Club Results of the Abbotsford 55+ BC Games

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From Ultra Throw: Mohan (center) and Saroop Tatla (Right)

BC 55+ Senior Games were held once again in Abbotsford after a gap of 13 years from August 22–26, 2023. Games were spread over the Fraser Valley, and the track and field events were conducted at the Jennifer Swan Rotary Stadium, Abbotsford from the 23rd to the 26th. The weather conditions were perfect for good performances.

Eight of our Ultr Throw Club members had registered for the meet, however, Manjit Johal had to miss it due to a conflict, and Saroop Tatla had to pull out midway after one event. The results achieved by the members speak of their domination in various events – their performances were commendable. The results achieved were as follows :

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Harnek Toor on the podium

Mohan Bains

• Hammer Throw – Gold Medal

• Discus Throw – Gold Medal

• Javelin Throw – Gold Medal

• Weight Throw – Gold Medal

• Throws Pent. – Gold Medal

• Shot Put – Bronze Medal

Avtar Chhina

• Shot Put – Silver Medal

• Weight Throw – Silver Medal

• Long Jump – Silver Medal

• Discus Throw – Bronze Medal

Jaswinder Pannu

• Discus Throw – Silver Medal

• Javelin Throw – Silver Medal

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Francis Steinfeld on the podium

Francis Steinfeld

• Shot Put – Gold

• Hammer – Gold

• Discus – Silver

Saroop Tatla

• Throws Pent. – Bronze Medal

Harnek Toor

• Hammer Throw – Gold Medal

• Shot Put – Gold Medal

• Weight Throw – Gold Medal

• Throws Pent. – Gold Medal

• 1500 M Race Walk – Gold Medal

• Javelin – Silver Medal

• Discus – Bronze Medal

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Harnek and Ken with an event volunteer

Ken Townsend

• Discus – Silver Medal

• Javelin – Bronze Medal

• Throws Pent. – Bronze Medal

David Ulis

• Discus – Gold Medal

• Javelin – Gold Medal

• High Jump – Gold Medal

• Shot Put – Silver Medal

• Weight Throw – Silver Medal

• Throws Pent. – Silver Medal

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Avtar Chhina on the podium

All Club members have repeated their performances within ten days of the Canadian Masters Championship. Now they will follow it up during our Club Championship due on 24 Sep, 2023. That will be the end of this competitive season.

Our grateful thanks are due to the Organizing Committee of this Meet and the Officials who made it a memorable experience. Now we will be looking forward to next year’s BC 55+ Track and Field Meet being held at Salmon Arm from 10 – 14 September 2024.

View the Facebook photo album.

Ultra Throw Shines at Canadian Masters Track & Field Championships

Gold, Silver, Bronze Medals

“45 medals won by only 14 members of the Club!”

— President, Ultra Throw

The 48th Canadian Masters Track & Field Championships was conducted by the Greyhounds Club from Aug. 11–13, 2023 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley.

There were 412 participants including a score from abroad, but some of them did not turn up due to visa problems and about 400 made their presence felt during the Meet. Athletes subscribed to 1156 events in various disciplines. 14 of our Club members, which constituted approximately 70% of our Club strength, were 3.5% of the registration figures participating in 62 events (5.4% of the registered events).

Ultra Throw members participated in all the formats of throwing events. Some of them even tried their prowess in some track and jumping events as well. They won 45 assorted medals % wise, which is much higher than other clubs and speaks volumes of the achievements. The laurels won by our members are as follows:

• Gabriella Moro. She participated in the 75-79 age category. Very wisely she chose to take part only in three events and as predicted excelled in all three:

- Discus Throw - She achieved a distance of 22.00 M and won a Gold Medal.

- Shot Put - She achieved a distance of 8.41 M and won a Gold Medal.

- Hammer Throw - She achieved a distance of 24.92 M and won a Silver Medal.

• Betsy Rollins. She took part only in the Throws Pentathlon in the age category of 70–74 years. She was pitted against Canadian and B.C. record holders, yet she did very well to earn a Bronze Medal.

• Robbin Whachell. She took part in three events in the age category of 60–64 years and did quite well in a tough competition as follows:

- Discus Throw - She achieved a distance of 20.80 M winning a Silver Medal.

- Javelin Throw - She achieved a distance of 19.35 M winning a Bronze Medal.

