A personal experience by Dot Kesterton

The 2025 European Masters Athletics Championships was hosted on the beautiful island of Madeira. Thousands of athletes met in this biennial event to compete in track, field and non-stadia competition. A small group of Steel City Striders, Jed Turner, Fiona Jeffries, Louise Rowley and myself along with a handful of Totley companions joined over 500 GBNI competitors to form the largest representative group at the championships.

Dot with her XC Team and Individual bronze medals

I entered the non-stadia Cross Country, 10k road and half marathon, a tall order since the half marathon followed only three days after the 10k so would leave little time for recovery. I had torn a leg muscle in late March so my preparation had to incorporate a big emphasis on strength training and recovery and less on actual running. This was far from ideal but with lots of support I was able to build up strength, endurance and speed over the months before the event.

GB athletes before the 10k road race

Registration was at the main stadium at Ribeira Brava, a stunning location in which the stadium nestled between imposing mountains with the sea just visible beyond. Wearing our national strip and queuing in warm sunshine to collect athlete accreditation and travel passes gave us our first chance to mix with athletes from home and abroad as well as many young volunteers from the local university.

My first race was the 6k Cross Country, a spectacular and breathtaking 1230m above Funchal in a lovely nature reserve. It was worth the scary drive round hairpin bends as we headed for the clouds. The poor hire car laboured up in first and second gear to get us there. I recall it being very cold as we made our preparations in coats and hoodies, our breath visible in the early morning light. A heavy dew sat on the course which was mostly tussocky grass peppered with large potholes, stones and sheep poo. A perfect cross-country course by any standards. It was a well-marked and fenced off 1k circuit rising and falling with one notable descent and climb per lap. I had my old adversary and friend Margret Gottnauer, Germany among the 12 or so W70 runners but dismissed the very youthful Christine Kennedy, Ireland, as too young to feature in my age group. Around 100 runners W65+ and M65+ set off on the first race of the day at 9.00, the sun finally beginning to warm the ground and our cold bodies. I gave chase to Margret and did my best to hold onto her tail but she was able to push ahead to finish in 30.58 with me a minute later in 31.59. Then I learned that the young Irishwoman was indeed W70 and had romped round in 29.54. Christine Kennedy had taken the gold for Ireland decisively.

6k cross country action

With team scores aggregated Germany won team gold, Ireland silver and GB with Louise Rowley, Lyn Jenkins and I bronze. I was pretty happy with 2 bronze medals in my first event.

The 10k Road Race, four days later was held after dark to avoid the heat of the day. We warmed up outside the Christiano Ronaldo Centre alongside the harbour in 80% humidity jostling with hundreds of runners, all in their national kit and doing their final drills. As one of around twelve W70’s all intent to getting onto the podium I was going to have to work hard for this one. The course was two laps of 5k each with around 55m elevation and some cobbles to negotiate around the town square. Lots of cheering spectators lined the route clapping and yelling at us to keep at it. The first 5k seemed fine to me. Just a parkrun with only a parkrun left. Easy. I felt good. Heartrate not too high, breathing under control, legs moving well. As I turned into the second climb above the harbour, my legs beginning to burn and breathing more ragged Gottnauer pulled ahead, or did I pull back? For a second time I chased her into the funnel to finish in 2nd place in 50.24 and silver medal position to Gottnauer’s gold in 49.40. Strider Louise Rowley finished a strong third in 51.15 to earn a podium place in her first international event. With team scores aggregated we were awarded team Gold. A couple of non-alcoholic beers in a sea front bar with family and friends topped a memorable evening.

Team gold in the 10k event (minus Louise Rowley who was already on her way home)

The final non stadia race, the Half Marathon was early on Sunday 19th October, the final day of the competition. Only two full days since the 10k, I reasoned that with tired legs I should take the first half steadily and only raise the pace in the later stages. The course followed wide roads along the coast west of Funchal and included two laps of 7k before a sharp descent to the harbour with two further laps of around 3k each, finishing near the port. The heat and humidity were apparent even before dawn so a conservative pace was going to be necessary. Just as the sun rose the gun sounded and to loud music and lots of cheerful encouragement, we were off.

I persuaded myself that this race was no more difficult that my usual Sunday morning long run. The views out over the sea with mountains rising beyond the city made a beautiful backdrop to inspire me as the miles slipped by. I was running a little slower than my usual pace at around 5.19k but felt comfortable with breathing well controlled. At 14k I knew it was achievable despite the heat so took the descent to the port with confidence. Pushing into that last 3k was probably the hardest bit, especially as it involved passing the finishing funnel once. I finished in 1:52.24, W70 silver medal place to gold for Christine Kennedy for Ireland who ran a superb 1:40.00. Germany came in a minute or so later for the bronze.

W70 XC individual bronze medal

I went to Madeira hoping to win a medal or two. I came home with six, three bronze, two silver and a gold. At the older end of the age group I’m delighted with the outcome. Most special for me during the competition was the support of family and friends who fed me, organised transport and gave loud, enthusiastic support for each of the races. To run around a foreign capital hearing broad and familiar Sheffield voices yelling, ‘Come on Dot, nearly there’, was pure music. My thanks go to partner Malcolm, daughter Fran, son Joel and running friends Fiona Jeffries, Louise Rowley, Anne Hegarty, Vicky Penn, Stephanie Fausett, Charlotte Woodger, Margo Duncan, Jed Turner and Joanne Battersby, the Sheffield runner’s dream team.

My thanks also to my team at home, John Rothwell, coach and Donovan Blake S&C trainer. With their specialist input I achieved more that I thought possible.

The medal table showed a decisive win for GB with 132 gold, 102 silver and 77 bronze. Germany was second with 110 gold, 98 silver and 82 bronze.  France was third with 65 gold, 59 silver and 65 bronze.  Thirty three European nations took part in the Championships. Full results:  here