Category Archives: History

ROYAL SUTTON COLDFIELD’S OTHER KEN – THE REDOUBTABLE KEN HARDING

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Tony Taylor

Talk of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Race Walking Club [RSC] within the ranks of our sport’s followers and the introduction of the christian name, Ken is likely to conjure up images of the unsurpassed 1964 Olympic gold medallist, Ken Matthews. … Continue reading →

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Christine Coleman RIP – Pioneer in Women’s Race Walking

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Tony Taylor

CHRISTINE ORME [nee COLEMAN] Thanks to Dave Ainsworth for this piece, which appeared in the Highgate Harriers Newsletter. Sorry to be a bearer of bad news. Talented former race walker Christine Coleman has passed away in a Saxmundham (Suffolk) Care … Continue reading →

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A mixed bag of Olympic and Bradford memories, together with a charity appeal

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Tony Taylor

Many thanks to BBC Kent for ‘running’ this story. A British gold medallist from the 1960 Olympics is commemorated annually by a mile-long race. Don Thompson set an Olympic-record time and beat former gold medallists to win the 50km (31 … Continue reading →

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JANUARY 2026 VIRTUAL 5 KILOMETRES RESULTS

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Tony Taylor

A trifle late but find below the full results of our now annual January Virtual 5km event. Your anecdotes and photos were much appreciated. The bets are off as to who might win the 2026 Literary Award. It was especially … Continue reading →

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Greg’s 60th year race walking and the January Virtual 5 kilometres

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Tony Taylor

Back in 2023 everyone was very generous in celebrating my 70th year in race walking. And Greg Smith is catching up. As of this January 2026 Greg marked his 60th year in the sport by race walking the Ormskirk Park/run. … Continue reading →

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Frank Dolan [1945- 2025], Centurion 656 RIP and RWA AGM, January 23rd

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Tony Taylor

I am pretty sure that I first met Frank in June 1980 as I passed him a sponge as he competed in the Blackpool of that year. I had no recollection of his smiling face from earlier years, which made … Continue reading →

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Stretford Track League 1967 – 1974 / Frank Dolan and Ken Harding RIP

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Tony Taylor

The New Year begins with sad news. Frank Dolan, a club stalwart in the 1980s and Ken Harding, an outstanding race walker across the second half of the 20th century both died recently. Frank raced in the famous 1979 Ewhurst … Continue reading →

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Holiday Reading or Listening : The Phenomenal Sandra Brown, not forgetting Richard…….

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Tony Taylor

My sincere thanks to Chris Bolton and Dave Ainsworth for sending this link to both an article and a podcast celebrating the amazing achievements of Sandra and Richard Brown. Davy begins: Sandra was the very first person in the world … Continue reading →

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Christmas Greetings with the 2026 January Virtual 5 Kilometres on the horizon

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Tony Taylor

SEASON’S GREETINGS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND FOLLOWERS THE SAYING, PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL MEN, HAS NEVER BEEN MORE PERTINENT AND YET SEEMINGLY SO FAR AWAY As is now our custom the first event in the 2026 … Continue reading →

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Dick and Bill Maxwell Remembered, Bill Cowley and Eric Crompton Celebrated

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Tony Taylor

Our Xmas race honours annually the terrific contribution made to our club by Dick Maxwell. However, while researching into our Centurion legacy, I alighted upon the result of the 1977 Bristol 100 miles event, which featured another Maxwell, namely Bill. … Continue reading →

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