As the temperature and humidity drop to a modest 23°, medals flow in from the British team members, many of whom had to report in by 07.00 for their 08.00 start. Ian Richards (VAC) won the M65-69 5000m walk. Sue Yeomans (SCVAC) had a surprise victory in the long jump defeating the Australian Wilma Perkins and Stephanie Classen of South Africa.
Esmei Ossai (SCVAC) held off the Swedish Olympian Marcus Sundvall and the top American sprinters to win his 100m heat and semi as the 78-strong field was whittled down to the 8 finalist in the men’s 35-39 age category. Stephen Peters, tops the 100m qualifiers in his 60-64 age group, John Browne is also through to the final and Surrey Veterans champion, Pat Logan, qualified in the M50 group final. Virtually all the sprinters got through to their final in an excellent day for British sprinters. Averil McClelland (NVAC) struck gold in the W55 long jump and won both her heat and semi in the 100m.
Evaun Williams, beat Brazilian hopeful Sumiko Imoto, the Mongolian Tumurbat and 13 others to retain her 75-59 age category shot putt title.
John Mayor (EVAC) got silver in the Decathlon, Scottish Veterans Harrier James Lesson won the M50 group, Gayle Clark kept the Australian, Marie Kay, on her toes as she notched up 2985pts for 2nd place in the Heptathlon. The multi-eventers had to endure long and difficult conditions as the competition ran on late into the night and there were other technical problems.