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MASTERS ATHLETICS SPRING 2013.
weekend, but again after the first circuit it was a solo
effort to knock a further 3.29sec off to take the
European crown in 11.39.29sec. Ros Tabor’s W60
victory was 22½sec faster than her winning time at
Lea Valley.
9th EUROPEAN VETERANS British M50 champion, Guy Bracken, had a convincing
INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS Championship record win in 9.08.46sec in one of
many challenging races despite being the 2nd fastest
SAN SEBASTIAN ,19-24TH on paper behind the Frenchman Pelletier, and just
MARCH one second separated Andrew Robinson and Simon
Anderson for 2nd and 3rd behind the Spaniard Arafa in
WORDS: BRIDGET CUSHEN a cracking M45 race. The women’s fields were smaller
but nonetheless as competitive. The competence of
PICTURES: From Masters Athletics Library the Officials was questionable as avoidable problems
surfaced in the large fields in the under 60’s groups –
9th European Veterans Indoor too many falls, cones incorrectly placed, harsh
Championships, San Sebastian, 19-24 disqualifications and results sheets constantly being
March 2013 amended. Infield, the M35-69 high jump, M40/45
long jump and women’s shot were all underway
Buoyed by their performances at the BMAF Indoor’s simultaneously and with no programmes and the big
the previous weekend or with mud still on their shoes screen not in operation, identifying competitors was
from the cross-country in Sunderland three days virtually impossible. The last of the 400m heats was
earlier, our 249-strong team faced stiff opposition scheduled to start at 21.45.
from over 3,200 competitors from 37 nations in the Wednesday was a day to forget for our women
Anoeta Velodrome, the adjoining outdoor arena, road walkers, Fiona Bishop, Cath Duhig, Maureen Noel and
walks to the East and at the Hippodrome racecourse new recruit Sabrina Brown were all DQ’d in their 3km
where the cross-country was staged. race. It was noted that some Judges were on the
inside or mostly standing in lane 2. [See Secretary’s
On arrival on Monday athletes were not just worried Report]. The sprinters put down a marker in the 60m
about the competition but not been able to move heats; M35-64 400 semis and all 400m finals were to
forward in a never ending queue to register and conclude another long day. It has been a successful
collect their number in time for the next morning’s debut into the Masters for Lawrence Baird as since
start, which did not augur well for the organisation. turning 35 last December the Linconshire man won
As the Championships progressed one had to have the BMAF championships in 50.45 and here added the
some sympathy with the Madrid-based Organiser as European in 50.37 and 200m silver. Richard Rubenis
matters outside the Organising Committee’s control got 3rd but David Brown went out in the semis. It was
surfaced.
However by 09.00 on Tuesday the Organisation Michael
Committee, with more volunteers, got everything off Gardiner
on time and M80 Richard Pitcairn-Knowles was well
on his way to the first medal, silver, in the first of over
twenty 3000m races.
Angela Copson might have expected stronger
opposition here after lowering the W65 world record
by a whopping 10sec at Lee Valley the previous
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