The Veterans Athletic Club (VAC) is the oldest, Veterans or Masters only, athletics club in the UK

18 members met at Morden Park for VAC's parkrun gathering. This lovely friendly parkrun is in its first year and isn't crowded or congested. The spacious three-lap course is almost entirely on the park's undulating natural grassland which would have been wet and slippery a month ago but was pleasantly firm for our visit. It was a lovely cool sunny morning. The start and finish were near the enclosed area of the bandstand which provided a great meeting point and an opportunity to chat and take photos afterwards.

Norman Urquia was the fastest for VAC in 11th place, followed by Peter Lee and Jim Carrington in 14th and 15th, also under 21 minutes. Lucy Woolhouse was VAC's first women's finisher and was the second female overall. Lucy also topped the event's age-graded results with a superb 90.69%, with Maggie Statham-Berry second on this list with 89.76%.

Most of VAC's team, left to right: Tom, Mark, Mike, Terry, Kev, Duncan, Glen, Simon.
Photo from Mark Tennyson

Following the horrendous conditions at Lloyd Park for the Surrey League fixture in February, VAC's nine men who took part in this East Surrey League race on the same two-lap, 5 mile, course were expecting the worst, but ended up pleasantly surprised as the ground was mainly firm early on up to and including the usually treacherous hill, and indeed for a little way beyond. However, after that, the course presented typical Lloyd Park winter conditions with heavy duty shoe sucking, and in places, foul smelling mud interrupted by a few firmer stretches, where it was possible to pick up the pace. Despite the mixed ground conditions, the runners were rewarded with beautiful spring sunshine, little wind and mild temperatures, making for a highly enjoyable end of season cross country race, well organised as usual by Croydon Harriers.

Terry Booth was the first finisher for VAC in a splendid sixth place in the men's race, followed by Mark Tennyson in ninth. Terry was the first M55 and beat all the M50 runners. Mark was the first M60 despite having to run in ordinary road shoes having wrecked his spikes in the Nationals at Parliament Hill. Duncan Haughey and Kev Stroud, both M60, finished in 18th and 26th places, completing VAC's scoring team of four which finished in third place behind the Croydon clubs who made home advantage count. VAC's team of nine was reduced to eight finishers when Simon Moore wisely pulled out after a lap with an injury concern. The other team members providing back-up were Tom Cheetham, Glen Morgan, Mike Mann and Ian McCarthy.

Thanks go to Paddy Clark, VAC's ever-present Surrey League and East Surrey League team manager, who did all the essential organisation on the day as well as providing great support to team members.

EMAA Indoor Inter-Area Track & Field Challenge, Lee Valley, 16 February 2025

W50 4x200m Relay team, 2nd place: Nina Ridge, Sharon Dooley, Rosalind Zeffertt, Virginia Mitchell

M60 4x200m Relay team, 2nd place: Pat Logan , Jimson Lee , Adrian Day, Brian Steene

Clare Elms W60 1500m WR Sarah Loades W50 200m

Tim Carter M70 400m Brian Steene M60 Relay

Bilen Ahmet M35 PV Richard Weekes M60 LJ

Maureen Noel W60 1500m Trevor Jones Winner 2k Walk

Photos from Cliff Hide.

Photo gallery: EMAA Indoor Inter Area | Flickr

Please credit Cliff and VAC if sharing his photos on social media or posting on websites. For queries, email him atcliffhide10@aol.com

Here are the Results of Each Event

Here are the Team Scores

VAC's men's and women's teams performed strongly at the England Masters Inter Area Challenge for nine Area Masters clubs at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. Nine Masters Area Clubs selected their best athletes to compete in 90 (45 each for the men and women) track and field events in four age bands, The high quality was evident from the three new age-group World Records achieved in the match , one of which was the W60 indoor 1500m World Record of 5:03.1 set by Clare Elms representing VAC in the W35 race. The other World Records were set by Robert McHarg in the M60 800m and Sarah Roberts in the W75 1500m.

