ATHLETICS: Golden oldies shine bright for both city clubs

Spectators could have been forgiven for wondering if water from the Nene holds the key to eternal youth as athletes from Peterborough AC and Nene Valley Harriers rolled back the years for the Eastern Veterans Track and Field League meeting at St Ives.
Karl Eve won the pole vault.Karl Eve won the pole vault.
Karl Eve won the pole vault.

The men from both city clubs produced fine displays, and after just one meeting of the three-event series, both teams look to be on track for the end-of-season finals.

Peterborough AC just nudged Nene Valley into second place, but things were tight all evening.

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Some familiar names were to the fore with Ricky Huskisson winning both the Over 50 100m and 400m. Huskisson also produced a stunning run in the last event of the evening, the 4x100m relay.

Left with a mountain to climb after receiving the baton 35 yards behind Peterborough’s Eamonn Dorling, the World Masters 200m silver medallist caught his rival, overtaking him with virtually his last stride.

The 61 year-old Dorling, who had run the Milton Keynes Marathon just two days previously, picked up 14 of his club’s 106 points, with fine performances in the 3,000m, shot and hammer.

Both clubs enjoyed rich pickings in the throws with Karl Eve winning the Over 50 shot for Peterborough.

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Simon Achurch won his age group in both the hammer and shot, throwing the hammer 38.89m, while his Nene Valley team-mate Tim Needham won the Over 60 hammer.

The all-rounders were on song for both clubs with Eve adding victory in the pole vault to his points haul, while Nene Valley sprinter Sean Reidy won the Over 35 pole vault and long jump.

Back on the track, Peterborough AC stalwart Pete Bramton won the B string walk and his team-mates John Pike and Pete Ward cleaned up in the Over 35 and Over 50 3000m.

Stamford Striders were also competing and their sole winner was James Skinner in the 1k walk.

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The ladies fared less well due to a lack of numbers, and will need to bolster their teams if they wish to make the final.

Claire Smith, Over 35 100m, and Nicky Morgan, Over 35 3000m, were track winners for Nene Valley, while Peterborough AC’s Judith Jagger won the Over 50 100m and he team-mate Wendy Perkins won the Over 35 400m in 66.9.

Maggie Skinner was Stamford’s only winner, crossing the line first in the 1k walk.

MATCH RESULT

Men: 1 Peterborough AC 106pts; 2 Nene Valley Harriers 98pts; 3 Huntingdon 62pts; 4 Corby 49pts; 5 Wellingborough 49pts; 6 Stamford 25pts.

Women: 1 Wellingborough 79pts; 2 Huntingdon 67pts; 3 Peterborough AC 53pts; 4 Nene Valley Harriers 33pts; 5 Corby 22pts; 6 Stamford 21pts.