PORTO SANTO, MADEIRA 16-19 MAY 2024
The Madeira Athletics Association (AARAM) once again provided the LOC for the EMA Non Stadia Championships held every second year. Their experienced team put together a well organised three days of competition. Since 2020 Madeira has hosted three major Master`s Championships. During a gap in the pandemic restrictions in 2021, Funchal was hosts for the EMA Non Stadia in October, the EMA Marathon in January 2023, the World Masters Mountain event in September 2023, and last week the EMA Off Road Championships. Four GB runners stayed on for the Non Stadia races, including team medalist Alan Roberts, held Porto Santo . This is Madeira`s sister island, 40km to the northeast, with its 7.5km of golden sand. Travel logistics for the majority of competitors, involved flights to Funchal and a two and a half hour ferry crossing (only sailing to and from the island once a day). As a result, like the majority of the 23 countries represented, this was the smallest GB&NI team in my 20 plus years attending the Championships – 27 runners and 5 race walkers. Surprisingly, the anticipated warm weather throughout did not materialise and the early starts saw ideal temperatures in the region of 20 degrees with the odd shower.
British Medallists
The majority of the GB team returned home with championship medals. 9 individual and 12 team medals, made up of 7 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze.
Martin Ford, European M75 Half Marathon Champion from Pescara in September 2023, made full use of his first year in his new age category, winning the 10k and Half Marathon, at the same time helping his M80 team mates to half marathon and cross country team gold. Running leg 1 in the cross country, GB were never challenged. Martin`s total of 4 medals is most impressive.
In the 10k, Rebecca Lumsden, in her first global masters` championship finished second overall in the 10k, but more importantly took the W40 honours. Like Martin, on leg 1 in the cross country, she gave her team mates a strong start. Rebecca Mills in third place (W40) won her first European medal. Vastly experienced Ros Tabor added to her huge championship medal haul, finished W70 runner up in her last race before moving up to a new age category in Gothenburg in August. Cathy Flitcroft (2nd W60) and Alison White (3rd W65) completed the 10k individual medal tally.
10K team medals were won by the M35s (3), M70s (3), W40s (2) and W60s (2). The out and back course described as flat, was in fact challenging with inclines and a breeze.
In the Half Marathon, Fiona Usher (W60) just missed out on the podium in Pescara, but ran a well judged competitive race against her Portuguese challenger, not far from her personal best. In the cross country her first leg lead enabled the W60s to take the honours with a delighted Wendy Doxey running the glory leg. Alison White went one better taking half marathon silver (W65). Half Marathon team medals – M80 (1), W40 (2). Like Martin Ford, Alison White returned home with two individual and two team medals. The half marathon course like the 10k was supposed to be run on closed roads, this was not quite the case. The route involved one big and two smaller loops.
An enjoyable event with good team spirit
All the British runners enjoyed the cross country course held in a conservation area behind the sand dunes. This involved dusty and sandy underfoot conditions. Team medals were won by the M60s (2), M65s (3), M80s (1) W40s (2) and W60s (1).
The team spirit and encouragement of the British team was excellent throughout. Many will return to Madeira to the EMA Outdoor T&F Championships (plus road and xc) in October 2025 again to be hosted by the AARAM team.
Full results on the Championship website, plus Ian Richard`s race walking report.
Archie Jenkins
GB&NI Non Stadia Team Manager