STRATFORD Athletic Club runners once again produced some strong performances at the British Masters Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, including debutant Paul Hawkins who walked away with two personal best performances and two silver medals in the 3,000m and 5,000m walks.
Having converted from running to race walking a few years ago, he has already established himself as one of the best walkers in his age group.
Using the weekend to warm up for the European Masters Championships in Denmark next month, Paula Williams and Phil Brennan both had a successful weekend.
Williams led the way with three gold medals in the 80m hurdles, shot put and triple jump, followed by a bronze medal in the 100m.
Brennan picked up two silver medals in the 800 and 1,500m and then in the 5,000m finished just outside the medals in a season’s best time.
Roger Wilson benefited from being one of the ‘youngsters’ in his age group to record a comfortable win in the M75 5,000m.
David Jones had a hard fought race and finished outside the medals in his 5,000m, whilst Peter Coote made a welcome return from his recent injury with solid performances in the javelin and discus.
EVERY year, roads in the small town of Horwich in Lancashire are closed and fenced off as it hosts a two-day festival of racing.
Among the cycling and running events is the British Masters 5k Championships which are always well attended and seen as one of the selection races for international representation.
Wilson, in the M75 category, and Brennan (M70) represented SAC.
Conditions beforehand on the hilly two-lap course were mild but by race time the temperature had soared to a cloudless 32 degrees.
Despite the harsh conditions, Brennan managed a creditable seventh place in 23:13, while Wilson won gold in a storming 22:41.
