Spectacular performances on the British Masters Championships at Lee Valley on February 22-23 with McHarg beating Andrew Ridley in a vintage 1500m showdown
British grasp athletes persevered their fantastic run of list breaking at Lee Valley over the weekend as many athletes persevered their preparation for the Global Masters Championships in Florida in March, Steve Smythe experiences.
This yr Rob McHarg and Andrew Ridley’s list breaking has been in comparison to Coe and Ovett’s heyday because the countrymen switch data despite the fact that the pair appear extra willing to race each and every as opposed to the previous Olympic winners!
Closing yr Ridley held the threshold, profitable global masters M60 titles at 800m and 1500m and breaking global list open air at 800m and the mile.
Ridley began 2025 on best once more with a close to 3000m list and UK name at Sheffield with McHarg seven seconds again.
McHarg, after a couple of UK 800m marks, struck first despite the fact that in the case of global data, breaking the M60 indoor mile mark nevertheless it lasted lower than 10 mins as Ridley broke it within the very subsequent race.
4 days later McHarg broke the sector M60 800m list after which 3 days after that Ridley broke the 1500m list simply 3 days earlier than the championships.
With McHarg profitable the 800m right here solo on Saturday with the second one quickest M60 time in historical past simply lacking the sector list, Sunday noticed the primary 800m or 1500m conflict of the yr between the buddies.
Ridley, cautious of McHarg’s 800m prowess, began at a livid tempo and 400m in 67 and 800m in 2:17 (faster than all bar McHarg ran within the tournament the day earlier than) arrange a surefire list in the event that they didn’t blow up on the second one part.
In probably the most biggest ever masters clashes, Ridley driven via the second one part at a identical tempo in try to drop his rival who had completed six seconds in the back of him in Gothenburg final summer season.
Simply earlier than the bell, McHarg kicked previous so as to wonder and despite the fact that Ridley chased right through the final lap the Scot hung on via a 33-second final 200m with a time of four:20.32 to take 4 seconds off of Ridley’s mark as each he and Ridley (4:21.91) had been smartly throughout the outside global list too.
McHarg, who has a 30-year-old PB of three:52.6, ran his quickest time for twenty-four years in keeping with Energy of 10. Such used to be the standard, Ecu Masters 3000m champion Chris Upson used to be out of the medals in fourth.
There used to be amount too as the large access surprisingly required two 1500m races within the age crew. One of the crucial first other folks to congratulate McHarg used to be snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, who used to be thrilled to witness one of these nice race and global list.
Rob McHarg and Ronnie O’Sullivan
McHarg is on his approach to Florida and is entered for the 800m, 1500m and 3000m despite the fact that Ridley, who used to be voted Ecu masters male middle-distance athlete of the yr, unfortunately can’t make the travel.
Britain’s very best girls’s hope for medals in the US is more than likely W75 Sarah Roberts. She is entered for the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m in the US and in Lee Valley she broke the 800m and 1500m global data and got here shut within the 400m having already set a 3000m global list on the nationwide championships final month.
She started her weekend on Saturday with an outright 200m PB of 36.24 which were given her W75 silver a moment in the back of global outside champion Moira West’s UK indoor list 35.19 with Roberts additionally throughout the earlier list.
West additionally broke the United Kingdom 60m list with 10.22 on Sunday.
A couple of hours after her 200m, Roberts ran the 800m and advanced her global list from 3:01.11 to a floor breaking 2:57.32 which is an outright PB and makes her the oldest ever lady at 75 to damage 3 mins at 800m.
It will have received the British males’s M75 name right here by means of over 15 seconds and is 10 seconds faster than Angela Copson’s outside global list.
She returned on Sunday to run the 1500m and there she advanced her personal global list from the week earlier than from 6:05.90 to an indoor PB of five:58.15 to develop into the oldest runner to damage six mins for 1500m.
Once more it could simply have received the lads’s name in her age crew. What’s extra, the outside global list is an insignificant 6:14.88.
Her ultimate race of the weekend used to be the 400m and in all probability as too rapid a gap lap and her 3 earlier races stuck up along with her and whilst her 81.45 took 5 seconds off of Kath Stewart’s UK mark it simply neglected American Jeanne Daprano’s global list of 81.28. Simply as within the 800m and 1500m, it additionally would have received the lads’s name.
There used to be additionally some British data in different age teams which might be detailed beneath within the more than a few age teams.
M35:
The M35 age crew used to be most often surpassed by means of the older M40 age crew within the box however there have been some rapid observe efforts.
