Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Health and Recreation Department
Earl stars at the European Athletics Championships
On International Men’s Day we are celebrating all the positive male role models and raising awareness of men’s health and well-being.
Our fitness instructor, Earl Taylor ticks all the boxes when it comes to inspiration, positivity, a get-up-and-go attitude and young at heart ethos!
Earl got into competitive running 16 years ago, at 60 years young. Now 76, Earl has recently returned from the European Athletics Championships in Italy with Team GB and a bronze medal in hand, adding to an already hefty collection of medals collected over the years.
Earl has always been interested in keeping fit and healthy through exercise but he only realised that competitive athletics in later life was a thing when a colleague mentioned it!
Earl’s go-to competitive event is the decathlon, which comprises 10 activities – 3 throws (shot put, discus and javelin), 3 jumps (high jump, long jump and pole vault) and 4 runs (100metre hurdles, 100metre run, 400metre run, 1500metre run).
At the Italy games, Earl came 6th in the javelin, followed by 8th place in the long jump – setting what are believed to be new NI records in both at over 75’s level.
Earl says: “It’s never too late to take up a new interest or hobby in sport and if you are fortunate enough to be in good health and under the right guidance, it can be life-changing for all the right reasons. We all have to take responsibility for our health and well-being.”
Competing has also given Earl the chance to travel the world and he plans to keep going! Looking ahead to 2024, Earl is training for the All Ireland Championships in Athlone then onto Poland to compete at the Indoor European Championships.
From everyone at getactiveabc, we wish Earl continued success!
