather and Helen’s names are known by just about every politician, never mind the millions of Olympic watchers, and even people with only a passing interest in the Games. And with all that comes her connection with Lossiemouth and Moray.
How proud Heather must be, how proud her family and friends must be, and her old school, Gordonstoun, too, in reaching the pinnacle of her sport. The whole of Moray should be proud of the national recognition it brings to the area whenever this great triumph is trumpeted on television, radio, online and in newspapers.
Heather has put us on the Olympic map, and Lossiemouth is enjoying its moment of glory by having a post box painted gold, and Royal Mail issuing a stamp to commemorate this great achievement.
This isn’t just about one day or one week, or even one event, for Heather. It is about selfless training, commitment, hard work and making sacrifices. An Olympic gold, or any medal in fact, doesn’t come easily; it does come with pain and suffering and a daily grind of training over a period of years.
Heather and Helen have been together for three years and been World Championship medalists twice. They showed from the outset this week, with their Olympic record, that they were not going to be second best this time, that gold was what they were after. And they got it, in truly magnificent style.
They managed to trump more illustrious performers in capturing Britain’s long-awaited first gold of the 2012 Olympics. That will never be taken from them, and Heather will now go down in Moray history.
No doubt, she and her gold medal will be in demand in Moray, and we hope that before returning to her full-time job as an Army captain, she will be able to share her experience with local people, who will want to see her recognised by a civic ceremony.
Well done, Heather, we are so proud of you.
Firebomber is behind bars
WHAT A welcome contrast Heather Stanning’s achievement offered to the notoriety gained by Moray in having a firebomber, who tried to murder five people, appear for sentence this week.
John MacDonald’s despicable action in throwing a petrol bomb at an Elgin flat is believed to have been prompted by a grudge against a man dating his ex-girlfriend. By being jailed for 13 years, he got what he deserved.
The message is clear that if you carry out an atrocious act, which could well have had fatal consequences, you will be caught and punished. John MacDonald knows that now; it’s a pity he hadn’t thought about that in the first place. The sentence should be a warning to others.
