WEYMOUTH’S Kevin Archer is limbering up to compete in the World Masters Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland on Wednesday.

The Weymouth St Paul’s Harriers masters athlete will aim for gold in the 800m and 1,500m as the current British champion in the former with British fastest time.

Archer’s status as Britain’s best in the M65-69 category is down to his success over rival David Bedwell at Lee Valley during the British Masters Indoor Championships earlier in March.

Archer conquered a 25-year hoodoo to claim gold in the 800m, beating his own British lead time from 2:30.18 to 2:25.71mins. The title adds to his nine outdoor age-group track titles – six at 1,500m and three at 800m.

Commenting on his long-awaited gold, Archer said: “The very first one I did in 1995 I sneaked a bronze medal. You think in the coming years you might have a chance.

“The trouble is with the indoors I never avoid the guys who beat me that day. In the outdoors, once every five years, they’re not there. I have a window of opportunity to make hay, which happened last summer.

“It’s been great competition right the way through. This year I sacrificed what I consider to be my main event, the 1,500 because I didn’t think I could belt it out twice in two races.

“I was hedging my bets to try and out-kick (Bedwell) but because the pace wasn’t fast enough he outfoxed me and got me just before I wanted to make a move.”

“As soon as he started pulling away, I eased right back.

“I knew I was safe in silver. He carried on, so he had a hard race.

“(For the 800m) I felt fresh. I thought ‘I’ve got to go for it’ and that’s what I did. I went right from the start, got a bit of a gap and decided if he catches up at halfway I’d put the boot in. Everything worked perfectly.

“Everybody who was watching said ‘oh, we thought he was going to get you again’ but he couldn’t go with me. I was really chuffed.”

On the Worlds, Archer added: “Hopefully I can get there feeling good and that’s all you can do. Then try your best.”

Meanwhile, Dot Fraser came away with two golds in the W80-84 age-group.

Fraser ran the 60m in 13.33secs and the 200m in 54.16, both being British lead times.