Category Archives: History

Hilly Chorley awaits – Alison Trophy 15k, Saturday, March 2nd

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Whenever I think about Chorley and our Sunday morning strolls [as they used to be called] I remember with fondness being out on the road with Eric Crompton. By chance this photo of the start of the 1975 10 miles … Continue reading →

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Age-grading results, Helen in the mud and Steve Arnold RIP winning the Bradford

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Tony Taylor

VIRTUAL JANUARY 5 kilometres – AGE-GRADED Given the sad news this last week, the deaths of three outstanding Centurions it’s good to sound a lighter note. Hazel Fairhurst, who became Centurion 983 wearing the colours of our club in 2002 … Continue reading →

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CLUB JANUARY VIRTUAL 5KMS AND SAD NEWS FROM THE CENTURIONS

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Roy Gunnett My January virtual 5k time is 35:24. I set this on a normal route from home, part of which is down Lifeboat Road that leads to the beach. There used to be a Lifeboat station on the beach  … Continue reading →

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The History of our Club: July to December, 1958

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Ron continues his fascinating and evocative return to the year of his arrival in our sport. JULY Over the period 18th to 26th July the major sporting focus was was the celebration of the VI Empire Games in Cardiff. I … Continue reading →

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The History of our Club – January to June, 1958

Posted on January 21, 2024 by Tony Taylor

For more than a few years Ron Wallwork and I have played in differing ways with the idea of putting together at least a partial history of our great club. Indeed, as you might expect, Fred Pearce and Chris Bolton … Continue reading →

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Running: a desirable addition – thoughts from 1970

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Back in 1970, Julian Hopkins and I, encouraged by Ron Wallwork, pondered the idea of putting together an annual review of race walking. It was to include commentary on tthe national and international scene, together with articles on technique and … Continue reading →

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John O’Groats to Lands End: Guy Goodair’s fascinating reminiscence

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Tony Taylor

Enormous praise is due to Guy Goodair for providing this end-of-year treat- a fascinating insider insight into the 1960 John O’Groats to Lands End race, which we alluded to in our tribute to Beryl Randle. Guy begins the wonderful tale.  … Continue reading →

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Beryl Randle RIP – one of our sport’s great characters

Posted on December 17, 2023 by Tony Taylor

Beryl Randle, born on the 16th of December 1928, was one of our sport’s great characters and a pioneer in terms of women’s race walking. The following tribute is based on a touching post from Birchfield Harriers, the athletics club … Continue reading →

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Remembering 1968: Guy reveals the ‘secrets’ of IAC research while sadly Arthur Jones, Mexico Olympian has died

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Tony Taylor

Guy Goodair reports on this fascinating, historical piece of research, which took place in the spring of 1968 ahead of the Mexico Olympics. Fifty years ago five members of Wakefield Harriers became pioneers for the International Athletics Club research into … Continue reading →

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Noel Blatchford RIP – an extraordinary sporting career

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Tony Taylor

Grateful thanks to Ron Wallwork for circulating this tribute. For many of us in Lancashire Noel was an engaging regular at the BMAF 5km championships in Horwich, where she invariably dominated her age-group. Noel Blatchford RIP  The race-walking fraternity has … Continue reading →

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