VAA-NEE is an association of individual athletes who have reached their 35th birthday (both men and women) and aims to provide competition for its members in five year categories.
This means that you can compete against athletes in your own age group and not just against "youngsters". The lower age limit for men has only recently been introduced, and we look forward to 35 - 39 year old men participating in our events.

Click on 'membership application form' in links column for membership details and application form. NOTE Please ensure you enclose proof of age (copy of birth certificate or driving licence) and SAE for membership card.

BMAF 10 mile championships will be held with in Tynedale's Jelly Tea 10 mile race on 14th September 2008. Full details to follow.

VAANEE Cross Country Championships
Results via blue link at left of this page.

VAANEE Relay Championships Sunday January 20th
Results via blue link at left of this page.

Message from Tommy Brannon"Dear Masters, I'm going to the World Indoor Champs in France and would like to know if any other athletes from the North East are doing likewise. All the best for 2008. Tommy".


Annual General Meeting
AGM will be held at 7.00PM on Monday 14th January 2008, venue Gateshead Stadium. We still need a Secretary, Treasurer and Track and Field Coordinator . If the latter post is not filled this year there will be no Track and Field events in 2009. If you can help please contact chairman or any committee member. Posts now filled a Secretary still required.

Reminder to club team managers:

21st National Open Masters Road Relay Championships
Saturday, 17 May, 2008 at Sutton Park , Birmingham

Women over 55; Women over 45; Men over 70; Men over 60; 3 Stages.

Women over 45; Men over 4 Stages.

Men over 50 6 Stages.

Men over 40 8 Stages.

Entries close on 19 April ( no B teams).

Entry forms are available for download from:

www.midlandmasters.org.uk or www.bvaf.org.uk


WMA Track and Field Championships, Riccione, Italy

Congratulations to Harry Matthews for winning 3 medals at the World Championships. Harry was 2nd in the M60 5000m and 10000m and was 3rd in the 8k Cross-Country.
Kath Stewart won a bronze in the W65 1500m.
George Harden (M45 silver) and Reg Checkley (M70 bronze) both won medals in the Cross-Country Team competion. Tom Brannon, Helen Morris and David Morris (all NSP) also had excellent runs in Italy.

BMAF Weight Pentathlon, Milton Keynes, 1st July 2007

Congratulations to David Maggs (M50) and John Wild (M55) for winning gold at the above event.

BMAF Cross-Country Championships, Berry Hill Park, Mansfield, Saturday 24th March 2007

Sunderland Harriers went one better than last year at Bournemouth when winning team gold at Mansfield, adding to the gold medal they won at the BMAF National Cross-Country relays held at Farringdon, Sunderland in September 2006. Led home by Brian Rushworth in 2nd place (26'16), Tim Field was 9th (26'51), Tom Doughty 12th (27'21) and final counter Paul Merrison was 42nd (28'39). George Harden finished 70th in the race over 8k. (29'44). Harry Matthews, Elswick, was 1st Over 60, and Kath Stewart, NSP, was 1st Over 65 lady. Walter Ryder, Morpeth was 2nd Over 65.


British Masters Indoor Championships & Winter Throws Championships Held at Lee Valley Athletics Centre on 3rd and 4th March 2007

Out of the 579 athletes entered for the above championships, only 11 were from VAANE. However these 11 managed to win 11 golds, 4 silvers and 1 bronze. Kath Stewart won 3 golds in the W65 400m, 800m and 1500m. John Wild celebrated moving up an age group into M55 by winning 3 golds in the Discus, Shot Putt and Weights. Harry Matthews won 2 golds as a new M60 in the 1500m and 3000m. James Caddy won 2 golds in the M80 800m and 1500m. Richard Harvey won a gold in the M65 3000m and was 4th in the 800m. Don Butler M65 won a silver in the 60m and finished 6th in the 200m final after a stumble close to the line. Tom Brannon won two silvers in the M35 800m and 1500m, edging out John Moore who won bronze in the M35 800m and finished 4th in the 1500m. George Harden won silver in the M45 800m and was 4th in the 1500m. Kevin Nicholson was 5th in the M40 60m and Ian Archbold was 4th in the M40 3000m and 8th in the 1500m. Archie Jenkins and Lynne Marr were also present representing their scottish clubs.

