Didn’t they do well.

Written by David Jones on 28/08/2025. Posted in News

Didn’t they do well indeed
Paula Williams and Mark Illingworth, our two pentathletes, at Pingles Stadium last Sunday

They do say that variety is the spice of life and this week’s newsletter is nothing if not varied.

We start off with a couple of Masters pentathletes. It’s fair to say that both Paula Williams and Mark Illingworth went into last Sunday’s BMAF pentathlon Championships with a certain amount of trepidation concerning their respective 800 and 1500m runs. I don’t think I am being unkind in saying that those distances are somewhat out of their comfort zones. Anyway, as you would expect from these two consummate athletes they completed them in some style, even managing sprint finishes, sort of, over the final 100m. Well done both.

A few weeks ago the season’s Heart of England League Division 1 season finished. A delay in the issuing of the final results means that the roundup report of the season only features this week. What Paul Bearman’s report does show is that once again, our junior T&Fers punched well above their weight, finishing in a superb 2nd place behind the mighty BRAT but ahead of such clubs as Solihull & Small Heath and Rugby & Northampton.

The highly talented and competitive Emma Bexson competed in IRONMAN 73 in Tallinnn Estonia. Not only did she compete but she won her age category. Well done Emma.

Vets sprinter Dave Wilson is currently in the form of his life and seemingly, like a fine wine, improving with age. Dave was in action again last weekend, this time in Sheffield.

Mother and daughter Sue and Jasmine Mothershaw competed in the Run the Lights 5k in Blackpool, both running well and rewarding themselves with a well deserves ice-cream post race.

Last but absolutely not least is Miranda Maloney’s report on her and Lisa Stevens performance at the extremely prestigious World Bog Snorkelling Championships!

Well I did say it was varied.

The best of luck to our talented Midland League T&F team as they journey to Abingdon on Saturday in the hope of gaining promotion after an extremely successful season to date.

Take care.

David Jones

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Paula on top of the podium.

British Masters Athletic Federation Pentathlon, 5000m Championships & Open Events.

Report – David Jones

They do say that there is a first time for everything and for two of our Vets last Sunday, Paula Williams and Mark Illingworth, it proved to be the first time completing in a pentathlon, although Paula had managed a throws pentathlon earlier in the year.

I think it’s fair to say that, as sprinters, they were somewhat wary of their 800m and 1500m races respectively, at the end of that was a long and tiring day. Needless to say they both managed them effortlessly (!), even managing something of a sprint finish over the final 100m.

Paula claimed gold in her W50 age category, with Mark collecting bronze in his M65 category.

Paula’s score of 3068 points puts her in 2nd place on the UK’s current rankings for her age category. She scored 892 points in the long jump, 644 in the javelin, 852 in the 200m, 589 in discus and 91 in her 800m.

Marks scores in the same events were 427, 444, 653, 413 and 155, giving him a final tally of 2092 points.

I competed in the 5000m despite feeling somewhat under the weather, which hopefully accounted for my somewhat sluggish 25:27.8. I did pick up the silver medal but – disclaimer – there were only two in my age category.

Phil Brennan, also competed in the 5000m, picking up silver in his age category as well.

Martha Edwards, Isla Green, Lara Ryan-Gill, Elsa Scott

Fynn Allen, Robin Gallagher, Charlie Cassells, Casper Willis

Sam McKenzie, Matteo Martinengo, Tom Stanton

Heart of England League Division One

Report – Paul Bearman

If there was ever a year where to compete well in this league, then it was in this season’s Heart of England League Division One competition.

The Heart of England remains the focus of league competition for the juniors and at the beginning of the T&F season we set a target of trying to win it but with the strength of the other clubs in the division a top 3 position was a realistic target.

As always, it’s been essential to try to cover as many events in the various age groups as possible and the phrase “every point counts” really meant what it says.

After the first match in May and with a depleted team, a top 3 place seemed a bit pie in the sky with the club finishing a mid-table 4^th, out of 8 teams, well behind the outstanding and big BRAT team and just about hanging onto the coat tails of Solihull and Rugby & Northampton.

The 2^nd match in Banbury saw all the teams marginally close the gap on BRAT and with Stratford able to field a stronger team everyone was pleasantly surprised to see the club move into 3^rd place and set the scene for a final match ding dong at Rugby with Solihull who were still 50 points ahead.

With the cumulative points from each match being aggregated to establish the final positions the 50 points was a target to aim for and although the team was again depleted by absences from some key athletes it gave the Age Group team managers the opportunity to draft in other athletes.

With the more established athletes providing a steady flow of points it was the “newbies” who made the difference to the team’s performance by racking up points that were desperately needed and the 50 point deficit was not only overturned, but the match also finished with a plus 34 point advantage over Solihull, meaning the team moved into the runners up position for the second year running.

