SCRAP school sports days! No way! As my English master often said about my essays "What utter piffle and balderdash!"

Sport in school today is even more essential than it was in my school days, with children today often spending most of their leisure time in front of a TV or PC screen. Sport builds healthy bodies and disciplined minds. It creates comradeship and a competitive spirit -- all essential in later life.

Some might frown on the competitiveness of sport, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to win. What is wrong is wanting to win at all costs -- even by cheating! If you cheat to win, then you haven't won. You might fool others, but you cannot fool yourself. This is what needs to be instilled in the young in school.

We cannot have winners without losers. Losers are as vital a part of the race as winners, as long as they all strive to win. Running your best ever time for a race is winning, even if you actually finish last.

I remember watching an event on Leverhulme Park, a long distance track race. As the exhausted runners completed the race, the field was well stretched out. One runner, in the middle of the pack, instead of collapsing to the ground exhausted, carried on to start another agonising lap. She had actually been lapped by the other runners. As she past each group of spectators around the track they clapped and encouraged her. When she finally made it to the finishing line, the entire grandstand got to their feet and gave her a great ovation. Even the competitors stood on the track and applauded.

This stands out in my mind as one of sports memorable moments, even though it was just a school sports day.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove

Bolton