A YEAR after he set a new world indoor hurdling record - Darren Towart has done it again.

The 42-year-old Tynedale Harrier ran a time of 60.57s in the over 40 (M40) 400m hurdles in Sheffield - smashing the previous record of 60.80s - which he set himself 12 months ago.

Towart’s exploits, in successive years at the English Institute of Sport Northern Championship, have left the father-of-two, delighted.

“It was scary,” he admitted. “I travelled with the knowledge of running the indoor track there last year, and that did help. I knew what I had to do. But this time I was in the outside lane, and you really get a sense of running down the hill on the bend, and hitting a hurdle at speed. I performed well. I was trying to beat 60 seconds but I lost my momentum on the last hurdle.

“Nevertheless, it was an absolutely brilliant experience and I loved it.”

The achievement has led to a reward for the Heddon-on-the-Wall man. For Lookers Van Centre in Newcastle has pledged financial support for Towart when he travels to Portugal next month, to compete in the European Masters Indoor Championships.

The success of the former rugby player turned runner has also seen him receive backing from Voom Nutrition, which produces nutrition products for athletes.

The running schedule is showing no signs of slowing up for Towart, who is now preparing for the NIA Live event in Dublin next week.

In Ireland, he will run the 200m and 400m flat races, where he will compete for a place in the Great Britain relay squad.

Towart was a reserve member of last year’s squad, but he was called into the team, and memorably won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships, in Poland.