- Shot Put - She achieved a distance of 7.22 M (PB) and was placed 4th.

In the shade at the shot put area – Five of the men of Ultra Throw

Men’s age category of 75–79 years. This category of our members dominated the entire competition. Out of eighteen throwing events only one, an ex-Olympian outside competitor was able to get a 1st position in the Hammer Throw and the other two were able to get third positions in Discus Throw and Shot Put. All other fifteen positions were garnered by our members. The positions were as follows :

Ken Townsend

- Javelin Throw - 20.55 M - Bronze Medal.

- Weight Throw - 10.17 M. - Bronze Medal.

- T. Pentathlon - 2429 Pts- Bronze Medal.

- Hammer Throw - 22.88 M - 4th.

- Shot Put - 7.67 M - 4th.

- Discus Throw - 22.50 M - 4th.

Harnek Toor

- Shot Put. - 9.91 M - Gold Medal.

- Javelin Throw - 29.91 M - Gold Medal.

- Weight Throw- 13.91 M - Gold Medal.

- Throws Pentathlon- 3352 Pts - Gold Medal.

- Long Jump - 3.38 M - Gold Medal.

- Hammer Throw- 34.10 M - Silver Medal.

- Discus Throw - 24.59 M - Silver Medal.

David Ulis

- Discus Throw - 31.01 M - Gold Medal.

- Shot Put - 8.99 M - Silver Medal.

- Javelin Throw - 29.73 M - Silver Medal.

- Weight Throw - 11.68 M - Silver Medal.

- High Jump - 1.15 M - Silver Medal.

- Throws Pentathlon - 3011 Pts - Silver Medal.

- Hammer Throw - 27.84 M - Bronze Medal.

Men’s age category of 70–74 years:

Mohan Bains

- Weight Throw - 14.26 M - Silver Medal.

- Hammer Throw - 34.64 M - Bronze Medal.

- Javelin Throw - 24.64 M - Bronze Medal.

- Shot Put - 10.59 M - Bronze Medal.

- Throws Pentathlon - 2944 Pts - Bronze Medal.

- Discus Throw - 29.07 M - 4th.

Saroop Tatla.

He did quite well in the Throws Pentathlon and got 4th position in a very tough field. In the run-up sprained his back and could not continue in the subsequent events.

Men’s age category of 60–64 years:

Paramjit Gill

- Weight Throw - 10.23 M - Silver Medal.

- Hammer Throw - 24.33 M - Silver Medal.

- Throws Pentathlon - 2055 Pts - Silver Medal.

- Discus Throw - 33.16 M - Bronze Medal.

- Shot Put - 8.80 M - 6th.

Alan Coles

- Javelin Throw - 37.34 M - Gold Medal.

- Discus Throw - 23.73 M - 6th.

Michael Lindsey

- Shot Put - 11.00 M - Silver Medal.

- Discus Throw - 34.74 M - Silver Medal.

Jaswinder Pannu

- Javelin Throw - 29.81 M - Bronze Medal.

- Discus Throw - 5th.

Avtar Chhina

- 100 M Hurdles - 32.15 Sec - Gold Medal.

- Long Jump - 3.58 M - Gold Medal.

- Triple Jump - 5.09 M - Silver Medal.

- High Jump - .90 M - Silver Medal.

- Pentathlon - (Pts awaited)

- Shot Put. - 5th.

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Thanks to photographer David Walker for photos in this collage: top 1st, 2nd, 5th, and bottom, 1st and second.

Men’s age category of 65–69 years:

Dave McDonald

- Hammer Throw - 28.23 M - Gold Medal.

- Javelin Throw - 32.33 M - Gold Medal.

- Weight Throw - 12.97 M - Gold Medal.

- Throws Pentathlon - 2680 Pts - Silver Medal.

Official Results HERE

Official CMA Event Writeup

Evidently, a crop of 45 assorted medals won by only 14 members of the Club is a great feat by any yardstick unmatched by any of the peers. It shows a great future, particularly for the younger lot. Dave McDonald participated after a long hiatus due to layoff forced by injury and subsequent knee operation, yet he did commendably. He is on his way to World Masters next year and so are a few more. We wish them good luck in Sweden in 2024.

We will wind up this fruitful year with the 55+ BC Track and Field event next week followed by our Club Championship on 1 October.