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.

View fullsize

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.

Club Results at 2022 BC Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championship

The BC Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championship was held on August 13 and 14, 2022 at the South Surrey Athletic Park. It was hosted by the Greyhounds Track and Field Club.

This was the first meet of the season for Ultra Throw Club members to participate in and seven members registered, however, one member could not reach the venue due to a road closure enroute. As such, only six participated in the event.

Each did very well in their respective events and produced best pro-rata performance than members of any other throwing clubs. The results speak for themselves and are as follows:

1. Gabriella Moro – Competed in 4 events and won 4 Gold Medals.

2. Elizabeth Rollins – Competed in three events and won 1 Gold and 2 Silver Medals.

3. Aly Ismail – Competed in 1 event and won 1 Gold Medal.

4. AVTAR Chhina – Competed in 4 events and won 1 Gold and 3 Silver Medals.

5. Mohan Bains – Competed in 6 events and won 4 Gold and 2 Silver Medals.

6. Harnek Toor – Competed in 8 events and won 8 Gold Medals.

7. Jaswinder Pannu. Could not reach from 100 Mile House due to landslide, as such, DNS.

Now, all our preparation is for the upcoming BC Masters Throws Pentathlon Championship on August 27 followed by the 55+ Senior Games in Victoria in September.

Team Ultra Throw Well Represented at Canadian Masters Championships

Dave Uliis and Harnek Toor medal in the hammer.

The Canadian Masters Track & Field Championships were hosted in western Canada this year to the delight of west coast athletes, and team Ultra Throw was very well represented at the event which was hosted by Oceans Athletics from August 3 - 5, 2018 at the South Surrey Athletic Park. 

Competing for Ultra Throw along with athletes from across the country (and from New Zealand, the US and India) was: Andrew Arthur, Mohan Bains, Rose Hare, John Hodgson, David Kotula, Andrew Natale, Harnek Toor, Gabriella Moro, Johannes Peters, Elisabeth Rollins, Robbin Whachell, Celina Wong, and David Ulis.

The team garnered over 60 medals collectively.

Congratulations to Johanne 'Jo' Peters (64) who broke a record for the Throws Pentathlon with 3619 points.

Full results from the event can be found HERE. 

Dave Kotula received bronze in shot put. 

Gabriella Moro competing in shot put. 

Robbin Whachell with her javelin silver (55+)

3 Ultra Throw Members Compete at 22nd World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships

Team Ultra Throw in Perth, Austratlia. L-R: Dave McDonald, Francis Steinfeld, and Scot Henney (Photo: Matt Henney)

Three Ultra Throw members traveled to Perth, Australia in October 2016 to compete at the 22nd World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships.

Scot Henney won 5 of the 20 total medals for Canada at the Championships.  Gold for the weight throw and the weight pentathlon, silver for the hammer, and bronze for the shot put and the javelin (he placed 4th in the discus).  Not bad for taking up the sport at 89 years of age (two years ago)!

Frances Steinfeld had top 8 finishes in all the events she entered (she passed on the javelin).  Frances placed 6th in the shot put, 7th in the weight throw, hammer and the weight pentathlon, and 8th in the discus.

Dave McDonald placed 5th in the hammer, 6th in the javelin, 9th in the weight throw, 16th in the shot put and 17th in the discus.  He did not finish the weight pentathlon.  

"It was quite the experience for us all," said Dave McDonald.  "The structure and formality of the events will be remembered by me for a long time.  The biggest 'bring back' from the games will definitely be the interactions with all the competitors in every event and within the championships.  I have said it before: 'throwers are the best!' "

Click HERE to see photos of Scot Henney competing in Perth.

Click HERE for RESULTS of the 22nd World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships