Angie Copson and John Shapland among winners on first day of action in Budapest

Britain had a successful start at the World Masters Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.

The first morning saw the cross country events take place on a twisting and mostly fast 2km lap in Budapest City Park and all races were run over 8km.

John Shapland was the first gold medallist as he impressively won the M60 category. He also led his team-mates David Oxland and Stewart Thorp to team golds.

Britain should have won an individual gold in the M65 category too but recent track record-breaker Pete Molloy strayed off course mid race while leading. He dropped to third after he corrected his error but managed to fight his way back to second.

He did win a gold though in the team event along with Mike Mann and Peter Hamilton.

The women fared better than the men winning two individual golds and three team golds.

Fiona Matheson, the world indoor record holder at the 3000m, easily won the W50 gold medal and also claimed team gold along with Caroline Wood and Jane Pidgeon.

Another multi world record-breaker Angie Copson (pictured above) was another easy winner of the W65 category and she won team gold in the W60 category along with Ros Tabor and Susan James.

Tabor was well clear in her individual W60 event but faded on the second half and was caught in the last 300m and had to settle for a silver medal.

Susan Ridley was second in the W45 event and also took W45 team gold along with Satu Haikila and Susan Tawney.

Anne Martin won a silver medal in the W75 category.

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