22nd July 2014

Captain Turner Ready For Commonwealth Games

22 July 2014

Andy Turner will head to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the defending 110m hurdles champion, and after victory in the 110m hurdles B race at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at the weekend, he will go into the event full of confidence.

After an injury ridden year which he admits has hindered the way he runs, Turner believes he has finally got his ‘mojo’ back just at the right time. He puts this revival in form down to having access to physio treatment twice a day at the Commonwealth holding camp in Manchester over the last few weeks.

On his performance at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, he says that the crowd and the atmosphere were particularly beneficial.

“It was amazing – there was no better setting to have a track and field competition, the crowd were so close which created a great atmosphere. Everywhere you looked there was an iconic part of London. The race went well too which adds to the experience even more and made it very exciting for me to be part of the event.”

He now turns his attention from his encouraging display on Horse Guards Parade to his role as Team England athletics captain at the Commonwealth Games. Turner, who has competed on an international level for ten years now, will hope to inspire the team by drawing on his experience. It is a position which he is very thankful to have received.

“Considering this time last year I was going into surgery to have my Achilles sewn back together and then my mum passing away at the end of the year, it was a scenario where I thought my career was finished and there were many times when I didn’t want to do this again.

“However, to be representing England and to be the captain of the athletics team is an absolute honour and I’m so thankful.”

The hurdler has already had a think about what he is going to include in his speech and gave an insight into how it may sound.

“I’m going to be honest – I’m not just going to tell people to do well. I am going to speak from the heart and tell people that everyone has dark times and it’s about coming through those and trying to bounce back from them.

“I’ll say that I’m not the most talented athlete but I’ve grafted my entire life and given the best I can to get the best result possible.”

The former world bronze medallist and European Champion is looking forward to talking to some of the younger athletes in the team and spreading his advice and wisdom. However, he says he will struggle to match Larry Achike’s speech to the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team before the Beijing Olympics in 2008, which he states was the best speech he has ever heard.

“It was his last international competition and he delivered the most powerful and motivational speech I have ever heard in my life. I don’t think that will ever get topped. Everyone left the room just thinking, ‘wow’ – it was so powerful.

“It was just his passion which stood out. Larry had won the Commonwealth’s (in 1998) but he had many problems with injuries, however, he had overcome them and really got across in his speech how much he loved the sport. There is no better speech – Larry was officially ‘the man’ that day!”

Turner will no doubt provide an inspirational speech to the team before the event but alongside this key responsibility, he knows he has to focus on his own performance over the hurdles.

“I’ve still got a lot of work to do. I’ve got three or four tough sessions to get under my belt before I compete. With not training so well earlier this year, I’ve lost consistency so I’ll work on just trying to get the timing right over the hurdles. However, it’s all going well at the moment and I’m confident I can pull out a good performance when I need to.”

The Sale Harrier will be doing everything in his powers to match his heroics from Delhi 2010 where he spearheaded an England 1-2-3 in the 110m hurdles. However, he is cautious to predict an English clean sweep again.

“It’s probably something that you are never going to see again. It was an amazing feeling to be up on the rostrum with the boys (William Sharman and Lawrence Clarke). This time it is going to be a different story. The standard is very high in the event but we have three good hurdlers going to the Commonwealth’s for Team England so you can never say never and it all depends on who nails it on the day.”