This month’s Virtual Club 3 kilometres honours our only Olympic Games medallist, Reg Goodwin. The fascinating material to be found below is taken, with his permission, from John Taylor’s remarkable tour de force, ‘A Pictorial History of Leigh Harriers AC: 1888-1971’. Indeed John sells himself short as, whilst the book contains over 800 remarkable images, the text too is rich in its evocation of an almost innocent amateur past when athletics was not for sale.

As you will see, although born in London. Reg spent much of his life in Leigh, Lancashire. Indeed, as a young ‘Leyther’ I was proud to know and to be encouraged by him. My memory is that he was a gentle and self-effacing character, far from full of himself.

THE FEBRUARY REG GOODWIN VIRTUAL 3 KILOMETRES

As ever a genuine vote of thanks to all involved, especially our guests from over the Pennines and beyond. It’s good to see Marco setting a personal best, I think, thus winning the handicap plus a dead-heat in the Jackson family!

As things shift, turning hopefully for the best, we’ll stick with a March 3 kilometres and then take a breath.

SCRATCH

1. Tony Taylor 16:21
2. Marco Bernatzki 18:15 [G]
3. Dave Evans 18:50
4. = Denis Jackson 19:15 [G]
5. = Graham Jackson 19:15 [G]
6. Tony Bell 19:43
7. Atamaram Dahal 20:07 [G]
8. Martin Payne 20:28
9. Ian Hilditch 20:46
10. Glyn Jones 20:47
11. Grace Gilpin 21:01 [G]
12. Joe Hardy 21:20
13. Roy Gunnett 21:33
14. Pat Evans 21:51
15. Sarah Circo 22:39 [G]
16. Val Mitchell 24:32 [G]
17. John Pouncy 25:39
18. Jane Pouncy 26:32

HANDICAP

1. Marco Bernatzki 18:15; 2:40 ; 15:25 [G]
2. Glyn Jones 20:47; 4:45; 16:02 [G]
3. Denis Jackson 19:15; 3:00; 16:15 [G]
4. Val Mitchell 24:32; 8:15; 16:17 [G]
5. Tony Taylor 16:21; 0:00; 16:21
6. Sarah Circo 22:39; 6:15; 16:24 [G]
7. Grace Gilpin 21:01; 4:35; 16:26 [G]
8. Dave Evans 18:50; 2:11; 16:39
9. Atmaram Dahal 20:07; 3:25; 16:42 [G]
10. Ian Hilditch 20:46; 4:00; 16:46
11. Tony Bell 19:43; 2:55; 16:58
12. Joe Hardy 21:20; 4:15; 17:05
13. Martin Payne 20:28; 3:15; 17:13
14. Roy Gunnett 21:33; 4:10; 17:23
15. Graham Jackson 19:15; 1:45; 17:30 [G]
16. John Pouncy 25:39; 7:45; 17:54
17. Pat Evans 21:51; 3:50; 18:01
18. Jane Pouncy 26:22; 7:45; 18:37

In closing I want to thank John Taylor again for his generosity in allowing access to his magnificent History of Leigh Harriers. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in athletics as a whole and in the central role that local clubs played in the lives of their communities. If by chance you are interested, let me know as there are a few copies left.