Medal and PB success at the Welsh track & field championships at Yate

*Sean and Steve McCormack both won gold medals in the same race.

Medal and PB success at the Welsh track & field championships at Yate

Report by Don Hale, with input from Brett Davis and Steve Gardner.

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

coastandcountry.blog

 

There was a good turn-out and plenty of medal success and PBs at the recent Welsh Masters Athletics track and field championships staged at Yate on 28th June.

This prestigious event attracted nearly 500 Masters in total from a variety of clubs across the UK for a highly competitive national encounter, which again included the Welsh finals.

And we are fortunate to have some excusive reports from a unique race in which a father and son both won gold medals, and some extraordinary news of an unfortunate mistake where a controversial lap counter failed, yet the athlete in question still won a silver medal; and in in contrast, a report from an international track champion who struck gold in two track events.

Welsh Masters Athletics director Brett Davis confirmed: “Sean McCormack and his son Steven (Abergele Harriers) were the father and son mentioned, and they competed against each other in the same track race, and both claimed gold medals in their respective age categories, whilst rival Aled Hughes became the unfortunate victim of a track error with the judges making him finish a lap early.

“Aled therefore only recorded a meaningless time, but we (WMAL) obtained an agreement from them over this situation, and he was later awarded a silver medal.”

Team GB and Welsh international athlete Steve Gardner (North Wales Road Runners), also celebrated with two gold medals from the 1500m and 800m track events. 

*Steve Gardner (NWRRC) in the yellow vest is pictured (*right) with Aled Hughes (GOG Triathlon).

After his race, he said: “some 489 Master athletes competed in warm and slightly breezy conditions. I won a gold medal in the 1500m in a new PB of 4.54.59 with Steve Roberts (Handy Cross Runners) second in 5.05.05.

“Later in the afternoon, I won another gold medal in the 800m in a time of 2.20.90, just edging out Colin Williams (Les Croupiers) 2.21.36, in an exciting sprint finish where both of us were giving everything right up to the finish line.”

Steve also paid tribute to Aled Hughes (GOG Triathlon), as mentioned in Brett’s previous statement, about his heroic efforts in other races, and confirmed: “Welsh Master Aled Hughes competed in the 800m and the 5000m with only 15 minutes between both races, with two fantastic performances earning him a gold and silver medal.”

*This is the link to the Coast and Country online magazine site:

https://www.coastandcountry.blog/post/medal-and-pb-success-at-the-welsh-track-field-championships-at-yate