3:03pm Thursday 11th June 2009
By Andy McAllister
Chorley Athletic Club chairman John Payn is still improving at the age of 76, and the evidence is tangible as he returned from Denmark this week with two gold medals in his luggage.
After being a runner, John took to race walking as a 60-year-old in order to extend his career as a competitive athlete, and the strategy has been more successful than even he could have dreamed.
Taking part in the European Masters Non-Stadia Champ-ionships at Aarhus, Payn entered the 30 kilometre walk.
The Germans were thought to be serious rivals in the Age 75-80 class, particularly in the team race, but according to John they ended up on the sidelines watching after being deterred by the strength of the Great Britain team.
The British were assured of team gold because no other nation managed to muster the necessary three athletes, but the trio emphasised their superiority by filling the first three places.
Until last year, Payn had never won an individual medal, but he broke that run at the European Masters Stadium Championships at Ljubljana in Slovenia with a bronze.
Now he has added that first elusive gold in emphatic fashion after completing the course in 3:44:59, a quarter of an hour ahead of Eric Horwill with John May third.
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