TYNEDALE Harriers proudly boast a world record athlete.

For Liam Collins (36) ran the third leg in the Team GB 4x400m relay which created a new best time of 3:17.82 in the 35 years age group at the World Masters Athletics Championships, in Lyon, France.

The gold medal achieved added to the silver he won in the 400m hurdles and the bronze collected in the 110m hurdles.

Another Tynedale Harrier making his mark throughout the championships was Heddon-on-the-Wall resident Darren Towart (37) whose remarkable progress since swapping professional rugby for athletics 15 months ago was rewarded with three personal bests, even if he returned without a medal.

Going to France on the back of a gold and bronze in the British Masters winter and summer seasons in javelin, he impressed throughout with the highlight a 10th placed finish in a competitive javelin field.

It was a first outdoor world masters for both athletes, and Collins particularly impressed to come away with three medals.

He started with second in the 400mh in a time of 53.65, and then was pipped to a second silver in the 110mh (14.24) by just 200th of a second in a tight photo finish between three competitors.

Capping off a great championships, he played a big part in helping GB create a new record in the relay with his split time of 49.4 the second fastest to be posted.

He said: “The whole experience was absolutely brilliant and I‘m over the moon to have been so successful.

”I went into the championships as number two in the world in the 400mh behind the guy who won so I knew the competition would be tough. ”I knew where my main competition for the 400mh would come from too, and it was very close and I just missed out on silver.

“Going into the relay, I was part of a four man team along with the three guys who finished first, second and third in the 400m so we knew we had the fastest men there.

”I had already beaten one of those guys at the British Champs so we knew if we broke 50 seconds each we’d have the world record.

“It was amazing to create that new time although there was a scary moment when I thought we might be disqualified because, as we were 30 to 40 metres ahead when we crossed the line, I didn‘t realise the race hadn’t finished and I started to run back up the track!”

His travel companion Towart has wowed many people with his drive and determination to succeed after many people wrote him off.

A former rugby player with Gateshead Thunder, he has always carried around a bit of bulk.

But he decided he wanted to give athletics ago when he was inspired by 70-year-old Tynedale coach Doug Maxwell as he dropped his children off to Harriers training.

Since then, he has dropped 90lbs in weight and is proving his doubters wrong as his tireless devotion to sport is leading to rapid improvements.

Two national medals and an appearance in a world final proves he is on the right track, as does the posting of three PBs in the 100m (12.21), 200m (24.63) and 400m (54.78).

He said: “I had retired from rugby and took my children to the junior classes, and started watching Doug‘s sprint class and thought I fancied giving it a go.

”But this 70-year-old was faster than me over 200m so that spurred me on, and now I’m close to catching the young ones in the club.

“I‘m dedicated to improving and I entered 12 events in the North East Masters two months ago and got seven golds, two silvers and three silvers, and nobody could believe I did all that in one day! But going flat out was all preparation for the world championships.

“I never thought I would come so far in such a short space of time, but now I‘ll concentrate on bulking steadily and get myself right for next season.”

A busy time is ahead for the duo who hope to compete at the European Masters in Nice, France, in October.

Looking ahead to 2016, they have the triple indoors of the Scottish, British and European events in their sights, as well as the British and World outdoors, the latter to be held in Australia.

Collins said: “It’s a shame the masters team doesn‘t get any support from British Athletics, and participants have to meet all costs themselves, such as equipment, travel and accommodation.

”We get a lot more medals in masters than in senior athletics, but nobody really knows about it. There’s lots of ex Olympians and world champions compete, with up to 8,000 competitors, so it‘s a major event and needs more support.“

l HEXHAM teenager Max Pearson, a member of Tynedale Harriers, will chase more high profile success after being selected for the upcoming Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games in Manchester.

One of the 1,600 athletes taking part in this year’s event in September, ;the 15-year-old will represent Queen Elizabeth High School as a North East competitor in athletics.

As part of the experience, he will live within the Athletes‘ Village and attend opening and closing ceremonies, as a taster of what the participants can expect in the future if they continue with their excellent sporting progress.

Max said: “I’m really pleased to have been selected to represent the North of England. I always look forward to racing the most, but it’s also great to meet up with friends from different regions.”

david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk