The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
James was a shoo-in for success after walking home in his socks!
Peterborough & Nene Valley AC veterans put in a ‘Masterful’ performance at the Embankment track, one which could not have been bettered had team captain Claire Smith sprinkled the elixir of eternal youth into her ageing athletes’ drink bottles.
The team won both the men’s and ladies competitions in the second of four Eastern Master’s Track and Field League fixtures, and look well placed to qualify for the finals in September.
James McDonald was a shoo-in for athlete of the day, winning the 1,500m walk in his socks having left his race shoes at home. His work boots weren’t deemed suitable footwear for a track race, but the 39 year-old still crossed the line first after the walking equivalent of a sprint finish involving McDonald and a Ryston Runners athlete who’d pulled a hamstring during the race!
On top of McDonald’s success PANVAC won both the B mens and the B ladies walking races thanks to Peter Brantom and Gemma Skells.
The men were totally dominant on the night and won most of their events.
Dave Brown won the over 35s 200m in 24.0 while Julian Smith comfortably secured maximum points in the over 50s race with a 25.7 clocking.
Simon Fell took the 3000m honours in a time of 9:49.3 with Sean Beard and Barry Warne finishing first in the older age groups. The men’s 3,000m had a huge field with seven PANVAC athletes running as non-scorers.
Between them the formidable foursome of Simon Achurch, Karl Eve, Tim Needham and Kevin Bates all but picked up maximum points in the hammer and the shot. The only dropped point was in the over 60s shot where Bates was narrowly beaten into second place. The versatile Karl Eve also collected maximum points in the over 50s high jump and pole vault
Claire Smith led the ladies by example with an emphatic over 35s 200m win in a time of 28.0.
Alison Dunphy won
both the over 50s 200m and 3,000m, while Elisabeth Sennit-Clough gained maximum points in the over 35s 3,000m.
The ladies equalled the men’s throwing successes with Andrea Jenkins, Sally Pudsey and Judith Jagger only
dropping one point between them, while Kay Gibson won the over 50s high jump and Gemma Skells the over 35s pole vault.
Peterborough schoolboy •
Brandon Ballard won the T20
800m at the National Junior Disability Games in Coventry.
Ballard, who ran close to his personal best of 2:14.0, is currently ranked number one in UK for under 20 T20 800m runners and is seventh in the overall UK T20 rankings.