British Masters Indoor Pentathlon, Sun 24th Jan
Masters Strike Gold at Lea Valley
Sunday 24th January saw Lee Valley in North London host the British Masters indoor Pentathlon Championships with entries not only from all over Britain but athletes flying in from California.
Fortunately the indoor venue enabled the proceedings to take place in comfort, unlike the problems experienced by our local athletes trying to prepare in the snow and ice for the last few weeks. The Trio representing Rugby and Northampton Athletics Club have had only 2 hurdles sessions, 1 High jump, and 2 shot sessions, since Christmas but were unable to use the frozen Long Jump pit at all; not the best of preparation.
Despite the handicaps, Sally Hine from Rugby, competing in the over 60 age group for the first time, had a faultless start in the Hurdles to record a new personal best 12.27s. She followed this with Pbs in the High Jump 1.09m and Shot 6.15m. The Long Jump showed lack of practice with a best jump of 3.03m, and the final 800m proved hard work 3:35.47s. Her total score of 3052 gained her the Gold, and 3d Place on the all time rankings for her age group.
Northampton’s Lesley Willis came to the track as reigning O45 champion, but was feeling under the weather on arrival at the track. Her tentative start on the 60m Hurdles gained a PB 11.27s, much to her amazement, as did the 1m27 High jump, her best indoors; showing the field events training during last year had made a difference; but the shot, 6.77m, and Long jump, 4.04m, showed up the winter rust. Lesley concluded by winning the final 800m with a well timed kick into the final lap which dropped the USA competitor; but her time, 2:46.33, was down on last years performance. The overall score was enough to secure the Gold with exactly the same points total as last year, 2922pts.
Dave Cowley from Daventry was also the reigning O60 British champion but up against John Charlton the current Decathlon World Champion in the O60 age group. The hurdles, which were delayed for 20minutes, produced a slow 10.28s and 2nd spot behind John. The Long jump was also below par reflecting lack of practice, 4.37m but again 2nd. Shot was also equal 2nd with 9.34m. The High Jump produced the only win of the day, but 1.36m was well down on the expected height. The final 1000m showed the lack of endurance fitness from not only the weather, but also illness during most of December. The time of 3:53.72s was his worst for 2 years and put him last in the race. Fortunately he had a large enough margin from the other events to collect silver 3323pts but could not catch John 3695pts. 3rd with 2880 was William Bradley from Huntingdon in his first ever combined event championship, pipping Lawrie Dunn of Nott’s for bronze in the last event by 6 pts, 2874pts.
