Paddy McGrattan was the most active at the Vets Track and Field Championships, held at a very damp Mary Peters Track (yet another meeting lost from the Sportsplex). Paddy won the Over 40 hammer and javelin and was second at shot and discus. Geoffrey Weir Had a good win at the blue riband Over 40 1500m (rejuvenation tablets?) while Hilary Kernaghan and Lynn Wilson took first and second in the Over 40 womens 3000m. David Seaton, Fred Murdock, Roy Graham, Richard Belshaw and Pat O’Driscoll dominated the older categories. In fact, earlier in the day Fred and Pat had taken the M60 and M55 prizes at the Scott and Gault 10 mile road race in Ballyclare.
David and Fred were first and second in the Over 60 5000m while Roy took the 800m and 1500m and Richard took the walk while Pat took the Over 55 walk and was third at 5000m. The performances of Paddy and Geoffrey would stand up in open competition as would those of Hilary (welcome back) and Lynn.
The meeting was held in good spirit though to say field officials were happy would be stretching it. Year after year it is the same at this meeting which is full of big entries of serial field event competitors and it goes on for hours after the track events are over. In this situation, giving everyone six attempts is ludicrous.