Steve Gardner smashed the record at the NW steeplechase open race

By Don Hale


*Pictured above - Steve Gardner smashed another record at The North Wales Endurance open meeting at Deeside last weekend. (Photo by Bill Scrivens).

Steve Gardner smashed the record at the NW 1500m steeplechase open race...

Report by Don Hale.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

coastandcountry.blog

 

NWRRC veteran and team GB athlete Steve Gardner competed in the North Wales Endurance open race meeting at Deeside last Friday night and recorded a new personal best time of 5 minutes 22 seconds and smashed the record in the 1500m steeplechase race.


Steve confirmed: “There were no medals awarded as this was just an open meeting. I ran with the girl's as the barrier height for them is the same height as V60 male at 76.2cm, the barrier height for men is higher, and I finished 2nd overall.


“I raced on Friday night and achieved a new PB, which just dipped under my previous best of 5.23.83, which currently stood as UK V60 All Time best performance. 


“Whilst V60 steeplechase championships races are held over a distance of 2000m it was extremely satisfying to achieve a PB in the 1500m event on the track where I started my athletics career as a 13-year-old back in 1975. 


“It was a cinder track in those days, but the current track surface, new steeplechase barriers and perfect weather conditions on Friday evening definitely helped me achieve this PB.


“The main goals for this season will be the 1500m and 800m in the North Wales Outdoor Track and Field Champs at Bangor next Saturday 9th May, then I'll probably do the 1500m and 800m in the Welsh champs at Yate in June, then the 2000m steeplechase at the British champs in Derby in September.”

 


Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

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