INSIDETRACK Family proving they are still Masters, despite age
FATHER AND SON’S FIVE GOLD MEDALS
IT WAS hard to say who gained the Ryan family bragging rights at the end of a highly-successful Scottish Masters Athletics Championships in Falkirk.
Father Hugh was dominant in the over-80 age group, topping the podium on two occasions and finishing runner-up twice more, while son Stuart was also in top form in the over-50 section, overcoming the opposition to win gold medals in the shot, discus and javelin.
For Hugh, especially, it was a superb day at the Grangemouth Stadium as, six months earlier, he could hardly walk never mind compete after having two knee replacements so, while he had to give way in the shot and discus, he came into his own by winning both the hammer and javelin events.
Hugh, a member of the North East Masters AA, is proud of his Scottish roots and returns “home” as often as possible to compete, despite being an adopted Geordie after moving to Tyneside to take up a position at Reyrolle.
Last year, when the championships were held in Aberdeen, after just turning 80, Hugh claimed three gold medals in the throwing events, missing out on a clean sweep by finishing in second place in the shot.
And Stuart, was adamant that his father deserves a lot of credit for his latest achievements, especially after two knee operations last year.
“He’s a marvel. I don’t know how he does it. After having both knees replaced he’s back throwing with all the old enthusiasm,’’ said Stuart, who represented Scotland in his early athletics days, despite being born south of the border. He added: “As well as competing in Scotland when we can, there is a healthy Masters set up here in the North East where both of us compete regularly and, while it’s low-key, the competition is generally quite good.’’
Despite a short international career due to a ruptured Achilles, Stuart has continued to hold his Gateshead Harriers’ membership and, while he feels he is in a happy environment competing against fellow Masters, he thinks the sport has lost it’s way a bit at the sharp end, especially at international level.
“We have the World Championships coming up next month, something I’m really looking forward to, but where are the household names to whet the public’s appetite?’ said a forthright Stuart.
“When you had the likes of Cram, Coe and Ovett and Daley Thompson and Geoff Capes, non-athletics people would talk about them but who do we have now?
“Take away Bolt and Farah and you struggle to find someone to put bums on seats, and I blame the governing bodies and, of course, the media for that.
“In this country