For more than a few years Ron Wallwork and I have played in differing ways with the idea of putting together at least a partial history of our great club. Indeed, as you might expect, Fred Pearce and Chris Bolton were also keen on the idea. One enormous frustration was that decades of club minutes, reports and results had been lost. However we felt we had to start somewhere and where better than from our own experience. Thus we are embarking on a journey that begins in 1958 with Ron’s entry into the sport and leans heavily on his exhaustive research into the club’s rise through the 60s and 70s. I am able to muck in from the mid-60s and we’ve received a welcome stimulus from Tony Malone, who has donated his personal recordings from 1968 through to 1983. We hope that other voices will make themselves heard, enriching and extending this history up to the present day.

1958 – Ron begins the story and I’m about to sit the 11-plus!

January Only one Saturday off for walkers and officials in January building up to the first championship of the year, the NRWA ‘Junior’ 10 miles. Twenty different walkers turned out during the month and N.Cotter, was one of five to do all three finished third in all of them.

A note in the Northern News section of Race Walking Record [RWR] publicly thanked Sam Morgan for a donation to cover the cost of a new NARWA championship medal.

February Twenty-two different walkers turned out and ten of them did both fixtures.

The first major race of the year was the NARWA ‘Junior’ 10 miles championships which took place on 1st February at West Didsbury, Manchester. The ‘Junior’ qualification was not by age but as set out in the programme reproduced here.

Lancashire Walking Club made a great start to its Jubilee Year finally winning the ‘Bingley’ Cup and thus ending a remarkable thirteen year run of success by Sheffield UH. Remarkable because under the rules they had to produce a new team every year.

Jim Hackwood reported in the RWR

The race was held in ideal conditions. At the mile mark Winters, Hardie and Sankey of Lancashire and G.Marsland of Wakefield Harriers were in a bunch leading the field. At three miles Marsland was ruled out. By half distance Winters was forcing the pace with Hardie at his shoulder, Sankey having dropped a few yards. Next were Abe Holland (Sheffield) and Mike Jeffreys (Lancs).
The team race was now most interesting and very close. At eight miles Winter and Hardie were still together with Sankey 50 yards adrift. Jeffreys had moved up and passed Holland whilst John Todd of Lancashire had moved up one place on G.Kidd Sheffield’s fourth man. With a mile and a half to go Winters made his effort and drew away from Hardie to finish an easy winner. Lancashire with their splendid packing; 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th won the team event with 16 points to Sheffield’s 20 and Yorkshire Walking Club’s 67.

The LWC performances: (Almost half the field 18 of the 40 who started) see picture on page 5

2^nd Terry Hardie 85.39 3rd Jack Sankey 85.41 4^th Mike Jeffreys 86.03 7th John Todd 90.56 9th Charlie Norton 92.31 10th Fred Pearce (J) 92.47 13th Sid Smith 94:27 15th Frank O’Neil 95.40 19th Carradus 97.08 21^st Bob Towell 98.38 22nd John Grocott 98:47 27^th Vic Murray 100.17 28th J.Murphy 100.55 26th Chris Bolton 100:16 27^th Vic Murray 100.17 28th J. Murphy 100:55 29th Bill Cowley 101:21 31^st Sam Shoebottom 101.50 34^th A Crusherier 107.04 35^th Fred Pearce (S) 107.04

March A five Saturday month with two major championships within sixteen days, then after a well deserved week off, a tough fifteen miler. Fourteen different walkers turned out during the month, eight of them twice and Jack Sankey took part in all three.

Northern Area Senior 10 miles – 1^st March

Jim Hackwood reported in the RWR

New ground was broken by holding the Northern Senior championship at Morecambe, the sponsors being the Morecambe and Heysham Publicity and Attractions Committee. Over 40 competitors lined up at the West End Pier and were set off by the Deputy Mayor, Alderman W.Curwen.

