Arthur Thomson from Letchworth GC has done it again. Arthur (left) has achieved his ambition to break a world record barely a month after winning gold and silver at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Austria for race walking over 10k and 3k in t

Arthur Thomson from Letchworth GC has done it again.

Arthur (left) has achieved his ambition to break a world record barely a month after winning gold and silver at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Austria for race walking over 10k and 3k in the 65-69 age group.

He did this in the 20k walk at the RWA National Championships in Sheffield on Saturday, beating the World Masters Athletics record for the 70-74 age group on his 70th birthday!

Arthur romped home in 1-54:11 and knocked nearly four minutes off the previous record set in 1986 by James Grimwade of Great Britain.

Stevenage and North Herts AC opened its summer programme of league events by travelling to Basingstoke for match one in the Southern Women's League.

In the senior age group, first places were picked up by Bunmi Awokoya (100m in 13.0), Sara Bailey (1500m A in 4:52.8), Joanne Mansell (1500m B in 5.07.8), Justine Simpson (80m hurdles in 13.0), Wendy Meadows-Smith (high jump clearing 1.63m), Helene McLellan (two wins - triple jump of 10.32m and javelin throw of 35.01m), Shelley McLellan (shot put of 12.24m), and Sandra Reed (triple jump B with 9.66m).

The under-15 girls, many in the first year of the age group, had three wins. Their successful trio were Anna Rees (high jump 1.50m), Chloe Vernon-Hamilton (discus B with 17.74m) and Hollie Crease (javelin B of 11.05m).

Athletes who were second in their events were Anne Rees (u15 long jump, 4.62m), Frances Gross (u15 discus, 20.77m, and shot B, 6.45m), Chloe Vernon-Hamilton (u15 high jump B, 1.25m), Bethan Scanes (u15 long jump B 3.97m), with seniors Bunmi Awokoya (200m, 26.6, and shot B, 8.75m), Beth Harris (pole vault, 2.70m) and Jean Harris (hammer B, 26.76m).

In the 4x400m relay event, Joanne Mansell clocked 61.1 in her debut at the distance.

The club's league position after its first match is 17th out of 25 teams.

The men open their league programme at Hemel Hempstead this Saturday.

Neil McLellan opened his season at Eton over the weekend with a javelin throw of 64.34m.

The Poulton brothers went to the open meet at Watford last Wednesday for 800m races, with Sam clocking 2:02.02 and Danny 2:05.13.

Away from the London Marathon, three Fairlands Valley Spartans who were 'baggage bus' helpers made sure they got some exercise on Saturday.

Rob and Pauline Hardy were at the Bath Beat Off Road Marathon.

Rob completed the full 26.2 miles in 6-09:36 and Pauline took 5-58:43 for the 17-mile option.

Mike Newbitt was at the Caythorpe Canter which he ran in 4-20.