As a significant number of people are unavailable this coming Saturday, the Dick and Zena Smith races will now be held a week later on June 11th. Thanks to Roy’s good offices, the Bury Athletic Club has been understanding and generous in shifting the date without penalty.
However, looking on the bright side, you’ve time to fit in a couple of fast sessions before hitting the track!!
And just for interest and nostalgia, whilst searching for photos to display at my birthday concert I came across the image below, which is disintegrating. In a couple of weeks with assistance, I’ll add names. Pretty sure the year is 1969.
Our next races will see us contesting the Dick and Zena Smith trophies at the Bury AC Track on Saturday, June 4th, starting at 1.00 p.m.
Dick Smith is number 11 in this photo with John Grocott [17] to the fore. followed by George Lamb [26], Dick Ditchfield [14], Fred Pearce Snr [19], and Ted Sharp [42] close behind. Many thanks to David Lamb – not sure of the year.
As Dave and Pat Evans are unable to attend it would be really helpful if you could let Dave know in advance if you will be there and in what capacity. Lap scorers will be needed! Roy Gunnett will be the day’s Master of Ceremonies, for which many thanks.
Somewhat wearily I have to report that I won’t make it back – all the more frustrating it being my 75th birthday on June 3rd. At the very least I would have fetched some sparkling wine, some bottles of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and, of course, the pies! As it is we’re celebrating here on Crete by way of a concert in our garden. Find the invitation below and if by a miracle you can accept, let me know. I’d be well chuffed!
Marilyn’s painting of the entrance to our garden
IN LOVE AND STRUGGLE: TONY’S 75th BIRTHDAY
SUNDAY, JUNE 5th IN OUR GARDEN
A boy soprano in 1957Up and coming race walker 1969
You are cordially invited to celebrate and/or commiserate with me on my grudging arrival at the grand old age of 75. Well over half a century ago I dreamt of the demise of capitalism, the creation of an authentically democratic society. Today that vision seems far, far away as many seem to be sleepwalking into an authoritarian dystopia.
Yet ordinary life goes on with all its personal highs and lows. Hence I will cease being a curmudgeon and look forward to a delightful early evening of jazz performed by the wondrous Maria Manousakis and the brilliant Hot Club De Grece.
Maria and the Hot Club
On arrival at around 6ish canapes will be served, together with wine as befits our status as middle-class pensioners in exile. If we’d been in Wigan it would have been real ale and pies but you can’t have everything. The concert will kick off at 6.30 after which you will be thrown out to do as you please! No presents but, if you so wish, a bucket donation to Medical Aid for Palestinians gratefully accepted.
LA LOTTA CONTINUA
Ο ΑΓΏΝΑς ΣΥΝΕΧΊΖΕΤΑΙ
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
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APOLOGIES THAT I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED ON OUR WEB SITE THAT THE HORWICH FESTIVAL INCORPORATING THE BRITISH MASTERS 5 KILOMETRES WALK ON SUNDAY, JUNE 19th HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF SPONSORSHIP. SAD NEWS INDEED.
To my chagrin I didn’t make it – a combination of flight cancellations and family illness. Apologies were also proffered by Tony Bell and Chris Harvey. It’s lovely to see all the usual faces, together with very welcome presence of Christine Pearce and my opposition in our youth from the 1960s, David Lamb.
As ever Dave Evans reports:
A larger than expected field turned out at today’s race in memory of one of the club’s most stylish walkers and to complement this show of affection for a friend lost the weather was very kind.
Unlike other club events, it was decided to start everyone at the same time which produced some interesting results with quite a few aspirants having a chance to “medal”. The opening mile saw Adrian Edwards in full command ticking through in 10 mins 22 seconds having negotiated the real roller coaster of the opening section of the course. In his wake were Ian Hilditch with an astonishing 10 mins 52 and Sailash Shah in 11 mins 22. The main pack were not too far behind the leading three with all bar one dipping under 12 mins 23.
Adrian Edwards in command
Ian Hilditch surprising the officials
Sailash Shah- a study in concentration
Being an out and back course meant some leg sapping ascents but equally leg testing descents. Most club walkers are hardy souls and rise to the challenge of big ups and downs. At the 3 and a half mile point Eric Horwill reminded them of their midway times and it was clear that some of the more genteel starters were beginning to close on their adversaries. Quite a few were destined to record negative splits. Adrian reached halfway in 38 mins 50 seconds and both Eric and I had to rub our eyes when Ian Hilditch came into view only 73 seconds adrift. Glyn Jones was sticking to his task particularly well and seems to be recovering from his recent back problems. In practice, this is not a course to help such a condition but nevertheless, he raced on. Hot on the heels of Glyn was a trio of “youngsters” but as the final results showed they lost time on the homeward stage.
Glyn Jones with Roy Gunnett in pursuit
Steven Wilde
Phil McCullagh with Joe Hardy in tow
Greg Smith in black
The final 1 mile of the race involves two long climbs and one steep descent and officials are sometimes very surprised when the walkers come into the finish in a different order than that predicted. On this occasion Steven Wilde, a newcomer to the club produced a strong final couple of miles and took 4th place. Pat Evans, now thankfully recovering from a leg problem, completed the 7 with no adverse effects. Andrea Lennon is a remarkable lady and at 80 years of age is able to handle this very hill course with maturity. She always looks very composed and has a ready smile at the finish. Andrea clocked an impressive 104 mins 12. The winner of the handicap was our club secretary Roy Gunnett who squeezed home by 18 seconds from Steve Wilde. Dave Crompton’s partner Louise completed the course with Emma, Dave’s daughter, in a very respectable 111 mins 37 seconds, pretty good going on one of the country’s hilliest courses.
Pat Evans back to fitness
Andrea Lennon defying her age
Bravo to Louise Whaite and Emma Crompton
Results 1. Adrian Edwards 78 mins 37(10 22/38 50/78 37) 2. Ian Hilditch 79 mins 38(10 52/40 03/79 38) 3. Glyn Jones 81 mins 12(11 32/41 08/81 12) 4. Steven Wilde 82 mins 47(11 53/41 47/82 47) 5. Phil McCullagh 83 mins 00(11 56/42 42/83 00) 6. Roy Gunnett 83 mins 29(11 37/41 34/83 29) 7. Sailash Shah 83 mins 47(11 22/41 46/83 47) 8. Joe Hardy 86 mins 47(11 58/43 56/86 47) 9. Pat Evans 88 mins 23(12 23/44 29/88 23) 10. Greg Smith 98 mins 50(12 06/46 42/98 50) 11. Andrea Lennon 104 mins 12(14 27/52 30/104 12) 12. Louise Whaite 111 mins 37(15 47/56 54/111 37) 12. Emma Crompton 111 mins 37(15 47/56 54/111 37)
Handicap results 1. Roy Gunnett 66 mins 59 2. Steven Wilde 67 mins 17 3. Glyn Jones 68 mins 12 4. Phil McCullagh 69 mins 00 5. Ian Hilditch 69 mins 08 6. Sailash Shah 70 mins 47 7. Andrea Lennon 71 mins 12 8. Pat Evans 72 mins 38 9. Joe Hardy 73 mins 47 10. Adrian Edwards 78 mins 37 11. Greg Smith 89 mins 05
Thanks are due to Greg Smith for the opening shots of everyone at the finish and to Martin Payne for the action photos. Very much appreciated.
All being well we will be in Chorley on Saturday, May 7 racing our hearts out and remembering with great affection, Dave Crompton in the Memorial Trophy event named after him.
Dave, ‘safe as houses’ in the 2 hours walk at Bury 2016
Our new changing facility is to be found at St Peter’s Church Hall on Harpers Lane, PR6 0HP. It is only a stone’s throw from our old stomping ground, the St Peter’s Social Club. Indeed the race will start at 1.00 p.m. at the usual placeoutside the Social Club.
A photo of a group of those gathered together to honour his memory – thanks to Dave Ainsworth for circulating and to Joan Wallwork for recording the image. From left to right: Dave Ainsworth, Glyn Jones, Amos Seddon, Jon May, Ron Wallwork, Carl Lawton, Gerry O’Doherty (Essex County AA President), Lance Williams & Pam Ficken.
As we bemoan the unfortunate cancellation of our recent race at Macclesfield it’s fascinating to recollect the staging of the National 10 miles championships over seventy years ago in the very same town. Roy Gunnett has unearthed this Pathe News gem, which records Lol Allen’s hat-trick of wins, the third achieved in soaking Cheshire weather.
A few observations you might find of interest.
The folk in the cinema must have chuckled at the presenter’s comment, ‘there’s only one rule – one foot must be at all times in contact with the ground. Of course, if it’s the same foot youwon’t get very far!’
