Ron continues his fascinating and evocative return to the year of his arrival in our sport.

JULY Over the period 18^th to 26^th July the major sporting focus was was the celebration of the VI Empire Games in Cardiff. I followed the events in the daily papers; Herb Elliott holding off Brian Hewson to take the 880yds gold and particularly the domination of New Zealand runners Murray Halburg (with the withered arm) and Dave Stevens in the 3 and 6 miles races. A proposal to include race walking in future clebrations was submitted to the congress that takes place at each Games.

It was reported in the RWR Overseas News section that

The proposals for the inclusion of Walking in the future programmes of the Empire Games, submitted by the English representatives, did not receive sufficient support from the other member countries. This will be a big disappointment to our readers. The only opportunity for walkers of the Empire to meet in competition therefore will be in the Olympics every four year.

Of course being totally embroiled in the local walking scene, I don’t think the note in the RWR even registered with me.

The start of the holiday season and being the the ultra distance month; the Hundred and Nijmegen Marches, it’s not surprising that only ten walkers turned out.

Gomersal Open 15 miles – 12^th July The course had the reputation of being the toughest in the country and Albert Johnson, who had been selected for the European championships a month later won with great ease in 1.57.14. His nearest challenger was his twin brother Ernie in 2.10.22. Dick Smith was the first of four clubmen in 7^th/2.16.27, the others being Tom Dally10th/2.20.46, Bill Cowley 12^th/2.25.58 and Sid Smith 14^th 2.27.12.

On the same day Fred Pearce (S) was the lone club walker taking part in the Birmingham Outer Circle 25 miles. Don Thompson won in 3.34.52 and Fred was 44^th of the 50 starters in 4.41.39.

Leicester to Skegness 100 – 18/19^th JulyForty die-hards started this Leicester WC promotion and it was won by one of its members W.Smith in 18.02.37. The club had three walkers taking part, they were Fred Pearce (S) 17^th/22.16.17, John Todd 22^nd/23.07.37 who qualified as Centurion 285 becoming the 21^st club member to achieve this and John Grocott 24^th/23.28.18.

Nijmegen Marches The third week in July is the time slot for the Nijmegen Marches and the RWR reported that: The RWA Team captained by Joe Lambert of Lancashire Walking Club with only a bare compliment of eleven men successfully accomplished their task and were awarded the Team Plaque for doing so, thus maintaining the one hundred per cent record of RWA teams. Other clubmen in the team were Chris Bolton, Tommy Dunn.

AUGUST Three Club races, Two Opens and a Championship race meant plenty of choice for walkers in August and in response thirty Club members put in performances. Chris Bolton and Bob Turnbull toeing the line on three occasions.

Market Bosworth Open 8 miles – 7^th August Seventy-eight year old Jack Tempest was the only club competitor in this event was the last man ton finish in 22^nd place clocking 97.23 and receiving a tremendous ovation. The race winner was Ken Matthews in 56.11.

NCAAA 7 mile championship – 16^th August The NCAAA 7 miles was held at Rockingham Colliery and with his 11^th place in the European championships behind him, Albert Johnson won easily in 52.57. Mike Jeffreys continued his steady form clocking 57.05 in 7^th place. There were nine starters.

Burnsall Feast Open 7 miles Handicap – 23^rd August

Jim Hackwood reported in the RWR issue 196 September – The annual Burnsall Walk grows in popularity each year and this year received its largest entry. R.Wallwork of Lancs.WC was an easy winner off a middle mark and this followed his success in the Rockingham Colliery race. Wallwork is quite a find for Lancs. Big and strong with a pleasing action, he should have a good chance in next year’s “Junior” 10 miles. Second was C.Norton (LWC) off a big mark followed by Les Radford, Lol Allen and John Proctor. Allen was the fastest actual.

My recollections of this race were the purple coloured heather covered moors, the undulating nature of the course passing by close to Bolton Abbey and the long downhill finish to the little riverside grass track area. The walk course was tough, but probably not as tough as the fell race which was the major attraction of the meeting.

SEPTEMBER On 6^th September at the AGM of the Northern Area Race Walking Association held in Sheffield, Joe Lambert was confirmed as the Association’s President.

Two Club races to start and finish the month and two opens hundreds of miles apart sandwiched between them, was the September racing calendar and 23 members put in appearances.

33^rd London to Brighton – 13^th September. Don Thompson 7.49.22 notched up his fourth consecutive win, thus equalling the sequence 1934-37 by Harold Whitlock. ‘Big Ben’s’ 6 am chimes sent ninety walkers on their way among them Dick Smith 31^st/9.57.11, Tom Dunn 52^nd/10.32.50, Sid Smith 58^th/10.51.22 and Bill Cowley 65^th/11.24.38. They finished 7^th team.

Meanwhile . . . . on the same day the club turned out 11 walkers at the

Bradford Telegraph & Argus33^rd “Dick Hudsons” Open 8 miles – 13^th September

Organised by the Yorkshire Walking Club, the event started in Bradford Town Centre and finished at the Dick Hudson’s Public House on the edge of Ilkley Moor. The distance is over 8 miles starting with a steady climb out of Bradford and over the last two miles of accent there are stretches of road so steep, that race walking up them is impossible. Other features were the changing facilities at the pub. There were three dolly-tubs in the old inn stables, so the early finishers got the best bath and everybody connected with the event enjoyed a free sit down tea.

