Welsh Master Steve Gardner struck gold at the British championships in Derby.

By Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 September 17, 2025

*Pictured on the podium (l-r): Simon Allen, Steve Gardner, and Phil York

Welsh Master Steve Gardner struck gold at the British championships in Derby...

Report by Don Hale.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

Welsh Master Steve Gardner claimed a prestigious gold medal last weekend in the 2000m steeplechase race during the British Masters Track and Field Championships held at the Moorways Stadium, near Derby.

Despite his varied successes on the track, bizarrely, this was the first time he has ever won a gold medal in the British Championships, and this latest impressive result is likely to have smashed another Welsh record!

After his event, a delighted Steve confirmed: “I competed in the 2000m steeplechase, winning a gold medal with a time of 7.37.24, with Phil York second and Simon Allen third.

“Whilst I have had some good results previously in Welsh Championships, this is the first time that I have won a gold medal in a British Championship.”

Steve also paid tribute to his coach and added: “I've worked more closely with John Messum, the North Wales Endurance Coach recently, which has been instrumental in my performance at Derby.

“I think my time will be a new Welsh VM60 record pending confirmation from Chris Pruski at Welsh Athletics, as the current Welsh records show the V60 2000m steeplechase record is held by David Rosser with a time of 8.32.73.

“However, the UK 'All Time' best performances indicate that Trefor Pugh from Maldwyn Harriers ran a time of 7.55.70 in 08/08/1999. The list also shows that Andrew Fox - an athlete that I raced against regularly in the 1980's and formerly of Colwyn Bay Athletics Club ran 7.47.1 on 23/06/2021, although he moved to the Isle of Man a number of years ago.

“I am hoping that the record will be ratified, and the time will likely be the 6th fastest time on the UK all-time list for a VM60.”

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025

Don Hale is a best-selling British author and former investigative journalist. He has been Journalist of the Year on three separate occasions in the past. and his extensive campaign to help free Stephen Downing for a murder he did not commit, won him both the Campaign and National Journalist of the Year Awards, A former regional newspaper editor, he was awarded an OBE in 2002 for campaign journalism. He has also been a lead investigator in several other successful, high-profile, miscarriage of justice and human rights cases. He has written several best selling books including - Murder in the Graveyard a true crime mystery story. There is also Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's Favourite Spy, and Mallard about the battle to create the fastest steam loco in the world against the challenge from Nazi Germany, and more lately, there is The Jersey Boys and Liberation, about the secret stories of occupied Jersey during WW2, told by several resistance heroes and historians.