Steyning Resident breaks British Record.

Local resident David Burton resolved in his 75 year to attempt to break the British over 75 pentathlon & decathlon records. David, a sprinter having won World & European medals during the last 25 years all over the world, has for the last 30 years also been taking part in multi event championships.  For those unfamiliar with masters athletics you compete in 5 year age groups & the weight of the throwing implements decreases at ages 50,60 & 70.

His year started with the World Indoor Championships in Kamloops Canada in March. The trip there also allowed him and his wife to travel through the Rockies, and to visit one of their sons in Alberta. Being injured David was reasonably satisfied with a 2nd place in the 60m and a 3rd in the 200m.

His next competition was closer to home in Oxford for the British Pentathlon Championships in late May. On a very hot day, and no injury worries David smashed the record performing Long Jump 3.76m, Javelin 23.58m   200m in 30.97s   Discus 20.42m  1500m 7-05.25   3474pts

This together with the hot weather was a good workout for what was to come. There would be two opportunities to attempt the British Decathlon record in 2010 – in Joplin Missouri USA(more reliable weather) in June or Oxford in September. The USA & GB have a biannual multi event competition which this year was in the USA.  A small team of 8 travelled to Missouri where they stayed with host families  The weather for the competition was excellent being over 90deg F on both days. David had an excellent first day with the following performances: 100m 14.12s   Long Jump 3.73m.  Shot 7.79m High Jump 1.18m & 400m 80.86s. which gave him over 3500 points -well in advance of the British record!

However things went very wrong in the first event in the early morning on the Sunday. He got his strides completely wrong in the hurdles resulting in hitting the final hurdle & crashing to the ground. He quickly got up and made the finish line to get a few points which is what multi events is all about. This mishap had cost him probably over 400 points but the record was still attainable. David finally finished all 10 events & smashed the record by over 600 points!

Well done David!

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