At the end of the first lap Sheffielders Lol Allen the holder and Albert Johnson had broken away from the rest and were shoulder to shoulder with Joe Barraclough of Lancs 50 yards behind. These were the positions at 6 miles,with Allen 45.05 leading Johnson by 2 seconds, Barraclough 46.03, followed by Dick Holland and K.Camp (both Sheffield) 60 yards in the rear.

Allen was walking something like his old self and at the 8 miles point had increased his lead to 20 yards. About here Johnson,who had only just recovered from a dose of flu began feeling the strain and half a mile further on was caught and passed by Barraclough, who was walking better than I have seen for some time. A little later Holland also passed the tiring Johnson and went into third place. Over the last mile Allen incresed his lead considerably and reached the winning post an easy winner in 76.39; with Barraclough second in 78.10 and Holland third in 81.08.

Sheffield “A” won and after an interesting race Shefield “B” beat Lancashire to take second place.

RWA National 10 miles championship – 15^th March

Two hundred and thirty walkers toed the line at Victoria Park London on 15^th March for the 1958 RWA National 10 miles championship.

Stan Vickers 73.44 retained the title and as in 1957 led his club Belgrave H to a convincing team victory. The runner-up was Eric Hall also of Belgrave who fours later would join LWC as a second claim member and go on to win Cheshire AAA championships.

After his second place in the NARWA 10 it’s not unreasonable to think that Joe Barraclough, had he been able to make the long journey from Lancaster would have finished in the top dozen (Lol Allen the northern ten winner finished 9^th) and greatly improved Lancashire’s team position.

Sheffield Open 15 miles – 29^th March

On 29^th March Sheffield UH held their annual 15 miles open from the Police Athletic Ground at Wadsley Bridge and with a good entry. Lol Allen won the event from Joe Barraclough and Albert Johnson. (full result missing) The promoting club won the team race with Leicester WC second and Lancs WC third. Mike Jeffreys and Jack Sankey won the 1^st and 3^rd handicap awards

Two notices appeared in the April Race Walking Record informing readers that:

The Manchester to Blackpool race will take place on 7^th June, a date rather earlier than usual and for the first time will have no newspaper backing. So that the fixture will not fall through the Lancashire WC are financing the event and the number of awards and prizes will be as in previous years.

The RWA team of eleven walkers has now been got together for the Njmegan Marches in July and will be captained by Joe Lambert who has taken part on six previous occasions. Other club members in the team are Chris Bolton and Tommy Dunn pictured below with Johnny Grocott.

NARWA 20 miles championship – 26^th April

Jim Hackwood reported in the RWR

This championship was staged on new ground in the Gomersal district of the Spenmoor Valley, near Leeds. The course was over two laps of 10 miles and the stiffist in the history of the race.

Sheffield United Harriers scored their 13^th successive victory in the team race, although with the exception of Lol Allen and Albert Johnson, fielding a team new to distance walking.

At the beflagged starting point and to the stirring music of the brass band in attendance, the competitors were first welcomed and then sent on their way by the Mayor of Spennymoor. At the end of the first mile, with Albert Johnson along with Joe Barraclough, Lol Allen, Ken Camp and Brian Marsland were in a bunch setting the pace. At 5 miles and with a steep up-hill climb the latter two fell away and retired at the end of the first lap. The three leaders were still together at halfway and were unseparated up to the 14 mile point. Barraclough then began forcing the pace and Allen dropped a few yards.

At 15 miles Johnson fell away and on the last five miles – the stiffest part of the course Barraclough, walking strongly continued to increase his distance to the finish, an easy winner in 2.46.35. Albert Johnson rallied to finish runner-up in 2.50.30 and Lol Allen in third clocked 2.55.16. On this season’s showing Barraclough’s walking has been perfect and much improved in the past few months. (An interesting comment)

Team result: Sheffield UH 16pts, Lancs WC 23pts, Yorkshire WC 57 pts

The awards were presented by Mr. Harold Abrahams, Olympic 100m champion at the 1924 Games. The course was well marked and a fine reception given to competitors and officials – including a free tea. The Gomersal walk committee was thanked, especially Mr Swallow, the Hon. Secretary.