Jim Hackwood’s report on the race in the Race Walking Record is so faded it wouldn’t copy but he pays tribute to the organisational prowess of the Sutton Walking Club. So too in those times, it must have been quite difficult to travel to Macclesfield from the Midlands and South on the day of the race.
Jim’s report reveals also that Roland Hardy, Lol Allen’s great rival was disqualified at the 6 miles point.
On the film, I think the walker at the turning point is Keith French of Sheffield but he does not appear in the results.
Twenty years later George Chaplin [Coventry Godiva], who finished 55th. was still stylishly contesting the lead in major races.
From a Lancashire point of view Harold Harwood and George Lamb were our first counters with the wonderfully eccentric Matt Clarke bringing up the rear. in June Matt finished next to last in the Blackpool clocking a time of 11:18:19. This was Matt’s usual position, whatever the distance but it never put him off. To the best of my memory, he raced always in a formal collared shirt! Not to forget that the starting pistol for the championship was in Jack Tempest’s hand.
Chris Bolton gets in touch with this lovely anecdote.
Thanks for the memories, particularly of Matt Clarke. You and I remember Matt at the back of the field but I believe that as a young man he was quite handy. He once told me of a medley track race he took part in. It was a one-mile run, a one-mile walk and a one-mile bike ride.
After the run, he was very well placed and after the walk he was a long way in the lead. He told me he jumped on the bike for his ride to glory and the pedal fell off. In those days there was a lot of illegal betting at the tracks and Matt had been nobbled!
From a Sutton perspective the stalwart Albert Rigby finished third from last, whilst Don Warren [49th] was at the beginning of his career. His progress was remarkable and in July of the same year he won the Lancashire 2 miles track championship in an excellent 14:27.
Don Warren is the tall handsome figure on the right with his Sutton vest clearly showing.
In the late 1960s Don was very supportive to me, guiding me round my first National 50 kilometres championship in 1968. I repaid him unexpectedly in an emotional National 20 kilometres championships the very next year. Inspired by Ron Wallwork I’d made something of a breakthrough, 2nd to Jake Warhurst in the Northern 10 miles at Sutton of all places, Sadly my dad died in late April just before the National 20 kilometres to be held at Gomersal in Yorkshire. My head was all over the place but it went without saying that the club needed me to toe the starting line. I struggled throughout on a hilly one lap course, dragged along by Guy Goodair for much of the race. As I crossed the line I burst into tears and fell into the arms of Joe Lambert, who was understandably perplexed. Joe, a picture of reserve, desisted from telling me ‘to pull myself together’. An hour later though all seemed worthwhile as it was announced that we had finished second team [Wallwork, Vickers, Taylor, Warren] and now it was Don, who could hardly hold back his tears. He was to be presented with his first ever national medal.
Unfortunately, we have to inform you that Saturday’s 10 miles race at Sutton has had to be cancelled due to COVID striking the Barnard household. We hope Marshall and Kath are feeling better soon.
Sad to say we won’t be changing, racing and eating at Sutton on Saturday
The next club race will be the Dave Crompton Memorial Trophy 7 miles at Chorley on Saturday, May 7. More details to follow. All being well I will manage to get back from Crete to see everyone.
Our next club race in the beautiful surroundings of Sutton will soon be upon us. Unusually, given their dedication to the cause, Dave and Pat Evans will not be able to attend. Never fear Roy Gunnett will have everything under control. Our great friend Marshall Barnard will be opening the club at 12.30 and Roy advises that the start time of the race will revert to 1.30 p.m. It would be really helpful if you could let me know if you are attending, particularly with regard to the catering arrangements.
Eric Hall during his Belgrave Harriers Presidential year, 1999-2000. Thanks to Alan Mead
Sadly we have to inform you that Eric Hall of Belgrave Harriers and a double Olympian passed away on March 20th, 89 years of age. Eric has a special place in the history of our club and is fondly remembered by those of us, who were privileged to know and race against him. In particular, he was an inspiration to Ron Wallwork, who takes up the story.
ERIC HALL REST IN PEACE
Eric’s first race in Lancashire was probably the 1957 50km at Leyland. He was already an Olympian having qualified by finishing second in the race the previous year at Enfield.
Thanks to Will Cockerill for this photo of Eric winning the 1957 National 20 miles. Will observes that Eric said the National win gave him the most satisfaction of any in his career, also because “this event had seemed to carry a hoodoo for Belgravians for he was the first Club man to win the title of this, the oldest championship event.”
