As ever Dave provided promptly this race report before embarking on the Sunday with Pat to do a 16 miles walk along the south-west of Scotland – in his words, ‘suckers for punishment’! Since Saturday I’ve been inundated with comments and photos so I’ll take a breath before responding in particular about my part in a nostalgic day. For now, I can only offer my deepest thanks to everyone, who took the trouble to attend. I recognise too that quite a few folk couldn’t make it due to disruption on the railways. It would have been great if you could have been with us.

Dave comments:

This year’s Fred Pearce relays combined with the 70th-anniversary walk by Tony Taylor gave a new slant to what has always been a keenly contested competition. Drizzly weather had greeted walkers from Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Crete, West Midlands and London. All made the best of it and recorded excellent times on the roller coaster course.

Amongst the supporters were Ronnie Wallwork, 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth 20 mile racewalk champion and Marion Fawkes, multiple racewalking world record holder in the late 1970s over 5 and 10k.

Sorting out the teams proved a little testing as transport difficulties meant some late arrivals and balancing out each squad had to be done several times. No monies changed hands! Given the variety of strengths in each 3 person team, different tactics were employed, but the big hitters were placed on the anchor leg.

Adrian Edwards did the fastest time on leg 1 but as each squad had a composite team handicap he was second through the finish line. Leg two saw one team establishing a lead of over a minute and they managed to keep clear daylight between themselves and their pursuers. The second and third team were neck and neck with Tony Bell just holding off the fast closing Tony Taylor, the latter Tony posting the fastest time of the day, being the only participant under 30 minutes.

 Tony Taylor’s part in the proceedings continued as he celebrated his 70th year in the sport along with old training partners from his early days. The most memorable part of his narrative for me was when he explained that around his 6th birthday, he won a prize for the best walking style at a race, which was presented by the 1924 Olympic 10,000 metres racewalking silver medallist Reg Goodwin, a member of the Lancashire Walking Club.

 The day was a great success underpinned by the generosity of Chris Pearce, who provided a sumptuous buffet and prizes.

Grateful thanks are due to Peter and Marion Fawkes and David Lamb for course marshalling and life member Eric Horwill who did all of the timekeeping and recording.

Amongst the audience at the post-race reception, I counted 9 Centurions, two of whom are now 90 years of age.

The final item on the day’s agenda was the awarding of Life Membership to John Payn for his service to the club. John joins a very select band of individuals including Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.

Results

TEAM RELAY

1st team Glyn Jones 34:27, Joe Hardy 35:21, Martin Fisher 30:11
2nd team Pat Evans 35:34, Phil McCullagh 37:03, Tony Bell 30:40
3rd team Sailash Shah 36:09, Phil Carroll 38:37, Tony Taylor 29:53
4th team Adrian Edwards 30:35, Guy Goodair 42:22, Steve Uttley 30:55
5th team(incomplete) Martin Payne 31:28, Roy Gunnett 36:06

INDIVIDUAL TIMES

1. Tony Taylor 29:53
2. Martin Fisher 30:11
3. Adrian Edwards 30:35
4. Tony Bell 30:40
5. Steve Uttley 30:55
6. Martin Payne 31:28
7. Glyn Jones 34:27
8. Joe Hardy 35:21
9. Pat Evans 35:34
10. Roy Gunnett 36:06
11. Sailash Shah 36:09
12. Phil McCullagh 37:03
13. Phil Carroll 38:37
14. Guy Goodair 42:22

POSTSCRIPT

In Dave’s report, he overlooks sensitively a minor melodrama. Against the odds, we had persuaded Julian Hopkins, a LWC stalwart through the 60s and 70s and a pioneering National Coach to turn out. It was probably around 30 years since he had trod the roads in earnest. Can you believe it? He managed to go off course, tripped over an errant flag and, bloodied alarmingly, had to be ferried back to the start by a kindly passing motorist! In fact, he was hardly worse for wear. Tended to by Martin Payne and Tony Malone, he was soon in animated conversation with all and sundry. So much so that he was the last person to get dressed and leave the Village Hall. I can confirm he passed his Head Injury Assessment protocols and is fighting fit. His excuse for the tumble is that he is used to training in the dark and was put off by the daylight. Shades of Hammer Horror movies!

Thanks as ever for the images to Greg Smith, Megan Astley, Roy Gunnett and Peter Fawkes.