A Memorable Evening – by Joey Duck
At Television Centre, we were shown in to the 'Star Bar' and on the way there Michael Owen just walked past! In the bar, people like Cathy Freeman, Will Carling, Seve Ballesteros, Chris Eubank and Alec Stewart were all talking to each other. Only one parent was allowed in to the studio with me and it was my mum who won the coin toss! We were directed into the main studio and everywhere you looked there was somebody famous. Sir Bobby Charlton then walked in and stopped to have a chat! It was a strange, surreal feeling sitting there during the show and being a part of it amongst all those people after watching it on telly for so many years.
Everyone keeps asking me if I'm disappointed at not winning the award and saying bad luck – yet I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world.
After the show the chairs and tables were cleared away and another bar was set up and people just mingled! Once again I felt I didn't fit in as everyone was talking together and seemed to know each other. However that feeling soon disappeared because people were so friendly and actually interested in me and my athletic achievements. I was completely overwhelmed by who was there – all my sporting heroes in the same room. It was so crowded. I bumped into someone, turned around to apologise and it was Martin Johnson! Most of the people there were happy to sign autographs and have pictures taken, but what made it for me was the fact that they were interested in me and asked me lots of questions. If somebody else wanted to talk to them they would be asked to wait while we continued our conversation.
I had the opportunity to chat to Jonny
Wilkinson, Martin Johnson, Laurence Dallaglio and most of the rugby team. I met Colin Jackson, Paula Radcliffe, Jackie
Charlton, Sir Steve Redgrave, Jonathon Edwards,
Linford Christie and many more! Before I knew it, it was
Joey Duck 17.12.03
