Competing in Masters athletics by Sharon Hutchings age 54

I have been competing abroad since 2022 at the European Indoor champs, Braga. Restarting after having my left knee replaced in 2021 due to osteoarthritis. During this time of recovery I had a lot of thinking time and I’d always regretted giving up athletics aged 25 as good shot putter, discus thrower whose pb’s were 12.24m and 33.50m with a highest British ranking of 6 for shot put aged 16.

I started collecting all my old newspaper cuttings , British ranking books , memories and reminiscing about how much I enjoyed throwing in those days. During this time a good friend Ann Thatcher who was my friend and colleague at Newbury AC years ago mentioned masters athletics that ppl my age were doing well in my field. I thought I’m too old surely ? I have a mechanical knee?, osteoarthritis in my right knee, other various health conditions, surely I’m past it .?!!

But then I started looking up what people my age were throwing and when I became more mobile, started back at work after the knee replacement, started throwing my shot up the garden and realised that I still had a very good throwing arm !!

At this time the para olympics were on and I was very inspired by athletes despite their disabilities that were competing to such a high standard and I thought I wonder ?……could I do it again ? This thought would not go away and it became a mission.

I joined Midlands masters first , then Oxford Athletics club . Then bit the bullet and competed at an indoor at a Lee Valley vets match in shot throwing 8.05m and winning a medal ! The joy of this inspired me to carry on …then I was so determined to carry on and get better. I met many inspirational athletes Gaye Clarke, Ian Crawley who talked about international comps and that you don’t have to throw a standard to compete in them any ability can go.

Knowing very few ppl at this time and being highly anxious I competed internationally in Braga , Portugal and the experience was just awesome . The whole experience brought all those proud emotions back to me, made me feel pretty invincible that at my age and broken body I could still achieve great things like competing for Great Britain. Above all it made me very happy.

So several years later I am still loving it and competing now for Welsh masters , Oxford AC, and Great Britain. I now love doing all the throws -shot is still the one I’m best at, but I love hammer, discus, Javellin, heavy weight too.

I’ve met so many inspirational athletes that have become very good friends, who inspire me to carry on. My friends circle stretches around the world where I am meeting new ones all the time. The support I get from these guys is fabulous and just makes me want to carry on and on.

In October this year I travelled to Madeira to compete for GB at the European masters champs. I decided to enter all the throws individually and throwing weight pentathlon (all the throws together one day ).

The experience as ever was a brilliant one . Being in the final year of the 50-55 age group I knew the competition would be tough competing against many younger fitter athletes but I am proud of how I held up :- Here are my results :-

Starting with the highest position :-

Javellin W50 13th 15.71m

Weight pentathlon W50 15th 1883points Seasons Best.Sp 9.08m,(SB) ,Wt 7.10m , Ht 22.06, DT 19.99m (SB), JT 15.62m.

Weight throw W50 16th 8.61m (SB)

Shot W50 19th 8.79m

Discus W50 20th 17.01m

Hammer W50 23rd 22.35m

On reflection some of my performances were below par, but had several seasons bests and considering the amount of competing, sometimes 11pm finishes , multiple venues for throws pent, I’m overall pleased with how I did to come away with many seasons bests.

Overall as an athlete with various health conditions which bring many challenges to me both physically and mentally I am very proud of what I’ve achieved and I am determined to train well and throw well in 2026.

Now a winter training program will help me throw to my best.

I have been training with the help of Sian Rees who is a strength and conditioning coach for Elite 82 who recognises the parts of my body which are broken and adapts around them to make me stronger, fitter, Jacqueline Cherry Discus, hammer technical coach at Oxford Ac, and Greg Beard, England throws coach Shot, Discus (recently in last few months ) I’d like to personally acknowledge these lovely peeps for their amazing time and efforts in me.

I’d like to also point out that in 2018 I lost my dear mum Gwendoline , who wasn’t just my mum but my best friend,then just a year and a half later my dear brother Victor. I became very depressed and lost the will to want to carry on. My life felt so empty and alone . Athletics saved me and brought a lot of joy and happiness to my life , Laughter , excitement with beautiful friends that are like family to me . In fact we call each other our ‘athletics family ‘. we all support each other to do well and celebrate our successes.

I’d like to also thank my dear Dad, brother Paul and sister in law Heather for their encouragement and understanding , despite it not being easy for themselves either.

This is masters athletics , so not just competing but a whole new experience of friendship, happiness❤️🥰

Masters Thrower aged 54

By Sharon Hutchings