Champion triple jumper Larry Achike tells TOM SPENDER about the pressure of being the heir apparent to the great Jonathan Edwards and made some outspoken comments about Barnet Football Club.

One man not agonising over Barnet Football Club's uncertain future in the borough is Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers' star Onochie 'Larry' Achike.

The 26-year-old champion triple jumper admitted this week there was little love lost between the Bees and the Harriers. The historical antipathy stems from plans Barnet FC had to move to the Harriers home at Barnet Copthall stadium in Mill Hill.

"We don't mix well," the Commonwealth champion told the Times Group after opening a fair for the disabled in North Finchley on Friday.

"They wanted to use our track for their stadium and we would have had to move to a track near Brent Cross, which would have been a nightmare to get to," he said.

However, the application was turned down by former Environment Secretary John Prescott in 1998 following a lengthy planning inquiry. Last week the Bees unveiled plans for a new 9,200-capacity stadium adjacent to its existing home at Underhill in Barnet so hopefully two of the borough's great sporting institutions can let bygones be bygones.

Mr Achike certainly had more important things on his mind when he came to North Finchley to open the first Feeling Good Day aimed at putting people with disabilities in contact with organisations offering support.

Mr Achike released dozens of yellow and black balloons into the sky outside the Trinity Centre in Nether Street before donning a yellow Feeling Good Day T-shirt.

"Yellow is the colour of success and I'm sure today will be a successful day," he said.

But Mr Achike is also looking for success himself. His most recent performance was indifferent sixth place at the World Athletics Championships in Canada in August. He needs to find form for the next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where he will defend his title against Jonathan Edwards, his great rival and the British number one.

"It's going to be a biggie. It's the only title he doesn't have and I don't want to give it up. As soon as the event is over we are friends again, but we can't be chummy on the track. And I'm closing the gap on him each year," said Mr Achike.

And he has a further reason for wanting to get out of Mr Edwards's shadow it's costing him money.

"I'm struggling to get sponsorship. People aren't interested if you are constantly number two to Jonathan," he said.

Mr Achike aims to do especially well because the Commonwealth Games will be held in front of a home crowd. And he criticised Britain for not doing more to ensure it will also be able to host the next World Athletics Championships, now doubtful because the development of another controversial stadium at Pickett's Lock in Enfield has been blocked.

"It's a pity. People are scared about pumping money into a stadium that will lie dormant after the championships," he said. But Mr Achike said the stadium would be viable if Britain followed Australia's example and set up a sports institute there.

"An institute based around the stadium where people can come to train could work. Australia has found a winning formula and their facilities are excellent.

"We are still behind most of Europe, let alone the rest of the world. We need to give our young athletes more of a chance," said Mr Achike.

Feeling Good Day was organised by groups including Barnet People's Choice, Mencap and the Broadfields Women's Group. Members of these groups with conditions such as cerebral palsy were involved in setting up the fair, which featured activities such as karaoke, dance and beauty sessions as well as information stalls.

Mr Achike and other Barnet athletes have worked with the disabled before at a sports day in Copthall organised by Mencap. For more information about the Feeling Good Day, call Franki Williams on 020 8201 4734.

October 30, 2001 17:05