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Age no barrier for Weymouth icosathlon world champion

Pete Clarke crowned 2019 icosathlon world champion and sets world record in age group.

75 year old Pete Clarke from Westham in Weymouth has been crowned 2019 icosathlon world champion, setting a world record in his age group at Helsinki, Finland.

The gruelling icosathlon, also called the double decathlon, is an ultra multi-event of track and field competition consisting of 20 events contested over two days. There is an extra rule, that each day should contain a pause of one hour.

Speaking modestly, Pete told Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Solent reporter Laurence Herdman: "I'm totally delighted to get there and hope I can set the standard so that the very good athletes from Europe, Australia and America who are following on behind, (not quite my age yet - some of them have still got thirty or forty years to go), but they're determined to try to reach seventy-five and prove that they can do better than I have done."

Peter is the club President of Weymouth St Paul's Harriers and Athletics Club and has been a local coach for over 50 years.

The following weekend, Pete also took part in the annual Dutch icosathlon held in Delft, Netherlands.

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