In previous poasts we have followed the progress of Angela Kelly, W65 athlete. Below you can catch up on her late 25 Outdoor activities and her 25/26 Indoor Season. And as ever, she is supported by her dedicated coach John Birkett.
2025 Outdoor Season
The 2025 outdoor season it was a late end to the season with the British Masters Championships in middle of September, followed by the European Masters Championships in Maderia from 12th October to 19th October which also saw us catch some great early winter sunshine and daily temperature’s of 22deg. First up was the British Outdoor Championships in Derby and Angela competing in her new age group W65 in 100m, & 200m races, Saturday saw the 100m race and Angela lined up against some tough runners but had prepared well for the championship in mind Angela went on to win the British Masters 100m gold medal and set her new W65 age group PB of 15.68s, Sunday was the turn of the 200mtrs and Angela give a good account of her self and finished in 4th Place overall and set a new W65 age group PB of 33.51s overall view a excellent British Champs for Angela.
After her return from Derby Angela had 3 weeks more of training before flying out Maderia for the European Masters outdoor Championships starting on the 12th October, we arrived 6 days before the Championship to acclimatize as still very hot at that time of year with daily temperatures around 22deg, with the 100m & 200m race heats scheduled for 5pm & 3.30pm.
Angela’s 100m race there was 3 heats of semifinals Angela was drawn in heat 2 and came 2nd in 15.87 to make the European Masters 100m outdoor final, after a day rest. The final was held at 4.05pm which was a wee bit cooler at that time. Angela was 5th overall in the final in a time of15.88s with the winning of 14.29s by Nicole Alexis from France who retained her European Masters Championship title.
Angela’s was in heat 1 of 3 for the 200m races and ran 34.36s in heat and missed the cut for the round. After the individual races the Men & Women GB 4 x 100m relay teams where selected and Angela was selected for the W65 4X100M GB team, and Angela and team mates went on to win a 4 x 100m European Relay silver medal so it was a great way to finish the Championships for Angela and team mates2026 Indoor Season.
Indoor Season 25/26
After Maderia Angela had a 6 week break from the track but keep up with her swimming and light gym sessions in this period, then returned to the track on Monday night 23rd November, as well training at local track we also made the weekly trip up to Emirates through out the indoor season.
After a few weeks training Angela’s first run was at the Yuletide meeting on December 13th where she entered the 60mtrs and ran 9.99s its a great little meeting and for Angela a good little run out to being the season. Angela’s next run was the Scottish National indoor open 11th January again in 60mtrs and ran slightly quicker with 9.84s then ran her first 200m race of the indoor season in 35.59s.
Then we travelled to Sports City Manchester in the Sale Harriers indoor series on 18th January and ran two 60mtrs races the first was 10.00s and her second run out was 9.83s improving gently.
From Manchester back up to the Emirates in the Scottish Masters Championships on 8th February again over 60mtrs & 200mtrs first up was the 60m and Angela ran her season best time in 9.82s to win the W65 Championship Gold Medal, then lined up in her 200m race again a season best time of 34.97s to win the W65 Championship Gold Medal all going in the right direction for Angela.
Next up was the long journey down to North London for the British Masters Indoor Championships at Lee Valley Stadium Enfield travelling down on Friday 20th February again for 60mtrs & 200mtrs first race was Saturday 21st February the 200mtrs where Angela ran 34.63 to finish in 4th place over all, then a 10am start Sunday morning for Angela’s 60m semifinal heat and ran a new W65 age group PB in 9.67s to qualify for the 60m final, ran at 12.30hrs Angela ran another excellent race in the final with a 9.75s time to win the British Masters Championship bronze medal, so another good weekend for Angela which made the long journey back up to Carlisle more satisfying for everyone in the car.
After few weeks more training at local track and more visits up to the Emirates due to the weather conditions, we headed for the North East Masters and Cumbria Indoor Championships held in Gateshead College Gateshead on Sunday 15th March once again for 60mtrs, Angela went into this race in good shape and ran a new 60mtr W65 age group PB and also set a new W65 age group Cumbria championship record, and set a new North East Masters indoor 60mtr Championship record of 9.72s and was great preparation for European Indoor Championships in Torun Poland.
After the previous meeting 15th March we manged to make 2 mid week visits up to the Emirates Arena to finish Angela’s preparation for Torun and before we fly out of Edinburgh on Monday the 23rd March to Gdansk then travel by train from Gdansk to Torun on the same day, the European Indoor Championships started on Friday 27th March to Thursday 2nd April so we arrived 6 days before Angela was due to race on the Sunday 29th March and to fit in some training session work and to get the feel of the new track that was laid for the World Indoor Championships a week before our Championships, once again 60mtrs & 200mtr races was Angela’s targets and was going to very tough race oppositions in both races, first up was Angela’s 60m semifinal heat 1 of 3 and ran a vey excellent time of 9.60s a new W65 age group PB for Angela and 3rd place in her heat so had to wait for the other 2 heat times to come through, after the other times came out Angela just missed out of the 60mtr European Masters Final by 3 /100th’s of a second, as Angela said she give it her all and although just missing the final the positive was a new personal best time for the 2026 indoor season, which started back in December 2025 in the Emirates with a time of 9.99s and after todays run of 9.60s is a new W65 Age Group PB for Angela and her first Major European Championship since her heart attack in December 2023. I would like to say a big thank you to the training group that have helped and supported me through the tough times down at the track and through some wet and windy sessions, so a visit to the Emirates was heaven to me and the group when John took us all up for some indoor training and once it was over into the canteen for bowl of home made lentil soup which John can recommend, also to Giffnock North AC in allowing me to compete in club meetings which played a big part in getting me race fit and build up my confidence to come back racing on the track once again a big thank you, and not to forget the taxi driver and my coach John how plans all my training and races for me and the training group and for getting me and the group to the start line in all races a big thank John.