STOP PRESS

Given the April 18th Macclesfield Ten had to be cancelled, everyone is encouraged to participate in the monthly training session organised by Adrian Edwards at the Woodbank Park track in Stockport. At the next opportunity on Sunday, April 19th, the day after the cancelled race, there will be a 5 kilometres time trial to start at 1.00 p.m. to pique your interest, As usual the track is available for our use from noon through till 5. As ever our thanks to Adrian for continuing to organise this monthly gathering.

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THE REVIVAL OF THE NORTHERN RACE WALKING ASSOCIATION

We welcome with open arms the revival of the Northern Race Walking Association [NARWA]. The occasion was a series of 5 and 10 kilometres races, including the NARWA championships. Credit is due to Ian Richards and the Leeds Talent Hub National Centre for Race Walking Foundation for the organisation.

We supported the initiative with Adrian Edwards and Greg Smith judging. Obviously though it would have been brilliant to see LWC represented in the races themselves. That this was not the case is indeed a challenge to our club. It was nostalgic, though, to see the name Hopkins in the results. Nathaniel Hopkins, third in the Senior 5 kilometres is the nephew of our very own Julian Hopkins, a forward-looking and well-respected National Coach of yore.

Greg comments that “overall I was very impressed by the standard of the walking. Good to see so many Isle of Man walkers making the trip. It’s good also that NARWA has been revived in this form. The course itself was a largely flat tarmac path just a few metres short of 1 km–wish we had something like this in Manchester!” Whilst Chris Harvey, a Northern and National champion himself in the late 1970s, spectating, observes,”a better turnout in the Senior needed but a good turnout by the youngsters”.

The UK Race Walking News Facebook page reported:

The weather made for an eventful day in Liverpool where the first Merseyside and Northern Area Race Walking chaps were held for a couple of decades! It also incorporated the first ever North @welshathletics champs.

A great turn out with athletes racing from across Wales, North and South England and the Isle of Man!

Thanks to the officials and all the athletes for a brilliant and memorable day. (Thanks to the wind and hail for showing up too!)

Results https://meets.rosterathletics.com/…/details/schedule…

Thanks to UK Race Walking News for the images of the event.

The Race Walking Record reports in the April issue, which contains also the full results.

The resurrected Northern Area Race Walking Association Road Championships was held in gale force winds, rain and a hail storm at the Litherland Cycle Track in Liverpool, writes Ian Richards. This was the first Northern Championships for several years and the first Younger Age Group Championships since 2012. The event also incorporated the first Merseyside County Championships in over 25 years and the first ever North Wales Championships. On a flat 978 metres circuit despite the conditions several excellent performances were recorded. In the 10km open event Cameron Corbishley took the win in a fine 42:04 to go top of the UK Rankings for 2026. Behind him Cumali Arslan who has recently moved to Leeds took 2nd place in 43:43. Neil Wade of Manx Harriers took the Northern title in 47:52. Bethan Davies on her first 10km since returning to action post the birth of her daughter recorded 49:04.

In the 5km Timothy Perry of Northern (IOM) took the Northern Under 17 title in new personal best of 24:56. In the Under 17 Women’s Northern Championships Honey-Mae Davies took the title in a new PB of 29:20. In the Under 20 Women’s event Holly Salter recorded a big new personal best of 27:21. In the Under 15 2km Lilee Isla Fletcher-Merryweather of Manx Harriers took the lead from the start to take the victory in a new personal best of 9:20 ahead of teammate Polly Davies in 11:33. Spencer Jones of Wrexham AAC took the North Wales title in 10:50.

In the Under 13 1km Harry Richards of Valley Striders AC took the Northern champs in 5:20 ahead of Jack Davies of Manx Harriers and Ellis Jones (Wrexham AAC) who took the North Wales title. Ameka Eardley of Warriors took the Northern and Merseyside titles in a new personal best of 5:47.

Credit to the editor, Noel Carmody for the above.

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Respect to Cameron Corbishley for supporting the Liverpool event and congratulations on being selected for the GB team – see below.

Cameron Corbishley (Andi Drake, Medway and Maidstone) will represent the Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasilia, Brazil on the 12th April 2026.

On the British Athletics web site, Tom Craggs, UK Athletics World Class Programme Endurance Lead said: “We are delighted that Cameron is once again representing GB&NI on the world stage at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, congratulations Cameron.”

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The RWA 200 club has recently seen membership decline. As the profit from the RWA 200 club is used to help our younger walkers get more opportunities to compete in top level competitions, I would particularly welcome membership from former International Walkers and Masters Athletes. It is £12 per number per year, so if you wish to join, please contact Colin Vesty (rwasecretary@yahoo.co.uk) for further details.

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