Niwat Oithip, 47, one of Thailand's most outstanding middle-distance runners, and a 51-year-old teacher from Nong Bua Lampoo, Somsa-nga Srinok, were the key members of the team.

Both Niwat and Somsa-nga won all the events they participated in and together claimed 8 gold. Niwat clinched the first gold by winning the men's 45-plus age group 800m run in 2 minutes and 14 seconds, and then raced to the men's 5000m gold, in which he left his closest rival from Nepal almost one lap behind, winning in 17min 08sec.

Niwat won his third gold by beating an Indian runner in the close 1,500m race, speeding ahead in the last 50 metres. His gold came in 4min 32sec. He also won the gold in the 10,000m on the closing day of the championships with a time of 35min 35.02sec.

School teacher Somsa-nga, who was voted the Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the 2006 Thailand Masters Athletics Championships in Chiang Mai last March, also had no difficulty in winning her gold medals.

She won the women's 50-plus age group 100m sprint in 14.50sec, then took the 80m hurdles gold in 16.20sec. She followed this with victories in the jumps. She leapt 4.31m to win the long jump gold and then achieved a distance of 9.29m for the triple jump gold.

Strong and healthy Jade Thongruang, 91, was another athlete who put up an impressive show. "Uncle Jade" won three gold in the men's 90-plus age group - in the 100m, shot put and javelin. "Uncle Jade" won the 100m race in 25.90sec, threw 6.31m for the shot put gold, and flung the javelin 14.44m for his third gold.

Other athletes who clinched gold medals were: Veeraphol Kumpai (men's 50-plus 100m hurdles and triple jump); Karl Kunz (men's 60-plus 1,500m and 2,00m steeplechase) and Thamonwan Boonmee (women's 45-plus pole vault).

Silver medals were won by Nuntujporn Srijad (women's 50-plus high jump), Karl Kunz (5,000m), Veeraphol Kumpai (pole vault) and Chaleosri Chimwong (women's 55-plus shot put).

The bronze medallists were: Karl Kunz (800m), Veeraphol Kumpai (high jump), Thamonwan Boonmee (high jump and long jump), Supaporn Chaivisase (women's 40-plus 5,000m) and Sureeporn Srisueb (women's 55-plus 400m).