16th European Masters Non-Stadia Championships - Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal
18/05/2016 08:39
16th European Masters Non-Stadia Championships - Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal
Over 1,000 Master’s athletes will descend on the Algarve in the next few days ahead of the 16th European Masters Non-Stadia Championships which kicks off on Friday. Amongst those competing will be nine SVHC athletes who will compete in the 10km Road Race (Friday), Half Cross Country Relays (Saturday) and Half Marathon (Sunday).
In the M65 category, Andrew McLinden (Hamilton Harriers), a previous European Champion in Jyvaskyla Finland and fresh from an excellent 2nd place in the London Marathon, looks to add another title in the Half Marathon. He will be joined by Norman Baillie (Garscube) who recently won his age category at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff. Norman will warm up for the Half Marathon with a run out in the 10k.
The M60 category sees Archie Jenkins (Ron Hill Cambuslang), a regular at European and World events, combine his Team Manger duties with a run in the 10km.
Having competed in Upice, Czech Republic in 2013, Paul Cackette (Lothian RC) and Andrew Kirkhope (Shettleston Harriers) will lock horns again in the M55 10k with Andrew looking to avenge his narrow defeat this time around.
Last but not least, the baby of the men's team, Kerry- Liam Wilson (Ron Hill Cambuslang), having won a Scottish and British medal in the last few weeks, and a World medal in Lyon last year, will be looking to add to add a European medal in the M45 Half Marathon.
In the women's events, previous multiple World Champion Janette Stevenson (Falkirk Victoria Harriers) makes a welcome return to the international scene, competing in the W65 10km.
Although a regular at European and World Championships, Sharyn Ramage (Edinburgh AC) makes her debut in the non-stadia championships in the W50 10km where she will be joined by another regular Lynne Marr (Shettleston Harriers). Both will be looking to add to team medals that they have collected in the past.
Following the 10km on Friday evening, a number of 10k athletes will be looking to run themselves into selection for the Cross Country Relays on Saturday morning where more medals will be up for grabs.
Good luck to all SVHC members!!
(Posted by Alan Ramage)