The Northern Veterans club staged its annual Track and Field Championships at Wilson Playing Fields, Clayton-le-Moors last week, attracting athletes from as far afield as Cleethorpes and Barrow.

The weather was in keeping with the tone too as East Lancashire went through its own Indian summer.

The term veteran is gradually being replaced by masters, and Burnley's John Edwards showed his mastery over the hammer early in the day winning outright with a distance of 37.02 metres.

The over 55 veteran was more than four metres clear of his nearest rival, and five in front of the second M55.

John followed up with second in age in the shot and third in the discus.

Club mate Mike Linaker is another stalwart of veteran athletics and he shone in the javelin where he won the M55 class in 33.29m.

Linaker was kept busy for most of the afternoon in the jumps making second in age at the triple and high jumps, and third in the long jump.

Burnley new signing David Perry enjoyed his first outing in this competition in the over 40s, trying a variety events with some success.

David won his age group in the javelin and the long jump and was second overall in the 100 metres sprint in 12.9 seconds. His enthusiasm is already making an impression at Burnley, and they are trying to persuade him to join the committee.

Bill Atkinson is a familiar figure on the road racing circuit, and the former Blackburn Harrier from Longridge sharpened his speed with 21:47.3 in the 5,000 metres as he placed third in the over 65s.

Among the stars on display were over 75s Derek Howarth from Leigh and Arthur Walsham of Salford.

Derek has recently returned from Poland where he won three golds and one silver medal in the European Championships while Arthur has been World Champion on several occasions.

Also competing was Blackpool and Fylde's Dave Myerscough, the father of the "Blackpool Tower" Great Britain thrower Carl. Dave coached Carl from the age of 13, and now an over 60 veteran himself, he threw the discus 41.68 metres for an easy victory.

Northern Vets is a club that you can represent as a first claim member, or be second claim and still take part in their events.

Throughout the season there is a series of monthly runs, usually paths or cross country, and in the summer a series of track and field meetings.

There are also Northern Veteran Championship events and with the club being affiliated to the British Masters Athletic Federation, members can enter BMAF Championships too.

There are International events as well, but athletes must enter individually. Only one team is selected to represent England, and that is for the British and Irish Masters International Cross Country, which this year is in Falkirk on November 18.

On Saturday, there is the World Masters Mountain Running Championships at Saiilon, Switzerland and on Sunday the BMAF 10K Road Championships are at Swansea.

Locally, Northern Vets are holding their monthly run at Great Harwood on Sunday, then the following week, on October 1, the NVAC and BVAF 10 mile Road Championships are at St Annes.

The race starts at 11.30am and race HQ is St Annes Fire Station, St Andrews Road North. Non BMAF members must enclose proof of age, and the closing date for entries is Monday.

There will be no entries on the day. Entry form is on the website www.nvac.co.uk. For membership enquiries the NVAC Membership Secretary is Tina Lewis, 110 Grassington Drive, Burnley, BB10 2SP.