INSIDE TRACK European double brings triple title glory for Guy
RUNNER HOLDS WORLD, GB AND EURO MASTERS TITLES
GUY BRACKEN escaped the cold North East climate to tackle the European Masters’ Indoor Championships in Madrid - and he managed to scorch his way to another landmark double,
The North Shields Poly athlete is no stranger to winning global titles, having won the World Masters’ 1,500 metres and 3,000 metres outdoor gold medals in Aarhus, Denmark last summer.
However, his latest double goes down as one of the most memorable for, inside 12 months, he has won the British, European and World Masters’ titles in the over-55 section.
Bracken, who expects to line up for the Poly in Elswick Harriers’ Good Friday Road Relays, said on his return from Spain he was overjoyed at his latest success.
He said: “To score another double and add the European titles to my cv gives me tremendous pride for it is not every day one can say they hold the British, European and world titles at the same time.
“Naturally, I went into the Madrid races full of confidence for I had just won the British Championships two weeks earlier - but we all know that means nothing when you come up against a number of competitors you have never faced before.
“However, the 1,500m and the 3,000m went without any problems for I did not have to work to hard to win. “Both my winning times were much slower than my British Championship winning times but I am not complaining for both were tactical affairs, especially in the early stages. “I plan to take two weeks’ break before the outdoor season but before that I will join the rest of the Poly lads and take in the Elswick Road Relays on Good Friday. “That will be my lot for a while but there is plenty on the horizon to keep me going in the coming weeks and months.’’ Now 56, Bracken realisest he has to plan his racing programme to a fine detail and while he has turned out consistently in local, national and international events in the past that will have to now change. Bracken added: “As I am getting older I cannot turn out week-in weekout any more like the younger lads. “That means I have to be more selective with my programme. “I will do some events just to keep ticking over but the big target for this year is the World Masters in Malaga in September. “In the build-up to that I am going to have miss out on some races I have competed in in the past and hopefully everything will be in order when it comes to the worlds.’’ Guy Bracken
THE Port of Blyth 10k road race, hosted by Blyth Running Club, is scheduled for Sunday, April 8.
An extensive prize list is on offer – first eight senior men and women and veteran awards – as well as a bonus prize for new male and female course records, which stand at 30min 33sec and 34:12 respectively.
All 650 entries have already been snapped up. The North Tyneside 10k on Easter Sunday is another event with a full line-up.
SUNDAY, April 8, sees the first of the season’s outdoor track and field fixtures.
Darlington Harriers host the innaugural Kieran Maxwell Memorial Open Meeting at their Eastbourne Sports Complex headquarters.
There are events for under-13 to seniors with the programme starting at 10.00. Entries taken online at: www.race-results.co.uk.
THE season’s opening North East Grand Prix fixture takes place at Monkton Stadium on Wednesday, April 18.
Included on the programme is the North East Counties 10,000m Championships with entries taken online at www.race-results.co.uk.