Guy Goodair reports on this fascinating, historical piece of research, which took place in the spring of 1968 ahead of the Mexico Olympics.

Fifty years ago five members of Wakefield Harriers became pioneers for the International Athletics Club research into the effects of drinking during a marathon (remember this was back in the days when it was forbidden to take a drink before 10 miles in a distance race) and also to confirm the findings of Dr Saltin of Sweden on increasing the store of glycogen in the muscles before a long distance race (now known as ‘carbo-loading’). It was coordinated by Martin Hyman and designed to help any athletes going to the Olympics that year in Mexico City. John Newsome and Tony Child were in the running group which was testing the effects of drinking during a race whilst George Barras, Roy Thorpe and Guy Goodair were testing the diet as race-walkers. Both groups were split into two A & B and the tests were conducted on May 5 & 19 at Bracknell ( a fairly long drive as the M1 wasn’t fully open to Leeds until October of that year.

All athletes had to do a solo 40km time trial on both days – Set A taking drinks (runners) or being on the diet (walkers) Set B runners doing 40km without a drink and walkers on their normal diet. A fortnight later the positions were reversed. Because it was bitterly cold on both occasions – the drinks test was a bit inconclusive (non-drinkers being on average about a 1 minute faster) but this was put down to time lost in taking the drinks on board and the slight extra body weight due to drinking. Whilst with the walkers although the average times were similar between dieters and non-dieters – those on the diet were significantly faster over the last 10km clearly indicating the diet gave greater stamina. Both the running and walking sections of the Harriers were quick to adapt to the diet and it’s one of the reasons the club became one of the strongest road running and race walking clubs in the country.

Here are the split times (equivalent to 8 consecutive Park runs! and on your own at that) I wish I could run one park run now in the time I could walk one in those days.

I did have a copy of the WALKERS’ splits but can’t find it but attaching a copy of the total times taken / The walkers were John Moulin, Phil Embleton, Peter Marlow, Pat Duncan, Roy Thorpe, Shaun Lightman, George Barras, Guy Goodair, Colin Young and Paul Maidment

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Sadly, remembering 1968 brings us to the news that Arthur Jones, who placed 11th in the altitude-effected Mexico 20 kilometres walk, has passed away in Australia, where he lived in Adelaide. My first memory of Brighton’s Arthur is of him finishing a perhaps surprise third behind Shaun Lightman and the winner, Ron Wallwork in the 1967 National 10 miles staged in Bolton.

He cemented his growing reputation a few weeks later by coming second to Ron in the National 20-kilometre championship on a stiff, undulating course at East Ewell. Arthur made a bright start to 1968 finishing an outstanding second to Paul Nihill in the Southern Track 7 miles, clocking 50:21 but didn’t compete in either the National 10 miles or 20 kilometres. However, he was to time his season almost to perfection, winning the AAA 2 miles in 13:35.6 and being awarded the Fowler-Dixon style prize before finishing 3rd Briton behind Bob Hughes and John Webb in the Olympic Trial at Cwmbran. As the Race Walking Record [RWR] commented he finished a very creditable 11th in an Olympic 20 kilometres remembered for the close finish. Only five seconds separated the first three home, Golubnichy, Pedraza and Smaga. The RWR added its hope that if Arthur could maintain his progress he would be a strong contender at the next Olympics in Munich. This was not to be as he emigrated to Australia the following year.

A revealing obituary honouring Arthur is to be found under International News in the VRWC ‘Heel and Toe’ Newsletter Number 46 at https://www.vrwc.org.au/newsletters/heelandtoe-2023-num46.pdf. Thanks to editor, Stu Cooper

ARTHUR JONES RIP

Below you will find tributes that are being forwarded to Dave Ainsworth.

Don Cox C787 – Sadly just got the news from Australia, Arthur Jones died today. Arthur was in the GREAT BRITAIN team at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. When I lived in Adelaide, Arthur and his wife Carol lived in the same road as me, we sometimes did a long Sunday training walk in the Adelaide hills. Good days, RIP Arthur.

Alan Buchanan – Arthur Jones was a neighbour and good friend in the sixties and we had our families about the same time. He joined Brighton AC from Herne Hill Harriers and was a decent half-miler before taking to walking and gave it a boost in Sussex when he moved here. He first inspired Dave Boxall to have a go then I also tried a 7miles in November 1966 after having run 4 Marathons that year. His ambition was to make the team for the Mexico Olympics and I remember coming back on the train from the National 20km where he’d not done well and was very down and determined to up his training as he was basically a good track Walker with a safe technique. When the final trial came he produced the goods to make the team and finish as leading Brit. It was not without some controversy as Peter Fullager, who had spent a month living and training with Arthur in Hove thought he should have been selected. It seemed at the time the RWA selectors had more faith in Arthur’s technique. I took over as club Secretary duties so he could concentrate on training and he was one of three athletes Brighton and Hove AC had selected for the 6 weeks stay in high altitude Mexico City. The following year we said goodbye when he and the family emigrated to Australia on an assisted package. We lost touch in recent years as he had dementia but he was a good friend who led me into my many happy walking years. I will inform the club as we were both life members.

Chris Maddocks – Sad news. Nice to read Don’s comments about the good training days with Arthur.

Roy Lodge – It was with great sadness that I received news of Arthur’s death. So sad that one had to compose oneself to come to terms with such sadness. Arthur and I were selected to represent Gt. Britain in an international athletics meeting against France in La Baule 1967. Ken Bobbett made up the trio in the 20k track walk. We shared a room in a splendid hotel and became great friends although fiercely competitive in racing. I admired Arthur’s upright walking style and his training regime. He was intent as I was to go to Mexico. For Arthur that ambition was realised and how proud he was and rightly so. I shall treasure memories of a truly good friend and a race walker of the highest calibre. Rest in peace and rise in glory.

Peter Marlow 1972 Olympian – I remember training with Arthur. He was a bespectacled and very tall walker and he was charming.

Bill Sutherlas BEM 1970 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist – Very sad news indeed to hear of the passing of Arthur Jones. A very stylish race walker who achieved an outstanding performance at the 1968 Mexico Olympics – 20 Kms Walk. He was certainly one of the stars in Brighton and Hove A C in the late 60’s before emigrating to Australia and enhanced their depth in top race walkers. May he Rest in Peace and always be remembered fondly. With sincere condolences.

Mike Parker – Saddened to receive the news about the death of Arthur Jones. I have tried several times over the years to track him down in Australia. Whenever I have been over there I have enquired as to his whereabouts but alas, always to no avail. The last time I caught up with Peter Fullager back in 2018 he was unaware as to where Arthur Jones was residing, yet it now appears they were both living in Adelaide.

I will never forget the day I won the National 10 at Exeter in 1981. I felt extra proud that I had emulated Arthur’s feat in winning that particular Championship. I’m not sure, but I think Arthur and I remain the only male racewalkers from Brighton & Hove AC to have won a national title. Except of course for George Larner, many years earlier, certainly many moons before the emergence of the RWA.

So it has been a sad day, another one of the old Brighton & Hove AC racewalkers gone.

I’ll add more tributes as they become available and an Australian perspective – see now above link

Tony Taylor