VAC was a commendable fourth behind winners Midland Masters, second-placed Eastern Masters and third-placed Southern Counties Vets. VAC's men's team were fourth in their competition but there were less than forty points between VAC and the winners, Midland Masters. The women were fifth but another thirty points would have secured second place. VAC had many exceptional performances but gaps in events and unlucky late withdrawals knocked back the scores.

In the 90 events VAC recorded 13 first places (8 for the men and 5 for the women), 13 second places and 13 third places. This was a magnificent achievement but the team's score was boosted by every single point gained. Everyone's place counted. Highlights were the double firsts by Sarah Loades (W50 200m and 400m) and Tim Carter (M70 400m and Long Jump). Sarah also placed second in the 60m Hurdles.

Other splendid outright wins were achieved by six men and three women. Multi-eventer, Bilen Ahmet, won the M35 Pole Vault, came third in the Shot and scored valuable points in the Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, 800m and 4x200m relay. Alwyn Lombaard won the M50 High Jump with a clearance of 1.65m, as well as placing second in the 60m Hurdles. Vaughan Ramsay was a convincing winner of the M50 Triple Jump with a leap of 10.39m. On the track, Brian Steene demonstrated his excellent form by winning the M60 60m sprint in 8.17 seconds. He also brought the baton home in the M60 relay team which placed second. In the 200m, Giuseppe Minetti won the M50 event in 24.86, was third in the 60m and was in the M50 relay team which placed second. In the 2k Walk, all age bands competed together in the same race. VAC's Trevor Jones (M65) won the men's race outright in a close contest. He scored maximum points in the M50 category.

As well as the double firsts by Sarah Loades in the W50 200m and 400m, three other VAC women won their events. Virginia Mitchell won the W60 800m in an excellent time of 2:33.65. Rosalind Zeffertt (W60) won the W50 Pole Vault with a clearance of 2.41m, the best of all the age groups. Virginia and Rosalind also ran in the W50 4x200m relay team which placed second. In the 2k Walk, Maureen Noel won the W60 category in a very close contest with a highly-rated walker from Midland Masters. Maureen had previously run the 1500m and placed third. Multi-eventer, Nina Ridge, made a great contribution to VAC's score by contesting the W50 60m, High Jump, Triple Jump and Shot, as well as running in VAC's W50 relay team. She achieved two second places and three third places.

VAC and EMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, Lee Valley, 9 February 2025

Pat Logan (119) Richard Weekes 200m Anthony Meikle (136) Michael Shortall 60m

Please credit Cliff and VAC if sharing his photos on social media or posting on websites. For queries, email him atcliffhide10@aol.com

Around 100 VAC members competed in the joint indoor championships with Eastern Masters AC which attracted a record entry of 320. There were many fine performances including eighteen VAC Indoor Championship Best Performances. Two were set by John Browne in the M70 60m and 200m and by Michael Shortall in the M40 60m Hurdles and the Triple Jump. Other men's CBPs were set by Paul Howard (M40 800m), David Williams (M60 1500m), Matt Coffey (M40 3000m), Martin Leat (M65 3000m), Barry Morris (M65 Long Jump) and Nick Barton (M65 Shot). For the women, CBPs were set by Emily McMahon (W70 60m), Virginia Mitchell (W60 400m), Kat Sutton (W35 800m), Clare Elms (W60 1500m), Fiona Bishop (W65 2000m Walk), Emily Murray (W45 High Jump), Nina Ridge (W50 Long Jump), Sue Yeomans (W70 Pole Vault) and Liz Sissons (W80 Shot).

VAC's multi-eventers were in good form. Michael Shortall (M40) contested five events and won three Golds and a Silver. His winning triple jump of 11.10m was the joint best in the event and a VAC CBP. Nina Ridge also contested five events, winning Golds in the HJ, LJ (also a CBP), Shot and 60m, with Silver in the 60m hurdles. Bilen Ahmet won Golds in the M40 Shot and Pole Vault and Silvers in the LJ and 60m hurdles. Bilen's winning pole vault of 3.75m was the highest in the competition.