May As if to make up for April’s blank weekends, the May programme saw LWC walkers competing in what was a heavy mileage racing calendar; A race every weekend, two on a couple of them and involving two twenty milers and a 50km. When taking into consideration the various venues it was also a heavy travel mileage to take part in them. Needless to say no one did them all. A total of twenty-four walkers were in action during the month with Messrs. Barraclough, Bolton and Murray completing three of them.

The 25^th Leicester Mercury Open 20 miles – 4^th May The club’s leading walkers gave this classic a miss, no doubt saving themselves for the national 20 miles a week later. However in a race that attracted 96 starters and was won by Tom Misson (Metropolitan WC) in a course record of 2.46.30, three club members turned out; they were Chris Bolton 54^th/3.27.21, Sid Smith 58^th/3.28.37 and Vic Murray 75^th/3.35.50. Four other Lancastrians also took part representing Leyland Motors; Dick Ditchfield 36^th/3.17.41, Joe Derrick 45^th/3.21.45, E.Sharp 81^st/3.47.23 and J.Burns 87^th/3.56.24.

RWA National 20 miles championship – 10^th May LWC walkers were among the 145 that lined up for the start of the 1958 RWA National 20 miles championship in Birmingham. Lol Allen won the race in 2.43.21, but the surprise of the race was Joe Barraclough who finished 3^rd in 2.46.22. Tom Misson (Met WC) finishing second in 2.45.18 led his club to the team title and through the efforts of Jack Sankey 27^th/3.03.23, Mike Jeffreys 33^rd/3.06.07, Chris Bolton 88^th/3.24.58, Sid Smith 93^rd/3.26.30, Bill Cowley 104^th/3.32.24, Fred Pearce (S) 111^th/3.36.07, Vic Murray 109^th/3.34.55, LWC finished seventh team. Interestingly, the three that competed the week before in Leicester all improved on their times.

The Bray to Dublin 13.75 miles – 10^th May Terry Hardie led home the 15 participants in this Irish open race in 1.49.48 and occupying 5^th place was Chris Bolton in 2.04.21

Sutton Macclesfield WC annual open 10 miles – 17^th May

It says much about the ethos of the era that the champion and third placer from the previous week’s national 20 miles championship turned out for their respective clubs.

This was a memorable day for me. I was nine days short of my 17^th birthday and it was my debut with LWC and open race walking competition, so I was understandably a bit on edge. The LWC contingent were travelling by coach, then still often referred to as a charabanc and the meet up place was the Manchester Cathederal, which simplified my travel arrangements, because both Bolton to Manchester buses, the number 8 and number 12 terminated just across the road from the cathederal. it was to be the first of many such a rendezvous with the blue Clarabelle bus over the ensuing years with many of the friends I made on that day.

The race itself over a hilly course was acknowledged as a short ten. It started out with a dogleg section before taking in Macclesfield itself and returning along the Congleton Road. I can still feel the standing heckles on my neck as the leaders came towards me after what had been a ‘bat out of hell’ start that took me completely by surprise. I was ‘eyeballs out’, but the sight of the three leaders, Ken Matthews, Joe Barraclough and Lol Allen (wearing his GB vest), already well ahead of me was inspirational and although I finished quarter of an hour behind Joe, feeling absolutely knackered I experienced a great feeling of satisfaction .

