A masterful performance (From Warrington Guardian)

A masterful performance

4:24pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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TWO masterly Warrington athletes who won medals at a national championship at the weekend are proving age is no barrier in competitive sport.

John Nicholls added to his impressive array of silverware when he successfully defended his men’s over 40s shot put title in the British Masters Athletic Federation event at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

And Wayne McLoughlin completed an impressive comeback with a bronze medal in the javelin.

Nicholls, aged 44, of Stockton Heath, sealed his win for the third year in a row with a putt of 14.19 metres.

He described his performance as ‘lacklustre’ but it finishes another successful year, taking his CV to seven British titles, two European titles, two world silvers and a European silver in the last four years.

Earlier this season, Nicholls defended his British indoor title for a fourth year on the bounce and defended his European indoor title in Italy with a massive 15.47m throw, becoming the only British shot putter in any category to ever defend a European title.

He is now planning for a long winter of training in a bid to win the world title in Canada next March, providing his body holds out and finances allow.

McLoughlin, aged 43, of Callands, claimed javelin bronze with a huge 51.48m throw in his first competition for six years after just three months of training.

“The medal is a surprise,” said McLoughlin, revealing he had come out of retirement for ex-coach Pat Cullen, who has been seriously ill.

“I’d only been throwing in the mid-40s in training and I wanted to finish sixth out of 12.

“But it was perfect conditions and when the competition started and I thought I had the chance of a medal I got forward and was just like my old self.

“It’s given me a new lease of life and now I’ve got the Northern Vets to come in September.”

Before retiring, McLoughlin was a member of the Birchfield Harriers team that won the National League and European Club Cup in 2003.

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