THERE were medals at both ends of the age spectrum for Warrington Athletics Club members at the weekend.
Having won bronze at the Northern under 17s 5km Road Championships, Joe Buckley went into the National competition in good form.
It certainly showed in Sutton Coldfield on Saturday as he emerged from a closely-fought race with a silver medal.
Buckley even led as the race turned its final corner but he was unable to hold off Barnsley runner Scott Nutter, who overtook him to claim gold.
The Warrington runner clocked 15mins 45secs – three seconds quicker than Aldershot’s bronze medallist Luke Vanoudtshoorn.
Joe Buckley with his silver medal
Several of the club’s more experienced runners travelled to the north east for the Port of Blyth 10km road race, which also incorporated the British Masters Championships.
Nick Jones was agonisingly close to a gold medal in the over 40s age group – just three seconds separated him from the winner – but he had to settle for silver as his time of 33mins 11secs saw him finish 11th overall.
It was also a near miss for Steve Watmough in the over 55s as he too brought home silver, but he was just nine seconds away from being the fastest in his age group.
Watmough clocked 34mins 40secs – good enough for 30th overall – and that helped Warrington to a medal in the team competition.
His time combined with that of Dave Gill and Mervyn Ward ensured they won the over 55s team silver medal between them.
The Warrington Athletics Club quartet with their British Masters medals
Gill finished seventh in the over 60s age group after coming home 124th overall in 39mins 29secs while Ward was 144th in 40mins 42secs – a time which saw him finish 10th in the same category.
Closer to home, two of the club’s under 20 runners took part in Sunday’s Greater Manchester Marathon.
Both Amy Nuttall and Jack Wadsworth were running for charity so times were of secondary importance and they ran the race together.
Nuttall suffered a stitch at the nine-mile mark but continued through the pain to finish alongside her clubmate in 4hours 37mins 30secs.
Wadsworth allowed Nuttall to cross the line first in 9,106th place.
Jack Wadsworth and Amy Nuttall after completing the Greater Manchester Marathon
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