ST HELENS Sutton AC's star veteran track runner Stan Erlam once again showed that he is up with the leading runners in his age group when he took part in the Northern Veterans Track & Field Championships held at Victoria Park, Warrington.

Stan took the gold medal in the 800 metres in the over-60 years age group with a record time of 2 mins 25 secs, a performance made even more impressive by the fact that it was his second event of the afternoon.

Earlier, he had taken the silver medal in the 1,500 metres with his time of 4 mins 57 secs.

The quality of the opposition is shown by the fact that in both races he beat an age-group world record holder in Steve James of the Southport Waterloo club.

A trio of club members took part with some success in the three-mile race held over roads and tracks at Penketh, Warrington.

Tony Smith took second place with a time of 19 mins13 secs, Andy O'Connor was seventh in 20 mins 32 secs, a performance good enough to win him the prize for the first finisher over 40 years of age, and Andy Boyack finished 20th with 22 mins 15 secs, a good performance in a field of more than 200 competitors.

A number of members took part in the popular 'Fireman's Five', a five-mile race held on the paths of Croxteth Country Park, Liverpool.

Comfortably the first finisher for the club was John Appleton who ran 30 mins 8 secs, next was another veteran Richie Bradshaw with a time of 36 mins 58 secs. The club's first award winner on the night was Cecilia Fitzsimons who once again showed her dominance of the over-50 years age group with her time of 37 mins 7 secs.

Family

Running in his first competitive race, Graham Mackie must have been pleased with his time of 37 mins 11 secs.

It was good to see Diane Appleton back in competitive action and she was the first girl under 20 years of age to finish, running 38 mins 3 secs.

The third member of the Appleton family was mum Pam who ran 39 mins 33 secs.

Janet Holmes found the distance less than she likes but nevertheless ran 41 mins 36 secs, while Margaret Hunter Frackleton, just returning from injury, made a late decision to take part and ran 47 mins 19 secs.