“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.

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.

Head official David short of bc athletics holds the red flag as other officials and Ultra Volunteers assist in measuring.

The weather forecast called for 100% chance of rain, but that did not stop the dedicated athletes, officials and organizers of the first Ultra Throw Festival for 2023 held on April 16 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley.

Set up was early, and after an initial shower, the weather cleared for the hammer throw to get underway. It was only a few hours that the deluge began (along with wind), and it continued until the last implement was thrown in the afternoon.

Twenty-three competitors had registered, of which eleven were from the Ultra Throw Club. Twelve had come forward from other clubs with a few being unattached as well. It was commendable on the part of one seasoned athlete who came all the way from Quesnel to participate in the first meet of the season. James Dyer put in a thrilling performance under trying conditions.

With there being no let-up in the weather, five of the participants decided to avoid venturing into the rings. As such, there were only eighteen active participants who tried their prowess to challenge the chilly windy, and rainy conditions with circles full of water.

the throwing circle was full of water, but on they threw! seen here is James Dyer (80-84) from Quesnel.

Paige Wiancko competed for the first time as a member of Ultra Throw, as did Michael Lindsey.

individual results

Pentathlon and Triathlon results

Though the weather hampered most of the performances, the men did quite well in the shot put. Shawn Stevens (50-54) had a throw of 10.36 M, Rafal Czekajlo (55-59) with a throw of 11.33M, Michael Lindsey (60-64) with a throw of 10.80 M, and James Dyer (80-84) with a throw of 8.61 M tried to beat the weather conditions. In addition, James Dyer did quite well in Hammer Throw (32.89 M), Weight Throw (12.74 M) and the Super Weight Throw (8.41 M). Mathe Sturrock (Open) did very well in the Hammer Throw with a performance of 40.67 M and in Weight Throw with a heave of 11.47 M. Deven Marrero(17-18 yrs) was the cynosure of attraction with a throw of 59.07 M in Hammer Throw.

By and large, the lady participants outshone their male counterparts with Caroline (50-54) leading the charge with sterling performances in Hammer Throw (37.69 M), Shot Put (9.12 M), Discus Throw (23.39 M), Weight Throw (9.09 M) and the Throws Pentathlon with a score of 2445 points. Celina Wong (60-64) did quite well in Hammer Throw (31.43 M), Weight Throw (10.59 M) and the Super Weight Throw (7.54 M). Paige (35-39) did quite well in Hammer Throw(26.83 M) and the Super Weight Throw (3.28 M). Keratin Dhillon(17-18 yrs)braving the slippery conditions did quite well in the Discus Throw(34.28 M).

Ultra Throw would like to thank the officials of BC Athletics for their perseverance through difficult conditions. Dave Short and his team conducted the meet with clockwork precision.