Past BMAF News Items
World Indoor Championships
Photographs of GB athletes at the recent World Indoors at Clermont Ferrand are now on-line at www.tomphillipsphotos.co.uk, and at www.rikko2photo.co.uk.
03/04/2008 09:34:39
BMAF Indoor Championships
Action pictures from the 2008 Indoors at Pickett’s Lock can be viewed at www.tomphillipsphotos.co.uk and www.rikko2photo.co.uk.
04/03/2008 12:41:53
Francis Scott 1958-2008
It is with deep regret that we record the death of our 400m runner, Francis Scott, on 24 February, aged 49.
The BMAF and all its members offer our sincere condolence to his wife Maria and daughters Patrice and Frances.
26/02/2008 16:11:57
Coaching courses for master athletes
Here are details of coaching courses for master athletes.
23/01/2008
Gordon Porteous 1914-2008
"The Flying Scotsman" has finally come to a halt. Our oldest competitive athlete, Gordon Porteous, Scottish Veteran Harriers, was laid to rest in Barrhead on 25 January, weeks short of his 94th birthday. His last major race was at Coatbridge in October 2004 when he smashed the M90-94 age category World 10,000m track record, winning in 69min.26.92sec.
He won 23 World and European age group medals, including the marathon, in 2hrs.51min aged 60, at the first ever World Veterans Track & Field, Toronto in 1975. He remained unbeaten over this classic distance by any one of his own age. He returned home from the World Championships in New Zealand in 1981 with four gold medals. He currently holds the following records:
- World M90-94 5,000m in 31.25.45
- World M90-94 10,000m in 69.26.92sec
- European records as above, plus the M85-89 5000m
- British 1500m records from aged 80 through to age 93
- British M80-84 3000m Indoor.
His many friends and admirers will have fond memories of meeting a great amateur athlete and a true gentleman.
12/02/2008 09:16:36
Cesare Beccalli
We are saddened to learn of the untimely death of Cesare Beccalli, President of World Masters Athletics. A charismatic leader, a competitor and a founding member of the European VAA, he made a huge contribution to masters athletics over many years.
29/12/2007 18:30:20
Photos from Riccione
Photos from the World Championships in Riccione taken by the two BMAF accredited photographers can be seen at:
Lesley Richardson can be contacted at richarlg99@aol.com, while Tom Phillips' email address is tomp2@tiscali.co.uk.
BMAF Championships Photos
Tom Phillips' photos from the Track & Field Championships in Birmingham on July 28/29 can be seen at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/movingmountains/index.htm (follow the link for “Current Galleries”). Any athletes interested in obtaining copies of these can email him at tomp2@tiscali.co.uk.
07/08/2007 17:53:59
Closing date for TUE applications
THE CLOSING DATE FOR TUE APPLICATIONS IS 14 AUGUST 2007.
The Chairman of the WMA Medical and Anti-Doping Committee Stan Perkins has advised that the last date for receipt of Therapeutic Use Exemption Applications is the 14 August, 2007, 21 days before the start of competition in the WMA Stadia Championships in Riccione, Italy.
Athletes are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to avoid a last minute rush that may delay the assessment of their form.
Perkins also reminded athletes that it was strongly recommended that they discuss their medications/ treatments with their medical service provider and determine if there was an alternate treatment available that was not on the IAAF/WADA banned list of medications. Many athletes have found that there are approved alternate medications available to them and, additionally, some athletes have found that they can temporarily suspend their medication to allow them to compete in the championships without impacting upon their health situation.
It should be noted by all athletes that random doping testing will take place during the championships.
Stan Perkins
Chairman Medical and Anti-Doping Committee
WMA
27/07/2007 15:59:23
Jim Day
On Sunday morning, 1st July 2007, the sport lost a good friend and kindred spirit when Jim Day passed away suddenly.
Jim was a true gentleman and never had a bad word to say against anybody and was generous with his time and support for everyone around him. His friendly nature and his sustained athleticism earned the respect of all. The sport and the pole vaulting community will miss him very much.
Two World 5km Bests In Horwich
Congratulations to Carol Wolstenholme who ran a World W60-64 Age Group Best of 19.27sec and to Steve Charlton, now into his 81st year, who set an M80-84 World Age Group Best in the amazing time of 22.41sec over 5km in Horwich on 24 June. The 3-lap course has an uphill finish.
