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18th British Veteran Indoor Championships

Report by: Bryan Murray

17th & 18th February 2001 - University of Wales Institute, Cardiff



Brian Shearsmith

Wakefield Harriers' Brian Shearsmith had a tremendous weekend at the British Veteran Indoor Championships.

The University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, hosted some world and British bests by the score, which should auger well for the forthcoming European Indoor Championships in Bordeaux.

Shearsmith had a haul of four championship medals over the two-day meeting, one gold and three silver. In fact he could have won the 60m sprint and 60m hurdles if he had been given the track judges' decisions.

Anyway, Shearsmith, in the final of the M50 age group 60m, could only run his best and finish in a blanket finish with Penwarden of Midlands Vets. Shearsmith was declared second in 8.34 secs with Penwarden awarded first in 8.33 secs - a close call.

Over the longer 200m distance, Shearsmith was streets ahead of the field, winning comfortably in 27.61 secs. The second placed athlete finished in 28.41 secs.

In the 400m, Shearsmith was up against John Ross (Scottish Vets) who was in top form, winning the title in 60.60 secs with Shearsmith claiming silver in 64.96 secs.

Shearsmith was making a habit of close finishes and in the final of the 60m hurdles it again went down to the wire. Sarrington and Shearsmith were given the same time of 10.4 secs but Barrington got the nod for gold.