Martin Payne reports:

The walking races on May 27 were organised by OLAT ( www.olat.nl/iwe ) held for the first time at Eindhoven – previously at Weert on odd-numbered years.

Really friendly and helpful organisers as per in the Netherlands.

Having registered earlier in the day with Sailash, I headed back to the hotel to rest up and make final race preparations. Sailash entered the 100-mile event which started at 12 noon alongside Dave Hoben who had opted for the 50K. It was a lovely sunny day although it had cooled down a little by the time of the 50-mile event start at 8pm. We all walked a 2-mile largely paved course which started and finished on the athletics track on which was situated a most efficient food and drink station.

I can’t recommend the Dutch walking events enough – always friendly and good value for money ( 30 Euros for the 100 miler, 20 for the 50 miler, and just 10 for the 50K if paid in advance ). Eindhoven can be reached by a direct flight from Manchester with a 20-minute bus ride at the other end. Schiedam events, held in even-numbered years, can be reached via a flight to Amsterdam and then a shortish train ride.

I hope this is of interest to LWC members.

RESULTS

100 MILES

Shah Sailash covered 131,966 metres in 24:03:22

50 MILES – Top Ten

1 Jos Boot 80,467 10:19:06
2 Dick van Peer 80,467 10:21:07
3 Loes van Bremen (1e dame) 80,467 10:28:53
4 Ad Bijnen 80,467 10:57:46
5 Jan Sinot 80,467 11:05:15
6 Martin Payne 80,467 11:12:15
7 Patrick Nijssen 80,467 11:23:38
8 René Ceelen 80,467 11:25:15
9 Iason Nikopoulos 80,467 11:48:45
10 Noud van Eck 80,467 11:49:51

50 KILOMETRES

1 Wilfried van Bremen 50,000 6:22:50
2 Jacqueline van Drongelen (1e dame) 50,000 6:26:31
3 Larissa Droogendijk (2e dame) 50,000 6:44:18
4 Karel Rikkers 50,000 6:49:58
5 Kris Vermeir 50,000 6:56:02
6 Erwin van den Bosch 50,000 7:06:43
7 David Hoben 50,000 7:51:15
8 Fred Kruiswijk 50,000 7:57:15
9 Karen Bierbooms (3e dame) 50,000 8:10:56
10 Miranda van den Broek (4e dame) 50,000 8:23:02
Kees Bierbooms 40,344 6:59:59