Byron Robinson’s 7.13/22.55 dash double made him the fastest guy at the day as he surpassed his 2024 instances.
Global masters finalist Damaine Benjamin’s 51.24 400m used to be within the ultimate race of the championships.
David Scott received a aggressive 800m with Chris Loudon additionally within two mins.
Bronze medallist Oliver Williams received tomorrow’s 1500m.
Ecu Indoor masters prime soar champion Tim Nichols used to be the select of the sector eventers.
60/200: B Robinson 7.13/22.55400: D Benjamin 51.24800: D Scott 1:58.781500: O Williams 4:13.8360H: S Wilcockson 8.87HJ: T Nichols 1.85PV: S Gower 3.60LJ: I Nworgu 5.48TJ: G Paxman 11.27
M40:
A couple of global championships senior finalist Will Sharman received a aggressive 60m hurdles in 8.36, his quickest for 5 years.
The 2023 global masters indoor prime soar champion Martin Lloyd inspired with a 1.95m soar.
60: D Showler-Davis 7.40200: A Spour 23.44400: D Awde 51.29800: Okay Hutchinson 2:02.491500: D Acheson 4:15.7660H: W Sharman 8.36HJ: M Lloyd 1.95PV: B Ahmet 3.70LJ: J Poxon 5.77TJ: C Holcombe 11.99SP: R Skedd 12.75
M45:
Former Scottish senior 800m champion Andy Brown inspired with a quick end at 1500m as he utilised his former 1:48.30 velocity on the shorter distance.
James Robinson used to be the select of all of the age teams within the pole vault.
60: TJ Ossai 7.41200: 1 B Boyce IRL 24.50; 2 C Carr 24.60400: 1 Carr 53.53800: N Laud 2:07.051500: A Brown 4:14.7860H: J Rodwell 10.02HJ: C Nicholls 1.50PV: J Robinson 4.10LJ/TJ: G Stirling 5.33/12.11
M50:
Ecu Masters indoor shot bronze mefallist Stephen McCauley inspired with a PB 15.92m.
60: J Picket 7.43200: M Tarnawsky 24.89400: A Cameron 56.16800: R Scott 2:07.901500: B Brodie 4:35.1360H: G Smith 9.17HJ: A Lombaard 1.65PV: 1 R Kingman 3.40LJ: A Morey 5.73TJ: G Britton 10.63SP: S McCauley 15.92
M55:
The 2019 Ecu Masters champion Guiseppe Minetti scored a dash double whilst double Global Masters champion Mark Symes used to be a category aside at 800m and 1500m.
Wilford Floyd Wilks received a double at 60m hurdles and prime soar and used to be additionally first Brit within the lengthy soar.
60/200: G Minetti 7.62/24.97400: R Bruce-Emblem IRL 57.24; 3 S Baldock 58.89800/1500: M Symes 2:11.21/4:27.8860H/HJ: W Wilks 9.62/1.61LJ: 1 O Van Zyl RSA 4.90; 3 Wilks 4.75SP: J Twiddle 13.11
M60:
Rob McHarg ruled this age crew however there used to be additionally a double for sprinter Anthony Burniston.
Considered one of Britain’s biggest ever grasp prime jumpers Steve Linsell confirmed the shape that noticed him win Ecu silver final iciness with a 1.58m soar.
Some other runner-up in Toruń final yr Allan Leiper used to be in just right shape within the shot.
60/200: A Burniston 7.92/26.11400: W Odele 58.74800: R McHarg 2:09.791500: 1 McHarg 4:20.32 (WR); 2 A Ridley 4:21.9160H: N Tunstall 9.42HJ: S Linsell 1.58PV: J Andrews 3.00LJ: A Waddington 4.60TJ: A Pringle 10.15SP: A Leiper 14.20
M65:
Triple global masters outside dash champion John Wright ruled with some other tremendous triple and he used to be with reference to his 58.12 British list within the longer tournament.
Dave Clarke who has moved into the age crew this iciness after profitable Ecu M60 medals final yr at 800m, 1500m and 3000m received an outstanding double right here.
60/200/400: J Wright 8.03/25.98/58.57800/1500: D Clarke 2:25.89/5:03.4360H: T James 9.56HJ: S O’Keefe IRL 1.35; 2 I Torode 1.25TJ: H Hopkins 9.32SP: M Hausler 13.593000W: S Allen 18:13.90
John Wright (centre)
M70:
Eire’s Joe Gough, who is likely one of the all-time masters greats, confirmed his lightning completing velocity at 800m and 1500m however narrowly fell brief at 400m.
