Veterans get among the records (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Veterans get among the records

5:31pm Tuesday 17th June 2008

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The Surrey Veterans Track and Field Championship at Kingsmeadow Stadium saw 22 records beaten and a further three equalled.

Three days after celebrating his 83rd birthday, Harry Tempan broke championship bests in the O80s 800m (3:15.5) and 1,500m (6:37.5).

Tooting resident Jack Fitzgerald, who celebrated his 85th birthday in January and who is chairman of Sutton & District AC, was also among the record-breakers in winning his 3,000m walk in 27:23.0.

Belgrave's Vilma Thompson, who works at the Millennium Arena, in Battersea Park, set a women's O55s discus record (24.34m) and also won the hammer (27.73m), javelin (22.85m) and shot (10.06m).

Epsom & Ewell's Liz Sissons also clinched four gold medals in the O60s shot (99.68m), discus (20.83m), hammer (28.97m) and javelin 24.93m).

Clubmate Jenny Piercy took gold in the O50s shot (8.03m) and hammer (30.84m) with Herne Hill's Barbara Macanas winning the discus (19.46m) and javelin (17.14m).

Kingston & Polytechnic's Camilla Thrush, who turns out for Great Britain in a veterans' international at Ashford, Kent, on Saturday, won the O35s shot (10.45m), discus (30.79m) and hammer (37.39m).

Walton's Joan Regan won the long jump (4.58m) and triple jump (9.38m).

Kingston & Polytechnic's Draco Mkpa landed a double in the men's O35s 100m (11.6) and 200m (24.3).

In the same age group, Veteran Athletics Club's Mark Leitch won the shot (14.60m), discus (31.85m) and javelin (44.69m).

Epsom & Ewell's John Andrews, who also competes in Ashford on Saturday, broke the championship O40s pole vault record (4m).

Kingston & Polytechnic's Robert Lowe took gold in the O40s shot (7.56m), discus (18.75m), hammer (16.60m) and javelin (29.85m).

Epsom & Ewell's Dave Blunt was the most successful men's O50s athlete. He equalled championship records in winning the high jump (1.55m) and pole vault (3.40m) and also took the triple jump (9.79m).

Hercules Wimbledon's former marathon international Steve Badgery nearly lapped his closest rival three times to win the O60s 5,000m in a championship record of 17:43.5.

It was easily the fastest time by a British 60-year-old for the distance this summer.

Former Hercules athlete Mike Ferne broke the O60s discus record (42.64m) and also won the shot (11.37m).

Kingston & Polytechnic's Chuck Isetts gained a record-breaking sprint double in the O60s 100m (14.3) and 200m (28.9).

Epsom & Ewell's Brian Harlick won four O65s golds - in the high jump, where he set a championship best of 1.25m, pole vault (2.40m), shot (8.09m) and discus (32.89m).

Hercules Wimbledon's John Webster took three golds in that section with a triple jump championship best (7.36m), plus victories in the hammer (32.85m) and javelin (27.36m).

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