The "super vet" runners from Notts Athletics Club,who recently scooped Gold and Silver medals at both World and European levels,are now looking forward to the World Masters Athletics Championships in Riccione,Italy in the late Summer.
David Oxland,55,the club secretary,said " after the surprise of a Silver medal in my age class in the 3000 metres in the indoor veterans championships at Helsinki,I have already sent in my entry to compete in the World Championships.I only took up club running less than 4 years ago-with a view to getting a bit fitter and perhaps at best entering the County Championships! Now I am training as much as I can at the track in the Harvey Haddon stadium in Bilborough to try to speed up a bit more before September when the world championships start.
Meanwhile David's club colleagues Mark Dunwell and Viv Oliver both won individual Gold medals in the 60 metre sprints in their age groups 35-39 and 55-59 respectively.After following this up with Silver medals in the 200 metres,they then continued to match each other's efforts by taking part in the 4 x 200 relays and winning further Golds.
The total tally of 7 medals won by Notts ACs could have been increased had Dalton Powell, the club's star in the male 40-44 age category, been competing.But Dalton had a very good reason for being absent from Helsinki because he was very busy the other side of the world,in Australia,winning two Gold medals in his age class at the the World Policeman's and Fireman's championships.
David Oxland concluded; I'm hopeful that Jane Pidgeon,who is the reigning world champion in her age category in the 2000 metres steeplechase,will have recovered from injury and therefore will be competing in Italy. So our club should have a very good prospect of winning medals at what is the the highest level of veteran athletics competition.