Paul and Krzysztof lead Striders Vets in multi-disciplines

Striders of Croydon produced some good performances in their final Southern Veterans League match of the season, at Wimbledon last week. Paul Cripps showed his versatility by winning both the M35 2000 metre walk (12.41.0) and the discus (18.50), and also placing second in the triple jump (9.60) and third in the javelin (22.99). Maggie Statham ran very well to win the W60 800 metres (3.00.4) and to place second in the A 5000 metres (20.44.7), both of these being new club age-group records. Julian Spencer-Wood won the M60 800 metres (2.33.4).  Sandra Francis placed second in the W50 2000 metre walk in a club age-group record of 14 minutes 03.8, while Linda Daniel placed second in both the W50 800 metres (3.12.4) and 5000 metres (24.04.4). Striders’ women did well to finish third, while their men were fourth of the seven clubs in the match. Both Striders’ men and women were also fourth in the final league table.

Striders faced strong opposition in Sunday’s Elmbridge 10-kilometre road race, which was the penultimate event in this year’s Surrey Road League. The team was led by Krzysztof Klidzia, who showed that he had fully recovered after winning the over-40 category in the Reigate 10k four days earlier, and who placed 39th of the 556 finishers, recording 36 minutes 42 seconds. Triathlete Tyler O’Callaghan made a welcome return to Striders colours and placed 53rd in 37 minutes 42. The scoring trio was completed by Colin Hann who placed 156th in 41 minutes 45. Striders’ women were led by Becky Laurence who placed 316th in 48 minutes 23 seconds, while Karen Peake also ran well to finish 451st in 56 minutes 31.