There are too many excellent performances by VAC members to note them all. Here is a selection. Anthony Meikle's time of 7.52 seconds in the 60m was the fastest in the competition, winning M40 Gold. In the same event, Brian Steene was the fastest M60 in a strong field with a time of 8.08. Chris Loudon (M35) was a class apart in the 1500m with a time of 4:09.61. He also won the 800m outright in 2:03.00. Susie McLoughlin and Liz Amos, two out of three triplets, were the fastest women over 400m. Susie won Gold in 61.97 and Liz the Silver medal in 61.98. Clare Elms was tilting for the W60 indoor world record for 1500m but was thwarted in the race by a faller. Her time of 5.11.07 was about six seconds too slow but was easily a VAC CBP. Marathon runner, Bill O'Connor showed his versatility by winning M75 Golds in the 400m, 800m and 1500m, plus Silvers in the 200m and Shot Put.

A team of 20 tackled the saturated fields, swathes of mud and deep puddles at Lloyd Park in the final match of the season. The race was the last of the day and the temperature was a chilly four degrees. The course was the traditional two laps, nearly 5 miles in total, of the park's perimeter, cutting inside to include the slippery hill and deep water splash. Peter Lee (M55) was VAC's first finisher in 24th position in Division Four, closely followed by Mike Webber (M55) in an identical time of 36:00. Malcolm Davies was next with Jim Carrington close behind, both also inside 37 minutes. Bruce McLaren, Duncan Haughey, Pete O'Connell, Richard Evans, Stewart Bond and Ben Revill completed the scoring team of ten which finished in fourth place on the day. VAC's full B team of ten, led by Andy Mitchelson, had great strength in depth and finished second behind high-flying Lingfield Running Club.

Overall, after four matches, VAC finished a pleasing fourth in Division Four, demonstrating the quality of VAC's Masters team, comprising runners who are mostly in their fifties and sixties.

Thank you to the 35 men who played a part in VAC's successful season. Seven of them ran in all four matches: William Brook, Malcolm Davies, Gareth George, Duncan Haughey, Chris Lee, Peter Lee and Andy Mitchelson, Six ran in three of the matches: Richard Evans, Andy Murray, Ben Revill, Tom Poynton, Clive Walker and Dave West. In the League's age category awards, VAC's M55-64 runners dominated the season's rankings with the top three places going to Peter Lee, Malcolm Davies and Duncan Haughey. Duncan was the leading M60 in the list. In the M65+ rankings, Chris Lee was top of the list, finishing fourth or better in each of his four races.

A massive vote of thanks goes to Paddy Clark, the Team Manager, for organising the team and supplying the material comforts such as the groundsheets and gazebo for VAC's men and women. Most importantly, he gave the support and encouragement essential to the great team spirit.

Ten VAC women completed the season's final match on Lloyd Park's usual undulating two-lap, 4.9 mile, course starting near the tram stop. The ground conditions were as bad as Lloyd Park invariably presents in February, with extensive stretches of sloshy mud and a long deep puddle to splash through with no way round. It was a bitterly cold day too. Andrea Stehlikova (W40) was VAC's first finisher in 31st position followed by Helen Davies (W55) in 65th with Ramona Thevenet (W65), Pippa Major (W55) and Jo Quantrill (W65) completing the scoring team which finished 11th on the day. The B team of Lesley Mill, Vera Blei, Ros Tabor, Lynn Howard and Catherine Porter finished 11th. Lesley Bowcott (W80) ran one lap of the race and wisely withdrew.

Overall, after four matches VAC was 9th out of 15 clubs, one position higher than last year.

Thank you to the 20 women who ran for VAC in the season. Everyone scored in either the A or B teams. Ramona Thevenet and Vera Blei ran in all four matches. Andrea Stehlikova, Lucy Woolhouse, Sue Dixon, Pippa Major, Ros Tabor, Sally Carr, Helen Davies and Lesley Mill ran in three of them. Lucy Woolhouse (W60) topped the list in the Surrey League's Over 55 category in the age group rankings. Ros Tabor (W70) was third in the Over 65 rankings.

A special thank you also goes to Helen Davies, the Team Manager, who did a great job at every match, organising the team and providing support and encouragement to all, as well as competing herself.