Albert Johnson continued to be almost unbeatable in the north winning in 69.04 ahead of club-mates Lol Allen 71.14 and Frank Winter 72.25. In the team race LWC once again couldn’t match Sheffield UH, finishing second, but Sam Shoebottom picked up the Veteran’s handicap prize.

7^th Ron Wallwork 74.37 8^th Mike Jeffreys 75.07 10^th Jack Sankey 77.35 11^th Ronnie Marsden 77.36 Johnny Grocott 81.40 Charlie Norton 84.00 Frank O’Neill 86.36 Sam Shoebottom 90.59 Dave Ellison 93.32 Matt Clarke 108.03 Jack Tempest 111.57

OCTOBER Twenty-four members supported three Club fixtures, two Opens and a National Junior (by age) championship.

First up was on 4^th October – Leicester Open 7 miles Newly crowned European champions Stan Vickers finished in front of the other 85 competitors in 49.36. Ken Matthews 2^nd/50.05 and Albert Johnson 3^rd/ 53.18. Ron Wallwork 15^th 56.41, Jack Sankey 21^st/57.05, Johnny Grocott 49^th/62.49, young Fred Pearce 50^th/62.49 and his dad 76^th/70.10 carried the club colours in this one. Another Claribell excursion with a refreshment stop at Ashbourne.

11^th October The following week Ken Harding (Royal Sutton) cruised home in an inter-club race at Sutton Macclesfield with Johnny Grocott 89.55 and Chris Bolton 92.47 in his wake. Bob Turnbull, Frank O’Neill and Jack Tempest took the three handicap prizes, whilst at Preston another week later in a 6 mile handicap, Sam Shoebottom was the race winner, but Joe Barraclough the quickest walker.

18^th October Two events on this day. At Preston a dozen turned out for a 6 miles handicap which was won by Sam Shoebottom off 15.00 from Jack Tempest off 26.30 and Dave Ellison off 12.30. The fastest actual was Joe Barraclough off scratch with 52.12.

and at Luton, Bedfordshire

RWA National Junior 5 miles championship – October 18th

Extract from thoughts I expressed at Fred Pearce’s funeral

I have vivid recollections of staying overnight at Fred’s (Pearce) home, which I think was in Higher Openshaw on 17^th October that year, because of an early start to a race the following day. His mother and dad ensured that we had a good breakfast before we set off from their house to meet up with fellow teenagers Charlie Norton, Chris Bolton, Bob Towell and chaperone Sam Morgan at Manchester Central station to catch the 07.20 to London. Thanks to Lancashire Walking Club because for the first time ever, they were sending a team to an RWA national junior five miles championship being staged that year at Luton from the Vauxhall Motors Sports Club.

In those days London was a long way off; steam trains hadn’t been totally replaced by diesel and no one had heard of a motorway, let alone been on one, so it was quite an adventure. I can’t remember much about the journey but do recall that as we reconnoitred the three-lap course, we all clued up about one of the turns because it was by a newsagent’s which had a huge spread of ‘girlie’ magazines in the window, which took us boys from the dark satanic mills a bit by surprise.

A field of 52 comprising 9 teams made for furious racing and with lungs bursting and shins screaming for relief, there was no time for ogling at shop windows. The journey was not in vain; we returned home with bronze team medals behind Belgrave H and Steyning AC. The scorers were me 4^th/39.42, Charlie Norton 16^th/42.41 and Fred 17^th/43.19.

25^th October – Once again club walkers could be found at two venues hundreds of miles apart.

Terry Hardie 41.44, Ronnie Marsden 42.10 and Ron Wallwork were the first three home in a Club race over 5.25 miles at Urmston. The race was organised from Urmston Baths by Joe Lambert and his family who lived in Urmston. I can’t remember much of the race, but I do recall the buzz of excitement and pride as Charlie, Fred and I produced and allowed our medals (possibly the first ever national team medals won by the club) to be passed around.

18th Highgate Open 7 – Stan Vickers and Ken Matthews quickly separated themselves from the other 229 walkers in this London 7 classic and over a far from easy course only seven seconds separated them at the finish and it was the Midlander who triumphed in 49.09. A dozen walkers didn’t make the finish line, but two; Tom Daly135^th/65.28 and Vic Murray 146^th/66.15 did.

NOVEMBER (unable to find full results for last two months of the year)

Activity consisted of three club races and a visit from 1936 Olympic champion Harold Whitlock in his capacity of National Coach and I was among the 30 that attended his coaching sessions.

Jim Hackwood reported in the RWR

The coaching course at Manchester and Sheffield over the weekend of 8^th/9^th November, arranged by the NARWA in conjunction with National Coach Harold Whitlock proved most successful. Tom Misson accompanied Harold Whitlock as demonstrator and the efforts were highly appreciated by all who attended at both venues. Talks, demonstrations and a practical course on circuit training were part of the proceedings and all proved most interesting although a number of walkers were quite fatigued at the end of the sessions.

He reported too that Jack Tempest gave a talk on race walking on the northern radio network on 24^th November.

DECEMBER Only one LWC race result in December and that was on the 6^th at Frank O’Neill’s house at Swinton. It was a 10 miles handicap which Matt Clarke won off 42.20 in 71.22. Second was Jack Sankey 5.00/74.10, third Bob Turnbull 20/74.47. Scratch result was Ron Wallwork 78.24, Jack Sankey 79.10 and Ted Watkins 89.30.

Many thanks to Ron for his endeavours. Now 1959 looms!