There Ian Broadhurst, who final summer season received global masters titles at 400m and 300m hurdles, advanced his UK list from 64.76 all of the means right down to 62.61.
Broadhurst additionally received the 200m and there have been box doubles for John Spriggs and David Blunt.
60: D Hinds 9.02200: I Broadhurst 27.47400: 1 Broadhurst 62.61 (UK rec); 2 J Gough IRL 62.97800: 1 J Gough IRL 2:35.19; 2 Okay Archer 2:41.041500: 1 Gough IRL 5:25.40; 2 D Bedwell 5:30.4660H/TJ: 1 J Spriggs 3.61/7.77HJ/PV: D Blunt 1.30/2.40SP: T Straker 11.05
M75:
There have been doubles for John Exley, Dave Cowley and Charles Ryder.
60/200: C Ryder 9.96/31.94800: 1 D Jones 3:14.78400/1500: J Exley 84.71/6:22.43HJ: G Kitchener 1.1060H/TJ: D Cowley 11.80/7.36SP: G Tyler 10.723000W: P Boszko 18:32.47
M80:
Ecu masters M75 bronze medalist Victor Novell went 3rd all-time at 60m with 9.45 as he narrowly defeated British record-holder Allan Lengthy.
Global champion Pete Giles received a comfy 800m and 1500m double whilst Ron Davies received two box golds.
60: 1 V Novell 9.45; 2 A Lengthy 9.47200: 1 V Novell 34.43400: 1 J Gibson Gribben 2:03.19800/1500: P Giles 3:46.90/7:39.6860H/HJ: R Davies 15.16/1.00PV: M Herring 1.30TJ: P Rees 4.57SP: I Ivanovic 8.48
M85:
Roger Bruck smashed the British list within the prime soar and likewise received a dash double whilst Tony Bowman, who hits the M90 class later within the yr, additionally received a double.
60/200/HJ: R Bruck 11.98/41.96/1.05800: D Milsom 4:20.52TJ/SP: T Bowman 4.54/4.28
M90:
Colin Spivey, who typically limits himself to parkruns (472 of his 475 performances on Energy of 10) did his first recorded 200m and got here inside of 3 seconds of the British list.
200: 1 C Spivey 54.97
W35
Ecu Masters bronze medallist Kat Sutton used to be a transparent winner of the 800m.
Wales’ Caryl Moore a 56.49 400m hurdles performer at her top received an outstanding triple as she loved her first day out within the masters profitable at 200m, 400m and the hurdles.
Ecu masters runner-up Stacey Downie used to be the quickest 60m runner with a 8.02 clocking.
Natalie Le Beau received a box double.
60: S Downie 8.02200/400/60H: C Moore 25.27/57.05/8.88800: Okay Sutton 2:14.781500: E Ciesielska 4:58.43PV: E Lyons 3.40HJ/LJ: N Le Beau 1.45/4.87SP: C Edwards 11.963000W: A Majewska-Ani 18:08.54
W40:
Ecu Masters 3000m runner-up Laura Haggarty received an outstanding 800m and 1500m double whilst different double winners had been global masters fourth-placer Lisa Boland and Lucinda Money-Gibson on the hurdles and 400m.
60/200: L Boland 7.83/25.55800/1500: L Haggerty 2:18.71/4:47.97400/60H: L Money-Gibson 60.24/9.42PV: C Parkinson 3.10HJ: Okay Morgan 1.40LJ: E Fry 4.75TJ: E Hand 10.05SP: L Rann 10.52
W45:
Wales’ Clare Bryant used to be the one double winner within the age crew.
The W45 800m British record-holder Zoe Doyle sharpened up for Florida with a transparent 800m victory then chased house Ecu masters silver medallist Susie McLoughlin at 400m.
60: Okay Burles 8.22200: C Spurway 27.90400: S McLoughlin 61.33800: Z Doyle 2:22.721500: H Bough 5:10.2760H/LJ: C Bryant 10.64/4.27HJ: C Gratrix 1.35PV: J Eastwood 2.20TJ: E Murray 9.24SP: E Gatrell 12.263000W: C Derbyshire 17:04.15
W50:
Global masters shot champion Paula Williams additionally added the 60m and 60m hurdles titles to her victories.
W40 and W45 Pentathlon outside global record-holder Di Norman confirmed her versatility with a 800m and prime soar double and likewise set a 12.48m PB within the shot in the back of Williams.
Tracey Ashworth received a 200m and 400m double and used to be a detailed moment within the 60m to Williams.
60/60H: P Williams 8.41/9.84200/400: T Ashworth 27.27/60.87800/HJ: D Norman 2:32.82/1.451500: L Tait-Harris 5:24.85LJ: N Ridge 4.30TJ: J Quinn 9.01SP: 1 Williams 13.80; 2 Norman 12.483000W: C Kwok 19:55.05
W55:
Christine Harrison-Bloomfield, who ran within the 1999 Global Championships and has a 22.85 200m PB, received a dash double.
Kate Ramsey, who’s the mummy of Recreation of Thrones and The Closing of Us actress Bella, received a middle-distance double despite the fact that simplest received the 800m by means of seven hundredths of a moment from Anna Critchlow.
Wendy Valentine additionally received a profitable triple, albeit unopposed.
A couple of global and Ecu champion Irie Hill once more inspired within the vault.
60/200: 1 C Harrison-Bloomfield 8.54/27.64400: 1 E Viiklaid EST 68.05800/1500: Okay Ramsey 2:40.59/5:27.0460H/LJ/TJ: W Valentine 14.96/3.20/6.79PV: I Hill 3.10SP: S Van Vuuren 8.573000W: M Peddle 17:04.33
W60:
A couple of former global and Ecu champion Virginia Mitchell simply received a 400m and 800m double whilst Julie Hicken received a dash double.
Probably the most a success athlete within the age crew used to be Melanie Garland who received a jumps triple.
Per week after breaking the W60 global 1500m list, Clare Elms to begin with tried some other list however drawn within the oldest girls’s race which incorporated W85 competition, determined the multi lapping used to be now not conducive to list breaking and eased again however she used to be nonetheless faster than the W45 to W55 age teams.
60/200: J Hicken 9.15/30.28400/800: V Mitchell 65.60/2:34.121500: C Elms 5:11.06PV: R Zeffertt 2.30HJ/LJ/TJ: M Garland 1.25/4.22/8.86SP: S Vine 8.323000W: H Middleton 19:14.22
W65:
Karen Brooks, who had set a British list the week earlier than, got here with reference to her 5:33.55 with a 5:34.48 as she adopted Elms house within the W60 plus race and however for having to run vast to lap runners she would have nearly no doubt have damaged the list.
Eire’s Edel Maguire used to be first in 3 occasions highlighted by means of her 400m the place she took on W60 Mitchell and fell lower than a moment in need of the sector W65 mark.
Jenny Brown used to be the highest Brit at 200m and 400m and likewise received the triple soar.
200: 1 E Maguire IRL 30.14; 2 J Brown 33.64400: 1 Maguire IRL 68.22; 2 Brown 77.50800: L Jeffries 3:08.301500: Okay Brooks 5:34.4860H: N Buckwell 12.7660/PV: T Eades 10.11/2.10HJ: 1 Maguire IRL 1.35; 2 J Ashton 1.10LJ: J Pryce 3.29TJ: J Brown 8.17SP: C Cameron 9.003000W: S Payne 18:41.34
W70:
Ecu masters champion Helen Godsell simply received a dash double and her 31.83 got here relatively with reference to her 31.17 set in profitable in Toruń.
Former Global and Ecu champion Nancy Hitchmough additionally received a middle-distance double.
Ecu masters pole vault champion Sue Yeomans additionally used to be in just right shape.
60/200: H Godsell 9.40/31.83800/1500: N Hitchmough 3:26.99/6:58.70PV: S Yeomans 2.20LJ: E McMahon 3.10SP: C Marler 7.763000W: D Brian 19:14.16
Sarah Roberts (Cliff Disguise)
W75:
Sarah Roberts and Moira West had been in record-breaking shape nevertheless it used to be Sally Hine who went house with maximum golds with wins within the lengthy and triple jumps, hurdles and shot and she or he adopted West house within the 60m for a silver.
60: M West 10.22200: 1 M West 35.19 (UK rec); 2 S Roberts 36.24400/800/1500: Roberts 81.45 (UK rec)/2:57.32 (WR)/5:58.15 (WR)LJ/TJ/60H/SP: S Hine 2.86/6.17/26.58/6.30
W80:
Reigning global indoor 800m champion Iris Hornsey received a double whilst one among Britain’s maximum bemedalled throwers received some other however her first indoor W80 gold having received 5 outside titles final summer season.
400/800: 1 I Hornsey 1:57.32/4:37.02SP: L Sissons 7.39
W85:
Global champion Kathleen Stewart, runner-up in AW’s masters athlete of the yr, and Betty Stracey each received doubles.
60: D Fraser 16.69200/400: Okay Stewart 41.15/1:41.41800/1500: B Stracey 5:31.77/11:10.59
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