Student Champs 2010

This year's Student Championships were held in Tatabánya. Our small team traveled there one day earlier so the kids could rest and not spend the morning getting up early and travelling 250 kms. The stay there was fine and cheerful as it was coach TT's birthday - so there was champagne, cake, candles, chips and lots of fun in the evening.
Next day we went to the track at about 09:30, got through all administration and such and after some easy laps we decided to spend the upcoming hours doing lazy things, not to sit by the track while the amateur races were being held. So we visited the Turul statue towering over the city and the Szelim cave nearby. We spent some time walking there and got back to the track by 12:30 as we were advised the opening ceremony would start at 13:00.
But it was all wrong. The amateur races were still on - the pros did not start until 15:30. Damn it was a long wait and we could smell disaster when looking at the race program. It was quite sure it would not end in a 'normal' way...

Peter had to run a semi-final for the 200m. He started well and stayed right behind the first guy throughout the whole distance. It was pretty obvious he made it to the final. However when they lined up for the final he was given lane #6. W0000t? He skated 3rd fastest time and got lane 6? We couldn't protest immediately as the official timings were not published until several days were gone :((( Now I'm pretty sure he was put in lane 6 so he wouldn't be close to the local guy GyD :(((
In the final he started OK and was in 3rd place and he could have grabbed 2nd as PK almost fell in the last straight. I was quite worried he would fall and Peter would tip over him but luckily it did not happen. So it was 3rd place on the shorter distance, not a bad start at all.

On the 500m he started cleverly and skated in 2nd position. Then came an attack from behind, Peter accelerated but got pushed sideways a bit by someone, almost fell but escaped that. He dropped back to 4th position, but advanced one place in the next straight. 1 lap still left, he was in 3rd place and attacking the local guy ÁB when in the last turn ÁB punched in Peter's face with his elbow. Poor Peter started crying immediately and stood up, and so lost the chance to overtake AB (which seemed to be almost completed) and almost dropped one place again. Luckily he reached the finish line in 3rd position so another medal was earned. The referee did not see anything???... later a neutral parent told me even he could hear that punch Peter has suffered, from 50m away - quite interesting that a referee standing in the turn did not see anything unusual :(((
Now that I write these lines I am upset again. These kids are 8-9 years old - is this kind of aggression acceptable from then? I don't think so. But when they don't receive any punishment for being aggressive, when a referee doesn't take care of these things, they won't learn not to do it. Looking back at the races that day no referee interaction could be noticed. No warnings, no DQs, no new starts, nothing...

Peter couldn't join any relays so our race program was over. But the awards ceremony was still far ahead. I think it was after 20:00 they started calling the medalists and it was definitely after 22:00 when it was finished. Remember: this race was organized for children, most of them even had to travel home after the race. Simply unacceptable.

So while Peter showed good form, fought clever and strong, he could 'only' earn two bronze medals, both of them in questionable races. I find these things very sad.
Organization was one of the worst I've seen so far - no results published on the place, huge delays, no pre-race calling for the racers, minutes spent sorting out who's starting, minutes spent waiting for a late bird - completely rubbish. Was it happening in a kitchen, Gordon Ramsay would be yelling 'get out of my f* kitchen NOW'.
We won't be able to race in any other inline track races this year in Hungary due to transfer regulations - and I don't think we miss it at all.