This Norfolk Bird is no turkey

Bird, who hails from Norfolk and moved to Sussex six years ago, only returned to competitive throwing last year when she won the Sussex veterans discus title with a new championship record.

Back in 1975, Bird threw 46.68m, a distance that remains her personal best and for several years she was in the top 10 of British discus throwers.

In Riccioni, where she competed in the Over 50 age group, she threw 34.32m in the qualifying round to gain a place in the final, despite being one of the oldest competitors in her group.

In the final she was unable to match American Carol Finsrud, who took the title with 43.43m. But the Lewes athlete improved her throw to 37.34m for second place.

Next year Bird moves into the Over 55 group and will be looking for more success in the European Masters Championships.

It was a mixed international debut for Hailsham's Sarah Moore who donned the England vest for the Home Countries Combined Events International at Stoke.

A few weeks back Moore had finished third in the National Under 17 championships at Stoke where the athletes competed during two days of wind and rain.

Conditions were a little improved for the international but it was still far from conducive ro good performances, although it was only overcast, cold and windy.

Moore started well with a 12.51s clocking for the 80m hurdles and she followed this with a 1.57m high jump and an 8.98m shot putt.

Moore completed the first day with a fine 200m in 27.11s and this gave her an overnight points score of 2,660 for second position.

On day two, Moore was suffering with shin splints and, although she had a steady long jump of 4.99m, when she failed to record a throw in the javelin she knew any chance of a good placing had gone out the window.

After consultation with her coach and the England management she withdrew from the final event, the 800m, to give her shins as much rest as possible before tackling the finals of the All England Schools Combined events championships.

Ringmer schoolteacher Nigel Gates ran away with the Hellingly 10km road race finishing some 200 yards clear of his nearest rival.

Gates, who lives at East Hoathly and is now in the Over 50 age group, is still one of the leading Sussex distance runners and, although this year's competition was not as sparkling as usual, it is still a remarkable performance to win the event by such a handsome majority.

Gates clocked 34m02s, well clear of Henry Mountcastle from Hastings who recorded 34m43s.

Seaford's Geoff Gray was a further minute back taking the bronze medal in 35m44s.

David Bradford from Lewes finished seventh in 36m24s while Hailsham's Andy Fessey and Paul Payne placed 10th and 12th respectively clocking 38m15s and 38m51s.

In the women's race, which was won by Haywards Heath's Anne Sinnett in 40m05s, Gill Wheeler and Samantha Alvarez from Hailsham took the minor placings; Wheeler being timed at 40m10s and Alvarez 40m17s.