In a busy weekend locally for Teviotdale Harriers, success was to be found for two Masters athletes who were on their travels.

Whilst Sammy Walker was claiming gold at the British Masters Cross Country Championships in Belfast, track runner Colin Welsh was picking up medals at the British Masters in London.

Sammy and his coach/fellow competitor, Derek Clyne headed across the Irish sea to compete over 8km in more than decent weather for cross country running. There may have been snow on the hills but beautiful blue sky shone all around.

Meanwhile at the two day indoor event at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, the weather wasn’t to provide any problems for Colin as he claimed Silver and Bronze in the 1500m and 800m respectively.

On Saturday (9th March) Sammy and Derek tackled the 4 lap course at picturesque Stormont Castle whilst Colin himself raced around 4 laps of the 200m, blue Lee Valley track.

Sammy, as he has done so often over the last year or two, produced the goods when it mattered. Finishing 24th overall, Sammy claimed V60 gold in 31:41. Robert Atkinson (32:18) running for Barrow and Furness took the category silver, with North Belfast Harriers runner Laurence Johnston (33:11) third.

Over in the Capital, Colin toed the line for the start of the V35 800m. Bronze would be the prize for the Kelso joiner as he stopped the clock in 1:59:78. Dave Ragan (1:56:88) would take gold for Basingstoke & Mid Hants and Tipton’s Aaron Brown (1:58:11) would cross second.

Back in Belfast, Derek Clyne finished 8th in the same V60 category as Sammy, completing the course in 39:28. Also running and finishing 5th V40, was former Teviotdale Harriers member Michael Combe (30:34). Michael who now runs in Northern Ireland for Willowfield Temperance Harriers placed 11th overall.

Doubling up in events, Colin was back on track on Sunday (10th March) to compete in the V35 1500m. He would go one better than the previous day and this time claimed Silver. Again, Aaron Brown would be the man who crossed the line before him.

Colin ran 4:09:50, with Aaron’s winning time 4:07:16. Third placed Andrew Pickett would be slightly further back with 4:19:63 earning him Bronze.