READY, EDDIE, GO!

SPORTING school principal Ed Goodwin has agreed to let pupils and staff of St Christopher's School join the kingdom's Formula One party.

At one stage it looked like they would miss out once more on the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix because for a second year running the official start of school clashed with the final day of the event.

After GulfWeekly highlighted the clash of dates Mr Goodwin, left, was first off the grid to ensure his race-loving pupils would not miss out in 2009.

Mr Goodwin said: "When the Heads and I discussed the issue in early July, we felt that, given the amount of notice we had been given, we could respond positively to suggestions that we consider closing on that day.

"In doing so we recognise that the F1 race is of tremendous importance to Bahrain and its people, providing a vehicle (no pun intended) to showcase the country to a huge worldwide TV audience.

"We still consider, however, that F1 should, in future years, consider a Saturday date for race days in Muslim countries and hope that some consideration might be given to this by the worldwide F1 body."

Mr Goodwin informed all parents of the decision today in a letter which stated: "Last school year, we received very late notice of the date of the Bahrain Formula 1 final day; so late, in fact, that we were unable to respond positively to the request that we close for the day.

"This year, however, we have received very early notice of the 2009 date. It is to be Sunday, April 19 - which is the scheduled start of the Summer Term!

"Accordingly, and having considered the matter carefully, we have decided to delay the start of the term by one day to Monday, April 20.

The decision to change the St Christopher's School term start date next April has delighted Bahrain International Circuit race chiefs.

They now hope other schools will follow in its footsteps, including the British School of Bahrain which will be discussing the matter later this week.

Martin Whitaker, chief executive officer at Bahrain International Circuit, had earlier made a passionate plea to school governing bodies to rally round the kingdom and show their support in the face of F1 race competition from Abu Dhabi next season.

He said: "This is indeed great news and I am delighted for the children, the parents and, of course, the teaching staff.

"I spoke to Ed Goodwin the minute that we had the provisional date for the 2009 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix and he was extremely understanding of the issue regarding the clash between race day and the first day of term.

"The announcement of the provisional date was made much earlier this year by the FIA and this undoubtedly helped the school make the decision to move the start of term by a day.

"I applaud the school's decision as I think it underlines the increasing magnitude of the Grand Prix as the largest annual sporting and social occasion that takes place in the kingdom and the importance that the race has to all of us who live here.

"As a result we look forward to seeing many more children, their families and teachers here at BIC on race day, thereby ensuring that the day becomes one of celebration for everyone.

"On behalf of the circuit I would like to thank Ed Goodwin and his team at St Christopher's and hope that this encourages other schools and organisations to view race day in the same manner."

Mr Goodwin added in a letter to parents today:_"It may be that other, minor changes to the summer calendar will have to occur as a consequence - we will wait until the Spring Term to determine this, by which time we should know whether or not April 19 is to be declared a nationwide holiday for educational institutions. I hasten to add that I have no inside information to suggest that this IS the case!"

Mr Whittaker, however, is not confident the sport's executives will agree to Mr Goodwin's plea for races in the region to be held a day earlier. "The idea of a Grand Prix on a Saturday would be extremely difficult to achieve," he believes. "The FIA and Formula One have for many years worked towards continuity in qualifying and race day timings. Moving the race to a Saturday would cause many, many problems for the organisers of the FIA Formula One World Championship - not least in global television schedules."