The presentation by Mr. Bracegirdle took place in the Church House, Sutton and I was so proud to follow these great walkers up to receive a prize; a butter dish for the first Novice. Joe 71.56, Ken Matthews 73.03 and Lol Allen 75.57 was the finishing order of the top three. LWC performances:

1st Joe Barraclough 71.56 9th Jack Sankey 80.50 10th Mike Jeffreys 80.52 15th Ron Wallwork 86.14 17th Johnny Grocott 88.07 19th Frank O’Neill 89.50 20th J.Dawson 90.16 22nd Dick Smith 91.56 26th Joe Lambert 94.17 28th Charlie Norton 95.18 30th Vic Murray 96.25 32nd Bob Turnbull 96.44 33rd Fred Pearce (J) 98.53 41st Matt Clarke 116.01 42nd Jack Tempest 116.29

I wasn’t to know then, that five years later I would have the privilege of being one of Ken’s GB’s victorious ‘Lugano Cup’ team mates.

The Bradford & County Open 50km – 26^th May

Ten club members turned out in this northern classic held annually on Whit Monday and this edition of the race was historic in that the winner Albert Johnson 4.26.40 not only lowered his own course record by 10 minutes, but in registering his fifth consecutive victory surpassed the record held by Tommy Payne. Joe Barraclough was runner-up and Albert’s brother Ernie third which made Sheffield virtually unbeatable in the team race in which LWC finished second.

Over the Whitsun weekend the first major track & field championships, the Inter-Counties took place at the then home of British athletics, London’s White City Stadium and there representing Lancashire AAA was Mike Jeffreys.The seven mile walk opened the meeting on the Saturday and the two mile walk was programmed for mid-Monday afternoon. Both races were won by Stan Vickers 51.11/13.48 and although last in both races Mike’s times, 57.30/15.29 were consistent with his early season form.

June Twenty-four different walkers turned out during the month. Joe Barraclough did the three short ones, but worthy of mention is Dick Smith’s taking on the Rockingham Colliery six miles just a week after the Manchester – Blackpool.

The Manchester to Blackpool Open 51.75 miles 7^th June

The club’s ‘Blue Riband’ event attracted over fifty participants and eight teams and was won by Frank O’Reilly of the Midland club Lozells Harriers in 8.20.00, ahead of two other midlanders Coventry Godiva’s John Edgington in 8.21.20 and Sutton Coalfield’s Karl Abolins 8.27.41.

The first two would go on to become Olympians; O’Reilly at 50km for Ireland at Rome in 1960 where he finished 20^th in 4.54.40 and Edgington six years later at the Tokyo Games where in the 20km he finished 8^th in 92.46.

In an extremely close team race there was a Lancashire club victory. However, it was not LWC, but Leyland Motors AC who got within two points of Coventry Godiva AC’s winning total of 42. The club did collect third team prizes with 53 pts and the ‘B’ team finished fourth.

Leyland Motors fielded five walkers; Dick Ditchfield 5^th 8.48.45, George Lamb 9^th 9.10.30, Joe Derrick 12^th 9.12.24, J.Burns 32^nd 9.51.19, J.Robinson 48^th 10.57.00.

Lancashire AAA County championships – Blackburn 7^th June

Rockingham Colliery 6 miles Handicap – 14^th June – There were 39 entries

This race was won by Ron Wallwork off a 7.30 start on the back markers Joe Barraclough and Lol Allen (both 00.35). Lol got through to take second place. Other Club members who made the trip to Barnsley were Jack Sankey, Charlie Norton, Dick Smith and Jack Tempest.

RWA National 50km championship – Wimbledon 21^st June

Ninety-six walkers started in this championship on the same day as the NCAAA championhips and Don Thompson recorded his third consecutive victory in 4.21.50. Alas no LWC members made the trip, the ‘Big One’ for them had taken place two weeks previously.

The versatile Joe Barraclough with performances such as 2 mls 14.13 – 5 mls 37.08 – 20 mls 2.46.22 – 50km 4.37.53 – 100 mls 18.26.12. is one of several outstanding walkers who because of limited opportunities prior to 1970, were never awarded a much merited international vest.

TO BE CONTINUED FROM JULY TO DECEMBER 1958 – enormous thanks to Ron for launching this project.

Forgive some inconsistency in the size of the fonts – Tony