Letter to the Editor, Tuesday July 14, 2015

Not entitled

Your editorial (Who needs talent? July 7) about kids running to their parents, who in turn head to the lawyers if they miss out on selection in sports and things at secondary school level was great.

I was a student at Dargaville High School from 1983-87, and if I missed selection to the NZ secondary schools track and field champs, as happened in 1985, I did not call in the lawyers.

I trained harder and made the teams for both the cross country champs, where I improved on the previous year's result, and did make the team for the track and field Champs on merit, coming 26th in the road race.

Young people do need to learn that they are not automatically entitled and that things are unfair. To me, the concept of calling in the legal folks is unreal. What does it teach the younger generation?

I am still competing in athletics in my mid-40s, and accept that if I am good enough I race at national level, and if not, work to get myself up to the standard required. I do not get legal folks involved.

KAREN DAVISON

Tikipunga