Five athletes win gold at British Masters Championships

Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletics Club (BMHAC) is celebrating an abundance of national success after all five athletes who attended the British Masters Championships in Derby returned home with gold medals.

The British Masters Championships 2025, the national championships for athletes aged 35 and over, was held in Derby from Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14.

Neil Barton, 45, who not only coaches several of the athletes who achieved first place, but also struck gold in two events himself, said he was "over the moon" with the club's success.

Paul Roker, Deb Montgomery and Neil Barton(Image: Neil Barton)

He added: "I'm really chuffed, for all five of us to come back with at least one gold medal is no mean feat.

"I've won a few in the past so I am more chuffed for the rest of them and I'm absolutely delighted for Paul Roker, who set a national record aged 76."

Among the various athletes who returned with a haul of gold was Paul Roker, 75, the new double British champion and British record holder, who set the national record in his age group for the 300m hurdles, completing them in just 55.15 seconds.

Paul also took home gold in the 80m hurdles, setting a personal best with 14.67 seconds, and silver in the 200m sprint, finishing in 33.15 seconds.

Neil took home two gold medals, one in long jump, where he leapt 6.21m, and one in triple jump, where he recorded an impressive 12.02m.

Neil said: "It is amazing, I was the last one to go so all the pressure was on me, everyone already had their gold medals by this point."

Also bringing in the medals was Deb Montgomery, in the women's 55 category, who took home gold in javelin, recording 25.71m, silver in shotput and hammer, with 8.88m and 30.35m respectively and bronze in discus, with 23.23m.

Neil added: "If you’re wondering where she is, she’s down the shops buying a big medal rack."

Vinnie Elie added to the club's tally in the men's 60 plus category with a gold in the 200m, finishing with a personal best of 26.23 seconds, silver in the 400m, with 58.54 seconds, another personal best, and silver in the 100m final with 12.81 seconds.

Neil said: "The 100m final was a fantastic race. Vinnie and the eventual winner were neck and neck the whole way, with Vinnie just pipped on the line by 0.03 seconds.

"Particularly impressive given Vinnie had run the 400 just one hour earlier."

Andy McCrum, in the men's 65-plus category, took home gold in the long jump with 4.31m, and silver in the high jump with 1.40m, which was also a personal best.

In total, the five athletes took home 14 medals and a national record from 16 events.

Neil explained that the club is already looking forward to the next event, the European Masters Championships in Madeira, Portugal.

He said: "The European championships is in mid October, myself, Vinnie and Andy are off to Madeira to go up against the best 'old farts' in Europe."

Neil encouraged anyone who is interested in athletics to get in touch with the club, his group covers all ages, with the youngest being 12 and the oldest 76.