Up and Running Midlands Division 1 match at Harvey Hadden Sunday 14th August 2011-report on Notts AC

NB: Apologies to anyone over 35 who competed for Notts and who has been omitted from this article!

David Oxland, who turned 60 in May this year, has already taken two Masters World titles and 5 British titles in his age group, and on Sunday he added a British age group record to this tally.

David was a guest in Midlands Division 1 match which Notts was hosting. David completed the 7and a half lap race in 10 minutes 2.8 seconds which took a substantial 14 seconds off the existing British M60 record which had stood for over 15 years.

David said “Harvey Hadden is not renowned as a particularly fast track for records, because it is in quite an exposed position in Bilborough and is generally quite windy. However, conditions were quite favourable and I just held onto the back of a field of good runners who appeared to be half or even one third of my age!”

Meanwhile Dalton Powell (M45) made a welcome return to the track after a 4 month lay-off. By way of sharpening up for the Police and Fire World championships to be held later this month , Dalton ran as a guest a respectable 12.2 seconds in the 100m although he had been hoping for 12 seconds or better. Later on he putt the shot over 10 metres to get Notts valuable points in the “B” string event.

Dalton explained that the bi-annual Police and Fire World championships is being held in New York to mark the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade towers and he is very excited to be competing. We wish him very good luck and hope he will repeat his successes of two years ago.

Clem Bartley (M50) is still quite competitive enough to be able to appear as Notts “A” string athlete in the javelin and he threw 41.75 metres to gain Notts 4 valuable points.

Gia Skervin (W35) is another Notts Masters athlete who is still being selected for its top Midlands team. She ran in the “B” string 100m race and whilst she has not yet been able to replicate her fine form from 2009, she ran 13.5 seconds into a stiff breeze to come 4^th in her race.

Jane Pidgeon (W45), the well known steeplechase runner who has World championship gold medals to her credit as well as two current age British records, is still looking for her elusive good form. She ran as a guest in the 1500m and whilst she beat several of the younger runners who had been selected to run for their clubs, she was still well outside her target time of 5 minutes, finishing in 5 minutes 8.4 seconds.