BRAT deservedly retained their title by an impressive 300 points

Final Position after Match 3
Club	Points
BRAT	2364
Stratford	2064
Solihull & Small Heath	2030
Rugby & Northampton	1915
Royal Sutton	1800
Tamworth	1484
Banbury	1132
Wreake & Soar Valley	129

2025 Division 1 Best Performances

All Under 17

Shot	Ethan Winning	11.18m
High Jump	Olisa McKenzie	1.75m
80m hurdles	Ava Sheppard	13.3s
800m	Annie Silvers	2.18.5
300m	Annie Silvers	43.40s

Looking back on the 3 matches I think we can all be highly satisfied with the outcome and finishing 2^nd in what has increasingly become a more competitive division.

Despite not being able to cover all the events in all the matches, the Team Managers were still able to put good teams together with literally every one of the 93 athletes who took part across the 3 matches making a valuable contribution to the team’s success with some representing the club for the first time and others competing in unfamiliar events.

In addition, the Officials, without their commitment and support we simply wouldn’t be allowed to compete in the league, also made a substantial contribution to the smooth running of the matches and also to the team’s points tally, so a huge thankyou to all of them who supported the team. In particularly Sandy Green who really came back a bit too early from rehab after having both knees replaced to support the club.

Finally, thanks to the Age Group Leaders and Team Managers Paivi, Cait, Michelle, Lucy, Danny and Carolyne and all the coaches for their support throughout the year and for their part in what turned out to be another success for the junior Track and Field team.

Emma Bexson’s Medal and winner’s trophy

IRONMAN 70.3 Tallinn

This year was the 10th Ironman event in Estonia and ,I think, also Emma Bexson’s 10th Ironman. She was competing at this prestigious event in her W50-54 age category having reached her half century milestone just a few months ago.

Emma won her age category in a time of 10:33.07, a couple of minutes ahead of the next placed competitor and some 47 minutes ahead of the 3rd place participant.

The swim took place on a single-loop course in the sea, more precisely at Stroomi Beach which is a sand covered swimming beach in northern Tallinn. The water was clear and the bottom sandy.

The bike course is one of the fastest in the world and unique, with a nice mix of city and countryside. The two-loop cycling course started at Stroomi then a cycle in the southern villages, heading back to Tallinn and then on to the last lap. After the last loop it was off to transition area 2 in Rocca al Mare. Elevation gain 154 meters per lap, total 308 meters.

The IRONMAN 70.3 Tallinn running course is also one of the fastest in the world and offers picturesque views of Tallinn Bay. The 21.1 km course is a 2-lap run and has 8 water stations. The finish was in the front of the Rocca al Mare Shopping Centre. Elevation gain 10 meters per lap, total 20 meters.

Many congratulations Emma

Dave Wilson in action at the previous week’s Inter Area Championships in York.

Last Sunday he was in action gain in the North of England where he competed in the Masters Grand Prix and Open in Sheffield, continuing his recent fine run of form.

Dave ran 2 heats of the 100m, which were within 10 mins of each other. He did think that due to the very short turnaround that his second 100 would be a lot slower but he in fact he ended up running 100th of a second faster (how does that happen, he commented). 13.13 then 13.12

He also competed in the 200m and ran 26.94 which was a season’s best for me and he believes, a new M55 club record.

Sue and Jasmine Mothershaw

Run the Lights 5k.

Blackpool

Report – Sue Mothershaw

This race started at 9 pm and went along the Blackpool promenade illuminations.
The atmosphere was incredible with people cheering all the way.
Jasmine was 42nd out of 569 runners and 9th lady in 22. 54. I was 67th and 19th lady in 26.53 ( My Parkrun PB)
To celebrate we walked the course again with an ice-cream !

Lisa Stevens and Miranda Maloney – World Class Bog Snorkelers – I kid you not!

World Bog Snorkelling Championships.

Report – Miranda Maloney

This was our 4th year attending the World Bog Snorkelling Championships.

What started out as a challenge for my 50th has become an annual day out for Lisa Stevens and I.

The bogs were as boggy and murky as ever and much to Lisa’s disappointment, we were placed in Bog 2. There are 2 bogs and previously we’ve been in Bog 1, which has always gotten the largest audience.

However, as World Champion Neil Rutter started the day off in Bog 2, we were pleased that that Bog drew the bigger crowd.

We’re starting to be recognised now too (well, Lisa with her fabulous hat, darling) and the lovely Cath Pendleton (Merthyr Mermaid and Ice Queen) came over for a hug. I also got a shout out from the compare, Bernie, as I came dressed as her one year, copying her bright pink curls and kooky hat.

Both Lisa and I got PB’s this year, kicking and splashing our way through 60 yards of dirty water and I don’t want to know what else and back again. Someone said they’d seen an eel!

Lisa came in at 2:20 and I was 2:26.
The winnings times were:
Male – 1:18
Female – 1:32
Over 50 Female – 1:59

I reckon we could have her next year, Lisa! If we start training now.

I am often of the opinion that Susan Hunt selects races based on the quality of the cakes that are on offer. Last weekend she competed in the Pershore 10k and was duly rewarded with the above. She finished in at time of 52:25 and was 5th in her age category.

Our Gang of Four at last weekend’s British Masters Athletic Federation Pentathlon, 5000m Championships & Open Events meeting at Pingles Stadium in Nuneaton.
L to R: Paula Williams, Phil Brennan, Mark Illingworth and David Jones