Team UK Blog - Harry Smith
The Last Day
September 6, 2009
Harry Smith
Web Design Competitor - WorldSkills Shizuoka 2007
I have now spent the last six days in Calgary experiencing the WorldSkills competition and soaking up some Canadian culture.
Being a past competitor myself and having the honour of competing in Japan in 2007, it’s great to be back to see another competition in action.
It is a fantastic opportunity to see the competition from the other side of the fence but more importantly see our team competing. I have had the pleasure of working with the team during their training and preparation for the competition and it is great to see some of those individuals I met 12 months ago here at WorldSkills Calgary 2009. It is astonishing to see how far some have come since the first time they visited Brathay and it makes me realise the real extent of the competitor’s journey.
I remember introducing the WorldSkills Competition from a competitor’s point of view during their first Brathay visit, it was really endearing to see them hang on every word I said. I have watched them progress through squad selection to team selection and now competing here at WorldSkills Calgary. It has been a long and tough journey to the competition and I have seen them grow into a team of amazing individuals. Walking around the competition site and watching them compete I feel proud and privileged to have been a part of their individual journeys and to be a part of WorldSkills again.
I was watching Luke Griffiths compete in Cabinet Making the other day and it struck me how strange a situation the competition is. I saw him race through his tasks, demonstrating his high skill level and complete focus whilst masses of people watched and photographed his every move. I remember what it was like to be in that situation and I know that the training they have received has prepared them for this unique situation. It was great to see that he was completely unfazed!
As the competition progresses and news of peoples performance comes through, the excitement grows and emotions run high. We are now on the last day of competitions and I can imagine how tired and tense they must all be feeling, it will be a huge relief for all of them when the final whistle goes.
I’m off now to run round the site and watch all the competitions finish and cheer and congratulate them on a job well done! Wherever they finish in the medal tables, they have all achieved so much being here and it will be an experience they, like me, will hold fond memories of for the rest of their lives.