2007 VAANE Cross Country Championships

Were held at Farringdon School on Saturday 24th February 2007.

The event was organised by Sunderland Harriers and VAANE. Brian Rushworth won the Mens M40 race for the fifth consecutive year. Heather Robinson won the ladies race. Full results are detailed on this site. It is unlikely that Sunderland Harriers will be able to defend their BMAF Cross-Country Relays title, they won at Farringdon last year, as this year the race is planned to be held on 14th April, which is also the date of the National Road Relays Championships at Sutton Park.


Masters Relays

Event: National Masters Relays
Venue: Sutton Park (Sutton Coldfield)
Date: 12 May 2007

It was a case of Deja Vu as North Shield Poly finished second again in the M35 race, and Sunderland Harriers finished third in the M40 race. In the M35 race Terry West finished 4th overall (1st Over 35) on leg one in 15'11. Tommy Brannon took NSP into the overall lead on leg 2 with his 15'28. Martin Frost, returning from injury, ran a steady race in 17'11 to drop NSP to 9th overall (4th Over 35). Iain Twaddle ran 15'19 to get NSP back into the silver medals in the M35 race, finishing 4th overall.

The M40 is over 8 legs, and Sunderland were 8th on leg 1 (6th Over 40) after Tim Field ran 15'21. Team Manager, Rob Rush, ran 16'41, finishing 13th (7th Over 40). Paul Collins lost a further place despite running 16'15. Jonathon Dobson, still feeling the effects of the London Marathon, ran 16'34 for 13th (8th Over 40). Brian Rushworth, ran the fastest leg for Sunderland, in 15'08 finishing 4th. Steve Coxon maintained 4th position with his 16'51. George Harden took Sunderland into the bronze medal position with his 16'10 before Paul Merrison consolidated third with his 15'50.

North Shields Poly finished 26th in the M40 race. NSP were 27th in the M50 race and 19th in the M60 race. NSP were 12th the W45 race.
 
10 mile Championships early notice

These will be incorporated in Tynedale Harriers “Jelly Tea Race 10” race on September 9th 2007.

Entry details to follow.

News update

Scottish Masters Indoor Championships - Kelvin Hall - Saturday 10th February 2007.

North East sprinters Paul Donaghy (Durham City), George Charlton (NEVAC) and Eric Smart (Gateshead Harriers) won gold medals in both the 60m and 200m at Kelvin Hall. Paul ran 7.50 and 24.24 in the Over 35 category. George ran 7.70 and 24.47 in the Over 40 category and Eric ran 7.68 and 24.73 in the Over 50 category. George Harden (Sunderland Harriers) finished 4th in the Over 45 1500m (4'23.10) and 2nd in the 800m (2'08.08). Both races were won by Stephen Smith (Preston Harriers), the 2006 World Indoor Over 45 1500m champion. Archie Jenkins took silver in the M50 1500m in 4'42.56 and won the M50 3000m in 10'11.80. Lynne Marr took silver in the W45 3000m in 12'13.92.


Congratulations to John Wild (Javelin M50), Don Butler (High Jump M65), Gill Dobson (Javelin W50) and Kath Stewart (400, 800, 1500 W65) for winning gold medals at the BMAF Track and Field Championships held at a windswept Alexander Stadium, Birmingham on 8th and 9th July.
David Dixon (Triple Jump M45), Don Butler (Long Jump M65) and Gill Dobson (80m Hurdles W50) took silver.
Tom Brannon (1500 M35), John Wild (Discus M50), David Maggs (Hammer M50), Andrew Webb (400m Hurdles M55), Stephanie White (400m, Triple Jump W45), Lynne Marr (10k W45), Gill Dobson (Discus W50) won bronze.
Full results are available on the BMAF website


Last update 17th April 2008