What an incredible experience, the 4x200m mixed relay at the World Indoor Masters Championships in Torun, Poland. Competing on the world stage is exhilarating enough, but securing a medal made it the crowning moment of my athletics career so far. Being part of a relay team with Paul Guest, Christine Anthony, and Janice Pryce added camaraderie to the excitement. Winning the silver medal just behind the USA team was amazing. As this was the event’s debut at the world championships, it feels even more special, with a chance of setting new British and European records in the future, who knows?
Number 2
The 200m at the Scottish Masters Indoor Championships wasn’t just about speed, it was about the thrill of competition. The duel between equally matched athletes made it fiercely unpredictable. At any point, Neil Tunstall, John Statham, Shane Sheridan, or I could have taken the victory. In the end, I was fortunate enough to secure the win, making it one of the most memorable and hard fought races I’ve ever experienced.
Number 3
Another 200m, this time at the Scottish Masters Championships, racing against Ronnie Hunter, a true legend in Masters sprinting. Ronnie pushed me hard around the bend, but I managed to maintain my speed and clocked a lifetime Personal Best of 26.19 seconds. This race was special, not just because of the competition, but because it marked a significant milestone in my sprinting journey.
Number 4
A non-championship race just an impromptu time trial at a North East Seniors Grand Prix meeting. In only my second outdoor 400m, I managed an impressive 59.75 seconds. At the time, it felt like a promising sign of the season ahead, even if things didn’t quite go according to plan afterward.
Number 5
Back to the Scottish Masters Championships, this time for the 100m sprint. It was another thrilling showdown with Ronnie Hunter, who had a strong start, leaving me to dig deep to stay in contention. In the final meters, I managed to catch him and take the gold with a time of 13.11 seconds. To top it off, my teammate Conrad Kennedy also won the M55 gold in the same heat.
Number 6
The 100m at the North East Masters League in July was memorable for different reasons. The heats were seeded by time, not age, and the rainy evening didn’t make it easy. But winning the B final in 13.0 seconds added a little extra satisfaction to the night.
Number 7
A bittersweet 400m at the British Masters Championships. After a four-week training hiatus and battling a stubborn back issue, securing the silver medal felt like a win in itself. They say overcoming challenges makes victory sweeter, well, this one certainly had an unusual flavour!
Number 8
Back at the World Indoor Championships, this time for the 200m. Despite some uncertainties after a shaky performance at the British Masters Indoor Championships, I qualified for the semi-finals and placed 10th overall in the Championships. It was a memorable experience, and there was more to come in the relay!
Number 9
The Inter-Area Event was a team competition among regional masters associations. This was my last competitive 200m race of 2023, though I didn’t realise it at the time. Racing alongside some great fellow GBR athletes, including the notable Michael Vassilou, it was a tough but rewarding experience.
Number 10
To cap it all off, the grand finale of my season was the 200m at the World Indoor Championships. It was a dual-purpose race, both to qualify for the semi-finals and to secure a place on the 4x200m GBR relay squad. I made the semi-finals and finished 10th overall, but missed out on relay team selection by a mere 4/100ths of a second. It’s those fine margins in sport that keep you on your toes, or on the edge of your seat!
Stuart Lynn - Masters Athlete 