Given the rich history of our club in the classic Centurion challenge to walk 100 miles in 24 hours – indeed we share joint second place with Leicester WC on 41 behind Surrey WC, a magnificent 76 with regard to the number of members, who have achieved this feat – we are obliged to report on the recent Anniversary Hundred from a Lancashire perspective. Thanks are due to Roy Gunnett for his thoughts and to Greg Smith for the images.

Some thoughts and observations on the 100 race at Lewes August 16th/17th

The weather prior to the day of the race was scorching hot. I noticed the car thermometer was showing 32c on the drive down on Friday to Lewes. It made me think we were probably going to have to contend with such weather during the race the following day.

Luckily, however, the temperature by Saturday had fallen considerably and was ideal for the start of the race. Ironically, the only weather problem was not the heat, rather a very chilly Saturday night. 

The race started at the Lewes track at noon on Saturday August 16th. There were 40 entrants drawn from around the world. As usual there was a particularly strong Dutch contingent.

It was great having Martin Fisher as a Lancashire Walking Club partner in the race. Martin had come along with Phil Carroll who acted as his attendant. 

I could not have had a more experienced club partner than Martin – with his record of 27 completed centurion races. This is the highest number of finishes for a UK man, only surpassed by Sandra Brown.

Overall, I was pleased to get to 50 miles in the race. The first 50k I did without a break.  I then stopped for a while to change my shoes and regain some energy. My next target was to reach 50 miles. I eventually achieved this my doing the following 19 miles in 3 stages with a break between each stage.

Once I made it to the 50 mile point I was all in and could go no further.

As you would expect Martin put in a sterling performance. He was still going strong at the 24 hour point, clocking up nearly 80 miles.

One of the benefits of a track race is that you get continual encouragement, namely from the other competitors, the helpers around the track and the spectators. You also have feed and drink facilities always on hand and, most importantly for a man of my vintage, ample Portaloos!

John Lees and Dave Ainsworth gave a splendid commentary throughout the race on the loudspeaker system. Both Dave and John are walking encyclopaedias of the sport and they imparted some fascinating stories and anecdotes from the past.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those that helped me on my walk, in particular an enormous thank you to Phil Carrol, Sailash Shah and Greg Smith off the track and Martin Fisher on the track. Without their support and encouragement, I would have found it considerably more difficult, if not impossible.

One of the pleasures in taking part in these events is that you get a ring side seat to watch the other competitors. Jonathon Hobbs, the first Britain home, walked superbly throughout.

Towards the end there were some great displays of guts and determination from the walkers straining to complete the 100 before the clock struck 12 on Sunday.

Another enjoyable feature of the weekend was the relay that took part alongside the 100. The relay competitors used the outside lanes. It was great to see so many Centurions taking part in this relay, a real ‘Who’s Who’ from the past. They included from our own club Ron Wallwork and Chris Bolton.

Chatting to Martin Fisher after the race we both agreed it was a great weekend and, most importantly, we had fun.

Roy Gunnett

Martin Fisher adds:

Roy and I had great time at the weekend and were proud to represent the club..I will send through a little report when I return home….I will also send through some details for next year’s the Nijmegen to Rotterdam. It’s a steady group walk 160km and the RMV club who organise this event would like to see Lancashire walkers there…let’s see if there’s interest.

And if the flesh was willing I’m sure Chris Bolton, who was the oldest living Centurion at Lewes, would be first in line – remember he’s finished 19 Nijmegens!

In another moment of nostalgia here’s Chris’s account of his 1961 achievement, taken from the excellent Centurions 1911 website

My Story

In May 1957 I went to Blackpool to watch the finish of the Manchester to Blackpool relay race. This was an eleven man relay featuring the best running clubs from the Midlands and North of England. It was there that I met Vic Murray who told me that each year he walked Manchester to Blackpool, a distance of 51.75 miles. I couldn’t believe anyone could walk that far; he then told me that he had walked 100 miles within 24 hours and was Centurion No. 256. At that moment ambition was born and I knew that I wanted to be a Centurion. Four weeks later, aged eighteen and with no training or preparation I stood on the start line at 6-15 am to walk from Manchester to Blackpool. With only the confidence and ignorance of youth I kept with Vic for forty miles. At that point I decided to retire and a message was sent a car to pick me up. After sitting at the side of the road for forty minutes I realised that the message must have gone astray and as one of last walkers passed (Billy Watson C146) I decided to join him and finish the race. In the end I finished in 11 hours and 3 minutes, just behind Billy but in last place. Well that certainly wasn’t am auspicious start but I was hooked. Five years later I finished the Manchester to Blackpool Walk in fourth position and led Lancashire Walking Club to the Team Title. Seven days later I qualified as a Centurion, finishing together with Brian Howarth and Paddy Dowling, and I would be forever grateful for the chance meeting with Vic Murray. On crossing the finishing line I was the youngest Centurion at that moment, not the youngest ever. However 48 minutes later Davey Moncrieff of Sheffield crossed the line and he was three months younger than I was so that distinction didn’t last long.

Chris Bolton

Grateful thanks to Brian Boggenpoel for the two photos of the Social Walk around the sites of Lewes.