Recent Results

At the opening match of the Midland Veterans Track and Field League (East) on 27 April the women’s team finished in a highly creditable 3rd position for a solid start in the first of 4 matches of the league season.

Shelia Berry in her debut track race came third in Women’s W50 100m. Linda New also had an eye-catching debut in the W60 2k Walk in 14.13.7. Sue Frisby achieved a notable double in the field and then on the track with 1st in W50 High Jump and 1st in W60 400m. Hazel O’Connell notched up a PB in her W40 400m and Pam Hilliam was in good form with 3rd place in the W70 100m. Club Chair and women’s team captain Jill Roginski placed 1st in W60 100m, W50 shot, W60 LJ, and 2nd in W35 HJ as she builds up to the World Masters Pentathlon Championships in June. For the men’s team, the highlight was Chris Monk, 3rd in the 100m in 14.3. All 400m runners dipped under the 70 second barrier (Anton McCalla, Gary Hodgkins and Iain Barber). Lewis Parker’s sub 5.30 mile (5.29.1) in the M35 race was another fine performance. Simon Poynton typified the team spirit competing in four events while other members of the team who turned out for two or more events included David Ward, Mick Anderson and Pete Leach.

In the mixed relays, the over 50 team placed a creditable 2nd in 4x200m. A special mention is also due to the team of five volunteer officials from the club who supported the meeting: Martin Hughes, Rosemary Ferrie, Graham Hillier, David Ward and Ian Anholm.

On Sunday 1 May in Cardiff, in form athlete Adam Barber had been selected for Wales in the Welsh 5k Road championships, with club mate Joseph O’Connell, also in very good form, selected for the Midland Counties AA team in the first inter-area competition of the season in the same race. Both athletes achieved PBs over the distance with Adam placing 6th in the U20 race (and 21st overall) in 14.47. Joseph, competing in the same age group was timed at 15.17 placing 11th (and 32nd overall). Showing their own competitive edge Hazel O’Connell and Iain Barber took part in the open 5k “Race for Victory” held as part of the same race, finishing within a fraction of each other (21.01 and 21.07 respectively), with Hazel achieving her own PB whilst securing 14th female place in the W45+ category.

Nearer to home 13 club members took part in the Livingston Relays also on Sunday 1 May held at Mallory Park race circuit. Two men’s masters teams from the club completed the four legs of 3 miles in a total time of 1.17.59 for the 10th placed A team (Tom Ranger, Gary Hodgkins, Rich Hudson and Gary Wallis) and 1.36.29 for 22nd placed B team (Martin Nicholls, Anton McCalla, Ray Lack, and David Ward). In the women’s event (three legs of 3 miles) the club finished 18th thanks to fine efforts from Beth Wallis, Elildh Maclean and Emma Kilmowicz. Tom and Beth achieved the standout performances with Tom placing 4th fastest male master’s finisher in 17.04 and Beth 6th fastest senior woman in 19.52.

The Thump Festival held on Sunday 8 May at Marston Lodge was a gruelling combination of the Trail Mix (5x 5k on the hour), 10k Hop and Half Marathon spread across the weekend. Bob Allsopp took on the entire challenge and came an outstanding 12th male (13th overall) with a total of 4:45:52 of running! In the Trail Mix run, Jacquie Hanmer was the 3rd female finisher (17th overall) in 2:07:19; whilst in the 10k Hop, Ursula Stevens finished as 3rd female (19th overall) in a time of 56:22, followed by Rich Hudson in 58:01, Sarah Goode in 1:05:25, Jules Chapman in 1:12:05, Rob Chapman in 1:12:56, and Natalie Rowland and Carmel Perrin both finishing in 1:18:00. In the Sunday’s Half Marathon, Nick Osborne continued the theme by finishing as 3rd male (4th overall) in a time of 1:38:44, followed by Jules Chapman and Rob Chapman both finishing in 2:46:52.

We were also represented at the first of EMGP series, the Silverstone Grand Prix 10k held on 9 May. Rolph Eastwood led the way for the men finishing 49th male (50th overall) in an impressive 38:06, with Fleur Starcevic finishing as 9th female (117th overall) in an equally swift 41:45. Martin Nicholls placed 194th male in 46:49, whilst Simon Poyton finished as 269th male in 50:20.