Four years later following another Olympic appearance in Rome, this time at 20km the Belgravian, who was a Customs & Excise Officer was posted to Manchester’s Ringway airport and it was a chance meeting in Deansgate with Joe Lambert that triggered off Eric’s period with Lancashire Walking Club. Joe, a senior civil servant had met Eric at the Civil Servant championships and extended a welcome to guest in the club’s events. Well, he accepted the invitation and joined second-claim, turning out whenever he could.
I can’t recall just how long Eric was stationed at Ringway before being posted to Leicester, perhaps five years, but his time in the north was of terrific benefit for me. I was making my way up the rankings, and he was an endless well of advice and support and was instrumental in my international breakthrough in 1963.
Joan and I were frequent guests at Eric and Mavis’s Cheadle Hulme home so that us men-folk could get in some serious “strolling”. I have vivid memories of Eric’s favourite route, a four-hour slog which took in the “Cat & Fiddle” the second-highest pub in England. Of many things he told me, was that after a season of 50km training and racing, my times at all the shorter distances would improve and so they did.
A February 1964 Club 10 miles at Earlestown. L/R The Mayoress, Tony Taylor, Eric. Graham Abley, Alan Hall [no relation[, Mike Hatton, Ron Wallwork, Bob Turnbull and Chris Bolton
On the same day a Boys’ race was held. The staged start included Ron second and Eric fifth from the right of the photo
During his sojourn with LWC he raced at all the Club’s venues; West Didsbury, Frank O’Neill’s at Swinton, Urmston Baths, the Plough Hotel at Crossens, Southport and Earlstown, fitting in easily, with no hint of the great walker that he was, and always ready to spend time with walkers seeking advice.
Ta to Will Cockerill again. Eric duels with Stan Vickers in the 1957 Regents Park 15 miles Open
Eric’s race walking career wasn’t a long one but left an indelible mark on the race walking scene. Along with his great friend Stan Vickers he helped his club Belgrave Harriers maintain a decade of dominance in the three national road championships: 10, 20 miles and 50km. In addition to his two Olympic appearances, he won the 1957 national 20 miles championship and logged another dozen top three national finishes.
We lost touch for 20 years but reunited in the late 80s and thereafter met on a regular basis. Eric remained a source of encouragement, always ready to pitch in with schemes I dreamt up and typically, although in his late 70’s played a crucial role in the 2009 Barclay Re-enactment.
Richard Dunwoody’s support team on duty on and off for 6 weeks. Jon May, Amos Seddon, Eric, Mal Blyth, Ron, Glyn Jones,
Deepest Condolences to Mavis, Alister, Sharon and his Grandchildren
“Why don’t you meet us outside Kingston Odeon on Saturday,” offered Eric’s friends. “We’re going up to our club at Wimbledon.” A naïve Eric thought he was going to join a rambling club. An added impetus was that it was the summer of the 1948 London Olympics. Eric and his schoolfriends were avid autograph hunters and in nearby Richmond Park, not far from Ladderstile Gate, there were rows of barracks that were one of the sites of the ‘Olympic villages.’ So not only were exotic athletes to be spied in the park, but this club at Wimbledon had members who were Olympic competitors. Eric completed his application form and became a Belgrave Harrier on 1st November 1948.
And, as for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics:
The Melbourne city experience was wonderful for Eric. He loved Australia and revisited many times throughout the rest of his life. But the race was not a happy one. After rainy and cool conditions which had the British rubbing their hands with glee, race day proved to be hot and very humid. Eric lost over 3 kg in weight during the event (he was only just over 61 kg to start with) and went through a very bad patch when it was all that he could do to focus on the blue line marking the route and aim for each next drinking station. Several competitors ahead of him collapsed and Britain’s no. 1, Don Thompson, was so far gone that he walked into the back of a parked car and, dazed, then set off again in the wrong direction. Of twenty-one competitors, six failed to finish and two were disqualified. Thompson was hospitalised for three days. Eric was 9th and remembered nothing about the finish – except for Stan Vicker’s comment, “I had to persuade them to keep the stadium gates open for you!”
