A 79-YEAR-OLD man who has not competed in race walking for almost 50 years has returned home from a European championships with a bronze medal.
Mick Barker represented Great Britain in a 10k road race at the European Masters Athletics Championships in Alicante last Friday.
He was the first of three British competitors to cross the finish line but was beaten by two Germans who took gold and silver.
Mick, of Lavender Court, Kendray, took up race walking in his teens, but gave it up to care for his wife Marlene after she suffered two strokes.
The European Masters Athletics Championships was his first competition in 48 years.
He said: “I’m highly delighted with a bronze medal. I knew I was in contention (for a medal), but I had never dreamed I would make the podium.
“It’s the first time I have represented my country and it was brilliant.
“I was a bit down about a couple of injuries I’d had, but I’ve come through with them.”
Mick was joined on the trip by his son Wayne, 55, and the pair even enjoyed a spot of sightseeing.
Mick has become something of a local celebrity since appearing in the Chronicle last week. While he is out training, he says motorists beep him and youngsters want to take selfies with him.
Mick has won many races over the years, including the 12-mile Sheffield Star Walk in 1964. His time was 98 minutes and 15 seconds - a record which still stands today.
He gave up his passion in the early 2000s after his wife Marlene suffered two strokes. She had been in and out of hospital and care homes but eventually decided she wanted to return home for Mick to look after her.
The couple moved to Lavender Court in Kendray, where Mick still lives, in 2007 and Marlene died in 2015 aged 73. A few weeks later, he was back out walking.
He said he had no intention of doing what he is doing now, but didn’t want to end up sitting talking about aches and pains and medication.
He is now planning to enter 10km and 5km races at the British Masters Championships in which he will represent his team, Northern Masters AC.
If both races go well, he will enter the World Masters Championships in Malaga in September.
