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Lewes masters athletes join forces for regional track and field final
Male masters athletes from Lewes Athletic Club joined forces with athletes from Haywards Heath Harriers to form a composite Sussex team at the Southern Counties Veterans Athletics Club (SCVAC) Regional Track and Field League Final in London.
The final, held at Linford Christie Stadium, East Acton, on Sunday 27th September, brought together teams from across southern England after a season of regional league competition.
The SCVAC league is open to athletes aged 35 and over, with competitors grouped into masters age categories. Fixtures feature a wide range of track and field events, from sprints and middle-distance races to jumps and throws, with the regional winners progressing to the annual final.
The Lewes/Haywards Heath team tackled an impressive programme of events, with athletes competing across the age categories from M35 to M65.
The Sussex team had several individual successes. Jonathan Burrell won the M60 800m in 2:29.80 and finished second in the M60 3000m in 10:38.10. He also won the M50 1500m, recording 5:12.68.
Jason Maverick produced a particularly strong series of results in the M60 field events, winning the hammer with 33.35m and the discus with 35.47m, and taking second place in the shot with 10.30m.
Other notable performances included Mark Rahman taking second in the M60 high jump with 1.25m, while Vesa Lindberg finished second in the M35 long jump with 4.51m and second in the triple jump with 9.07m.
Paul Fermor finished third in the M50 hammer with 29.41m, while Robert Cooper recorded third-place finishes in his M50 category in both the hammer and high jump.
The team also contested a full range of track events. Phillip Stevenson ran 9:52.43 for seventh in the M35A&B 3000m, James Risdale clocked 4:47.95 in the 1500m, while Vesa Lindberg ran 58.39 for seventh in the M35A&B 400m.
The day concluded with Lewes athletes Mark Rahman, Phil Grabsky and Jonathan Burrell combining for the M35+ relay, finishing fifth in 59.60.
The composite Lewes AC/Haywards Heath Harriers team finished eighth in the men’s match. Still, the final gave Sussex masters athletes a valuable opportunity to compete against some of the region’s strongest veterans.
For Lewes AC’s Robert Cooper, an additional highlight came when Olympic champion sprinter Linford Christie appeared at the stadium. Cooper was delighted to meet his Olympic hero and have his photograph taken with him.
Lewes Athletic Club Chair Philip Westbury said: “Age is no barrier when it comes to Athletics. It’s inspiring seeing people of all ages continuing to compete, challenge themselves and enjoy being part of a team. It was fantastic to see Lewes and Haywards Heath athletes joining forces in such a wide range of events, and Robert’s meeting with Linford Christie was a memorable bonus to an already special day.”
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