Speedy Reidy becomes a number one ranked hurdler in the UK

Athletics - Peterborough Nene Valley have some outstanding veterans

Peterborough Nene Valley veteran Sean Reidy cemented his position as the speediest over 35s 400m hurdler in the country when winning his event in the London Hurdles and Middle Distance Open at Bromley.

Reidy clocked 56.53, just down on his season’s best time of 56.29, but with a shortened track and field season drawing to a close he realised his long-held ambition of being number one in the country in his age group.

In his fifth season competing in the over 35 category Reidy has topped the national rankings afterbeing placed second in both 2017 and 2018.

At the age of 39 the versatile veteran is maintaining his form well in a technically challenging event, and is still running times within four seconds of his lifetime best of 52.87 run at Crystal Palace in 2007.

His national ranking across all age groups in 2020 is 22nd, the second highest of his ca reer. Reidy is also a top 10 athlete in the country for his age group in both the 400m and 1,000m.

Two other Peterborough Nene Valley veteran athletes top the British rankings with Dave Brown heading the over 40s 400m list with a season best 51.36.

The triumphant trio is completed by Claire Smith who tops the over 40 tables with a 2020 best of 27.21 over 200m.

Her quickest 400m time of 62.00 places her second over the one lap distance.

Husband Julian Smith ranks eighth over 50 with a 100m best of 12.38.

Thrower Simon Achurch has the best complete set of rankings amongst the club veterans placing second over 45 in both the hammer and javelin and third in the discus and shot.

Yaxley’s Danny Snipe made an early start on Saturday when he travelled to London on the 6am train to get him to Stratford for the 9am start of the Olympic Park 10k. Fortunately for Snipe his journey was worthwhile as he finished 24th with a 37:40 clocking.

Sean Reidy.