GREAT Britain international Peter Gordon warmed up for the World Veteran Championships in Australia by breaking his own over-45 British discus record in perfect throwing conditions at Jarrow on Saturday.
And immediately after the invitation event the former Tyneside policeman - 50 today - was only two metres short of the world record with the lighter, 1.5kg discus he will be using in his new age group in Brisbane.
Gordon, the Northern and Yorkshire senior men's champion, won the silver medal in the discus when the World Championships were held in Gateshead two years ago.
But next week the Gateshead Harrier will move up into the over-50s, who use a discus half a kilogram lighter than he normally throws in senior men's events.
Gordon hurled the 2kg implement a massive 54.68m - 48 centimetres further than the old mark he set two years ago - with his second attempt.
He said: "I know I've been throwing well and the conditions were just perfect - everything was right.
"I'm delighted to have improved my old over-45 record just as I move out of the age group - and it is a marvellous fillip before I fly out to Australia on Wednesday.
"I've tried the lighter discus I'll be using in Brisbane and I threw 66 metres - the world over-50 record is 68 metres.
"If the conditions are right in Australia I think I am in the kind of form to come up with a really good throw - we'll see what happens.
"But I'm delighted with the way things are going - I've had a great day."
Another British record to fall at the North-East Veterans meeting was in the over-70 discus, where Sunderland Harrier Denis Field reached 39.21m.
The retired Wearside lecturer, who set a new UK javelin record at the British Veterans Championships a week earlier, improved his old mark by 63 centimetres. Durham City Harrier Brenda Elliott, who won two over-50 titles at the British championships, completed a 100m and 400m double at Monkton Stadium, while North Shields Polytechnic's Kath Stewart, who set two new over-60 records in the 800m and 1500m at Bedford, won the 3,000m.
100m: M45 E Smart (Nevac) 12.2; M50 T Page (Houghton and Peterlee) 13.8; W50 B Elliott 14.9.
400m: M40 R Anderson (Birtley) 62.4; M45 E Smart 56.2; M50 G Steanson (Nevac) 61.8; M55 T Attney (Chester-le-Street) 65.2; M60 R Smoult (Nevac) 65.6; M65 B Parnaby (Nevac) 69.2; W35 C Ratcliff (Durham City) 65.2; W40 H Patton (Gateshead) 64.7; W45 L Inwood (Birt) 85.6; W50 B Elliott 67.5.
800m: M40 M Thirlaway (Gates) 2:31.8; M45 G Pemberton (Nevac) 2:19.6; M50 G Steanson 2:17.9; M55 T Attney 2:27.6; M60 B Robison (Blaydon) 2:51.9; W35 C Ratcliff 2:25.4.
3000m: M40 S Coxon (Tynedale) 9:36.6; M45 J Watson (Sunderland) 9:54.8; M50 R Elliott (Sund) 10:27.5; M55 R Stewart (North Shields Poly) 12:40.0; M60 J Prudham (Jarrow and Hebburn) 12:14.4; M65 E Appleby (Heaton) 13:05.7; W40 A Nott (Heaton) 12:32.4; W60 K Stewart (NSP) 13:30.5.
LJ: M40 R Anderson (Birt) 4.73; M45 A Readman (H&P) 5.39; M50 T Taylor (New Marske) 4.34; W40 C Pearson (Birt) 3.74.
SP: M40 S Smith (H&P) 10.06; M50 G Routledge (Heaton) 7.60; M55 T Hudson (Elswick) 11.61 (NEVAC rec) W40 P Ridley (Birt) 5.34; W50 A Lillie (Sund) 5.28.
Javelin: M40 K Ridley (Birt) 35.02; W40 C Pearson (Birt) 21.22; W45 L Inwood (Birt) 12.55.
Invitation Discus: M45 P Gordon (Gates) 54.68 (UK rec); M70 D Field (Sund) 39.21 (UK rec).
Invitation Hammer: M50 C Black (Edinburgh WM) 56.72; M55 T Hudson 36.19.
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