It is all shoulders to the wheel to deal with the sheer logistics

Shortly after the Starter’s gun had fired, British Masters were away to a great start in what is now on course for a memorable World Masters Athletics Track & Field Championships in sunny Spain. Londoner Janet Smith got the first medal, a bronze in the W50 Shot from a 20-strong top international field; whilst BMAF Vice-Chairman Ian Richards was race walking into gold in the M70 5km walk in a Record time.  Ian Cooley was to take the M60 hammer a short time later and Guy Dirkin the silver in the M65. Barry Hawksworth just missed out in his M70 group. More medals were to follow in quick succession on the opening day in 32°C

All the results are being posted instantaneously on WMA website or just follow the link on the BMAF website.

It is all shoulders to the wheel for the Organising Committee processing the huge entry – over 8000 athlete, 5495 men and 2692 women from 102 countries and all parts of the Globe who have entered on average 3½ events each. There were 160 heats of the 100m to work through on Day 2 as well as the Cross-Country races in the forest outside Torremolinos and the second day of the Heptathlon and Decathlon! The President of the LOC, Roúl Chapado, was spotted raking the long jump pit, hordes of bilingual Volunteer youngsters are honing their language skills exchanging courtesies with the athletes and the international panel of Officials, including many British and the Chief Official Alan Bell, have been through it all before.

Bridget Cushen

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