This year Neil’s annual excursion to a Masters Track and Field Championships took him to the European Masters in Slovenia, where he competed once again in the 45-49 age group in the 400 metres hurdles.  In 2007 Neil won the Over 45 400 metres hurdles title in the World Championships in Italy.  This year he came home with the silver medal, also in the Over 45 400m hurdles, in a time of 58.20seconds, just 0.4 of a second away from making it double gold.

The winner was Jon Tilt from Hampshire and third was Marco Bazieek from Slovenia

In this event the age groups go up in five year intervals starting from 35 years and go right up to Over 95, so there is an opportunity for everyone to keep running, jumping and throwing competitively no matter what their age.  The World and European Championships are held alternately once every two years and so Neil is looking forward to defending his world crown next year in Finland.

Neil says “I was aiming for gold once again, so I was initially disappointed that I didn’t achieve that, although on reflection I am now pleased to have come away with the silver medal.  I have trained hard all year and was in very good shape to run fast but was slightly hampered by strong winds which affected my stride pattern.”