Stratford AC hit new heights in Veterans' League

STRATFORD AC’s masters team achieved their best ever result in a league match at the second Midland Veterans' League meeting in Redditch last week.

The team’s total points score was equal to hosts Bromsgrove and Redditch and well ahead of the six other competing teams.

It was a superb all-round performance, with the women’s team recording their first ever first place finish.

The evening got off to a fast start in the 200m sprints.

In her first race of the season, Christine Coote cruised to an easy victory in the W60 race.

Middle distance runner, Phil Brennan, then showed a good turn of pace to win the M70 race, and Paula Williams achieved her usual domination in the W40 race.

Peter Coote and Brian Gravelson fought to take second places in their races, and Jean Humphreys, Elaine Ledden, Sheila Lammas, John Boxall and David Smyth all picked up valuable points.

For Humphreys, the most recent addition to the team, it was her first race after a gap of more than 60 years.

In the evening’s middle distance of 800 and 3000m, Stratford athletes also excelled, with Robin Kindersley who set new club records at both distances.

Sheila Lammas won her 800m, and came a close second in the 3,000m.

Fern Hordern quickly adapted to track racing with second places in both her races. Kate Sergent cruised to a comfortable second in her 3,000m, with David Smyth and Martin Austin also doing well.

Paul Hawkins continued his steady improvement in the 2,000m walk, winning in a new club record time, with David Jones, Suzi Graham, and Kate Sergent competing well.

The evening’s field events were particularly busy for Williams and John Boxall, who competed in four events each, with Williams earning 29 points for the team and setting a new club discus record, and Boxall earning 21 points.

The evening was finally rounded off with the 4x400m. The two Stratford teams pushed hard to add to their totals, with Smyth and Lammas competing in their fourth race of the evening.