Everyone at Lancashire Walking Club will echo Dave Ainsworth’s message to all those participating, officiating and helping at the Gloucester track races this weekend.

I wish all success and enjoyment (if possible over 100 miles) to all who’ll be at Gloucester Athletics Track for our 99th UK 100 Miles’ walking race. History is to be made, however it turns out, as it’ll be a first UK Centurions’ track race to witness a reverse direction format. It’ll be interesting to hear opinions – though this has been employed in such races abroad and those in the UK which did not come under our Centurions umbrella.

I wish the very best to all competitors, officials, helpers, supporters and spectators. With our numerical decline in UK distance participation it’s marvellous to see this great tradition of 100 miles’ racing maintained. I particularly look forward to seeing new UK names joining The Centurions.

Dave Ainsworth
Centurion 540

A special message of best wishes must go to the club’s only participant in the proceedings, Roy Gunnett. He will be contesting the 50 kilometres, starting at midnight, Saturday and racing through the night.

There is a rumour too that Hughie Neilson’s track records set in 1960 might be under threat.