Heathside Vets Track and Field Review 2023
By Adrian Essex
The AGM review of the year section on the Vets performances was a masterpiece of understatement. One hesitates to attempt to improve, but I have managed to overcome my hesitation so here is my version.
In case you can't hear the voice over the full text is below. The video is less than three minutes long.
Several themes emerge from the year, including good beginnings, excellent progression and international champion.
Rather cliched I know but we should start with beginnings.
After athletics careers comprised mainly of 5k or longer distances, several of our vets’ teams have taken to sprinting, throwing and jumping. The javelin has been particularly fertile ground as Steve and Dulce have become age group club champions.
In terms of excellent progression Adrian Day stands out. He made the switch from parkrun distances to sprinting 10 years ago, entered international competitions for the first time in 2017, won gold medals in Madeira over 100, 200 and 400 metres in 2020 and this year has won two gold and one bronze medal at the European Masters Championships representing Great Britain in the iconic end-of-championship relay races.
Adrian gives considerable credit for his progression to membership of the Masters Sprints Group, a close knit and very welcoming group which trains within the timeframe of the Heathside sessions, (Tuesday and Thursday at 7) but under the private tuition of taskmaster Israel Nworgu, an excellent coach for all ages of athlete, and a race winning Masters hurdler in his own right.
Age range is another theme. Richard and Noelle entered a World Masters Championships last year, shortly after passing the 35 year qualifying age. Ash, Lorna and Lucie are also in the 35 – 40 age group, with Lenny and Kurt just one step up, while Carl and Lyn made their vets team debuts at just over 70.
And of course our Vets make a substantial contribution to the SAL performances.
World and European Champions are also a theme. Adrian Day’s gold medals mark European Championships, and, modesty almost forbids, Heathside also has a world relay champion. Heathside takes part in the Southern Counties Vets League on Monday nights, and it is a privilege there to be able to compete alongside a number of current and former world and European champions. The men’s team was a frustratingly close second in the league this year. The women’s team, few in number, were a respectable mid table.
Towards the end of the Masters outdoor season came another first, an inaugural Masters’ Championships taking place at Finsbury Park. It is to be hoped that others will follow, with Heathside well represented.
Dulce Laluces, Kim Butler, Lorna Stevenson, Lucie Mauger, Lyn Evans, Adrian Day, Adrian Essex, Andrew McGeary, Asha Osei, Damien Lane, Gavin Evans, George Graham, Ivan Ross, Kurt Fullerton, Lenny Martin, Matthew Beard, Michael Salousti, Pete Crockford, Richard Macaulay, Rich McAuley, Stephen Topp, Steve Crowley, Tony Killilea, Valentin Ldn
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