World Indoor Record for Val Parsons
Val Parsons, who won the Women's age group 60-64 100m and 200m at the European Veterans Championships in Poznan last July, broke the W60 World Indoor 60 metre record at an Open Meeting in Eton on 7 January 2007. She clocked a magnificant 8.83sec. The record is awaiting ratification.
Multiple awards for Arthur Thomson
The British Athletic Supporters Club has awarded Arthur Thompson the Master Athlete of the Year Award for his outstanding walking achievements at the British and European Championships.
Earlier he was elected European Best Male Veteran Athlete for 2006. He has earned this award by setting 3 World Records: 20km Road Walk ( 1.56.44), 30km Road Walk (2.52.47) and 5000m Track Walk (26.01.52). The citation outlines his superiority to other veterans in his age group and the fact that he has outclassed the old records.
In EVACS in Poznan, Poland 2006, in the oppressive warmth (30-35 degrees), Arthur broke his compatriot James Grimwade's classic M70 record for the 20 km Road Walk of 1.58.10 from Malmö 1986 with a phenomenal 1.56.44. In the British Masters Championships in Birmingham, just before Poznan, Arthur broke the 24 year old M70 World Record for the 5000m Race Walk of the Australian T Daintry of 27.02 with 26.01.52. In Poznan he produced a championship record of 26.34.87. In Coventry in August 2006 Arthur set a record of 2.52.47 in 30km Road Walk. The previous record belonged to Albert Sturni of France at 3.05.10 set in 1993.
Arthur was also nominated for World Male Master Athlete of the year, which went instead to the American Bill Collins. Melitta Czerwenka-Nagel of Germany won both European and World Female awards.
Anti-Doping Control
Winston Thomas, BMAF Chairman, has issued this announcement
"Following several problems with anti-doping at WMA masters championships, and WMA as well as my comments in the Masters Athletics, the Urine Testing Procedures from the UK sports brochure are being posted on the website (see the Drugs page) for all to be familiar with. In World and European Masters Events the same procedures are (should) be followed, so please make yourselves familiar with these procedures. More and more masters athletes will be subjected to testing, and in future championships there will be far more tests than before, and please bear in mind that as we tend to do very well in these competitions we are liable to be in the firing line.
"For applications for Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) please note that in future all forms MUST go to David Herbert at UKA. More information can be found on the UKA - www.ukathletics.net - and UK Sport - www.uksport.gov.uk - websites.
Les Williams
We regret to record the death on 27 January 2006 of Les Williams, aged 83. A Welsh rugby international, awarded the freedom of Falmouth in recognition of his contribution to local sportsmen and women. A World Champion and age group record holder for the 60m and 200m.
Torsten Carlius
It is with great regret that we record the untimely death from a heart attack of Torsten Carlius, Sweden. He was elected Secretary of World Masters Athletics at the General Assembly in San Sebastian. A former high jumper, he was aged 66.
Norman Ashcroft
It is with deep regret that BMAF record the death of Norman Ashcroft, a Life Vice President and one of the founding members of the Northern VAC.
Men aged 35-39
At the IAAF Congress in Helsinki on 3 August 2005, delegates voted in favour of lowering the age of men master athletes to age 35. The BMAF welcomes the move.
Excellent run by Tracey Morris in the Olympics
Media attention may have been focused elsewhere but Tracey's 2.41.00 for 29th in the marathon in Athens in such conditions, was brilliant. Congratulations!
BVAF changes name to British Masters Athletic Federation
At the AGM of the BVAF, held after the completion of the first day's events of the Track & Field Championships on July 27th 2002, a motion to change the Federation's name to replace "Veterans" with "Masters" was carried with a clear majority.
Chris Maddocks Earns Ovation in Sydney
A British vet achieved the distinction of completing his fifth Olympic race, when he competed in the 50k walk in Sydney. Chris Maddocks, who is a member of Plymouth City Walkers and South West Vets, was the only BVAF affiliated athlete competing at Sydney.
Chris was unfortunate enough to pick up a hamstring problem during the later stages of his preparations, which affected him from early on in the race. This explains why he was nearly an hour slower than the time he achieved earlier in the year. Nevertheless he battled on and received a huge reception when he eventually made it into the stadium.