VAC Cross Country Championships and Masters Open race, Wimbledon Common, 18 January 2025

The start of the race featuring race winner David Sharman (80) and women's champion, Clare Elms (37)

Please credit Cliff and VAC if sharing his photos on social media or posting on websites. Cliff has more and is happy to supply JPEG copies to competitors. Email him atcliffhide10@aol.com

There were 73 on the start line for VAC's open cross country championships on Wimbledon Common. The weather was overcast and cold, with the temperature not above 5 degrees. In the morning, it had not been possible to set the usual course because the loop around the Queensmere had been blocked off without warning by the Common's Rangers for clearance and drainage work on the pond. The course therefore missed out this section on both laps, making a difference of about 600metres to the total distance. The revised course was around 6.9km.

The race was led from the start by David Sharman (M40) of Wimbledon Windmilers in a time of 24:57. Rich Berry (M50) stayed in touch but was thirty seconds behind at the finish. He was rewarded by becoming VAC's Men's Champion and the M50 Gold medallist. Craig Jackson (M50) had a fine run in third place, a minute ahead of Eric Doll, the M35 Gold medallist. The main field then streamed in, led by Mark Tennyson (M60 Gold medal) in 5th, followed by Muhamud Haile (M55 Gold medal) and Martin Edwards (M45 Gold medal). Other Gold medals for age-group bests were won by Martin Leat (M65), Richard Turner (M70), Mike Mann (M75) and Peter Giles (M80).

Clare Elms (W60) was the first woman with a fine run which placed her 8th in the race in a time of 27:43. Clare won VAC's Women's Champion's trophy as well as the W60 trophy and Gold medal. Mariana Marques (W35) of Clapham Chasers was the second woman, nearly 30 seconds behind, with Susan McDonald (W55) running well to place third, also winning VAC's women's W55 trophy. Other Gold medals were won by Lucy Hancock (W40), Victoria Buck (W50), Rebecca Pickard (W45), Lynn Wilson (W65) and Jane Georghiou (W70). Lynn also won VAC's W65 trophy.

A good turnout of eleven VAC women competed in the season's third fixture at Oxshott on a challenging woodland course which had plenty of ups and downs and tree root trip hazards. The women's race was the last of the day and the fading winter sunshine barely lifted the temperature above 3 degrees. The course was the same as the men's, comprising one short lap and two long laps, 4.8 miles in total. Lucy Woolhouse (W60) was VAC's first finisher in 36th position in Division Two, followed by Sue Dixon (W55), Helen Davies (W55), Sally Carr (W50) and Anna Garnier (W70) scoring for the A team. Ramona Thevenet, Gina Coulson, Lesley Mill, Vera Blei and Ros Tabor completed the B team, backed up by Catherine Porter who finished just two seconds behind Ros.

VAC's A team was 11th out of 15 on the day in Division Two and is 9th overall after three matches. The B team was 10th. Lucy Woolhouse was the first W60 in the combined race for Divisions 2 and 3. She is also the leading W60 overall.

The temperature was around 3 degrees but calm conditions and winter sunshine made the race a pleasant experience in Oxshott's beautiful woods and heathland, with many commenting that the notorious tree roots didn't seem so bad this year. The sharp hill on the two long laps was as steep as ever though.

Nineteen men represented VAC, making everyone a scorer in the A or B team. The A team was missing some of the recent high scorers and finished seventh on the day (sixth equal on points) with no one younger than 55 in the scoring team of ten. Overall, after three fixtures, the A team have slipped into fourth place behind Collingwood but have a decent lead over fifth placed Sutton Runners. A good turnout at the final match at Lloyd Park is needed to challenge for third and make sure of at least fourth.

Peter Lee (M55) was first for VAC finishing in 30th position in Division 4. He was followed by Duncan Haughey who was the first M60 in Division 4, Malcolm Davies (M55), Vic Maughn (M60) and Richard Evans (M60), all under 36 minutes on the 4.8 mile course. Ben Revill, Stewart Bond, Ian Butler, Bruce McLaren and Gareth George completed the scoring A team. VAC’s remaining runners, led by Clive Walker, pushed for every place to score for the B team which placed third in its competition.

Results for January to June 2025