A NATIONAL indoor event provided another podium-topping performance for PH Racing Club's Ed Norton over the final weekend of January.

He travelled west to Glasgow's Emirates Arena to compete in the 4J Studios Scottish Athletics Masters Indoor 3,000 metre Championships and came home with a fine gold medal.

Having finished first in November's National Short Course Cross-Country competition, a medal was guaranteed for Norton in the V70 category – provided he could better the merit standard of 14 minutes and 39.50 seconds that was required to be eligible for one – due to there only being three entrants.

A superb time of 12:00.19, however, not only ensured that he was well within the merit standard, but also gave him almost a minute's cushion over silver medal-winner Ian Johnstone, while third-placed Peter Ogden, of Cambuslang Carriers, finished just outside the merit standard.

In addition, Norton's time catapulted him to second place in the UK rankings, only behind new British record-holder David Oxland.