Local sportsman, Jerry Musselwhite, travelled to Delft in The Netherlands for the 19th Dutch Double Decathlon in September.

Athletes across age groups from U20 to 70+, from different countries, competed in twenty events (known as a Double Decathlon). Over two gruelling days, it tests minds and bodies to breaking point and beyond, surely athletics’ toughest all-round challenge.

All twenty events must be completed, otherwise no results count. By the end over one third of the athletes dropped out.

Day one comprised of 100m, Long Jump, 200m Hurdles, Pole Vault, 5000m, 800m, High Jump, 400m, Hammer Throw and lastly the 3000m Steeplechase.

Day two was no less testing with the 110m Hurdles, Javelin, 200m, Shot Put, 3000m, 400m Hurdles, Triple Jump, 1500m, Discus and finally, to cap it all, the 10,000m. Still enjoying confidence from a hard winters’ cross-country training and a strong 2022 track season, Jerry scored heavily in the distance events from 800m upwards on both days, with the biggest points scorer saved for the final and toughest test, the 10,000m.

He took first place in the men 60-64 category with a world leading performance this year and broke the British record, set back in 2004 for the combined twenty events. Added to this Jerry broke the GB Male 60–64 record in 19 out of the 20 individual events.

A well-earned end of season rest and return to the fairways of Farrington awaits!