Meanwhile the ever vigilant and knowledgeable Peter Matthew, Editor Athletics International and International Athletics Annual has supplied these details:
Eric William HALL (GBR) (b. 15 Sep 1932 Oxshott, Surrey) died on March 20 aged 89. A distinguished member of the walking community and a past President and life member of Belgrave Harriers, he had three internationals for Britain, including 9th at 50k in 1956 and 10th at 20k in 1960 at the Olympic Games, RWA champion at 20 miles 1957, with 2nd places at RWA 10M 1957-8 and 1961, 50k 1956, and in the AAA 7 miles track walk 1957-8. Walks PBS: 2M 13:51.4 ’60, 5M 36:09.0 ’60, 10000m 45:34.2 ’60, 7M 51:52.0 ’60, 1Hr 12,740m ’57, 10M 1:16:09 ’57, 20k 1:33:37 ’59, 50k 4:31:41 ’56.
Eric and Ken Matthews lead the pack
A last word remembered in Alan Read’s obituary.
Very many years ago Jack Crump, the Secretary of the British Amateur Athletic Board, found cause to say of Eric that he was “Gentlemanly, modest, temperamentally and technically a perfect walker.” Well over 60 years later we can not only confirm those qualities but add that Eric was generous in the extreme and a great friend to many, in all walks of our Club and sport.
Enormous thanks to Roy Gunnett and Dave Evans for pulling together this roster of Blackpool victors. As for the photo of Bobby Bridge found by David Lamb to be seen below. It shows allegedly Bobby passing through Chorley on his way to Blackpool on July 1st, 1928. However, this does not tally with the fact that the 1928 race was held on October 6th and that Bobby lost a leg in a motor-bike accident in 1926!! More detective work is clearly required. In the meantime, I couldn’t resist putting up the wonderful image!
Donato Pavesi, winner in 1922 following his victory in the 1921 London-Brighton – found by Ron Wallwork in Brian Ficken’s archives
Joe Hopkins, the club’s single winner in 1926
Hughie Neilson
John Paddick and Guy Goodair – both winners
John Eddershaw
Ken Harding – 5x winner
Martin Fisher – 4x winner of the Manchester-Blackpool race; 3x the 50 miles track race
A smashing photo taken by Greg of all-comers to the race . Moving to see Eric and Louise present outside St Peters. Good to see too David Lamb, son of Leyland legend, George.
Dave Evans reports and takes photos of the action
Spring had arrived and there was certainly a spring in the step of the 12 competitors who set out on a glorious day of pleasant sunshine if you ignored a coolish wind!
To ensure that most walkers were home within a relatively short threshold they were set off in two groups with the “likely faster” aspirants setting off 2 minutes in arrear. This course has always been a test of grit and determination and all stepped up the plate.
The two Martins lead Tony Bell
At the end of the opening mile Martin Fisher, Martin Payne and Tony Bell were together clocking a solid 10 minutes 26 not too far behind the main group who they eased past on the first of the three 2.4 mile circuits. The “early start” brigade kept in close proximity with each other until they entered the second of the demanding loop whereafter the fitter members stretched away.
Glyn trying to drop Ian on a long climb
The speedy threesome comprising the two Martins and Tony B arrived at the 5.8-mile point with only a second between in 60 minutes. Ian Hilditch and Glyn Jones kept pace with each other passing the same point in 67 minutes 11 as the rest of the field battled the mixed gradients a further 2 or 3 minutes behind.
Sailash out on his own
Given the distance between all of the walkers at this point it was necessary for Eric Horwill and I to return to the start to ensure complete times for all of the competitors. In the intervening period, positions changed and some quite dramatically.
Greg – well wrapped up
As the field completed their 15k it was clear a few had suffered in the latter stages suggesting the course was particularly demanding on this occasion. Andrea Lennon, our 80-year-old, was walking wonderfully well – like a woman half her age – and although deciding beforehand to do only two of the circuits, approached the finish looking fresh and purposeful. Glyn Jones looked very good when we left him at 5.8 miles but a previous back problem caught up with him in the last couple of miles and he looked quite distraught as he strolled into the finish. Martin Fisher accompanied his same start rivals for 6 miles then reduced his pace and helped other walkers complete the course, hence his less than normal time.
Andrea – the epitome of smooth relaxation
Martin Payne retained the handicap trophy for this event and was a worthy winner. Our host for the event was Eric Crompton who very sadly lost his dear wife very recently and we owe him our very grateful thanks for providing the facility, ably supported by Louise.
Scratch
Martin Payne retains the Alison Trophy, Ta to Greg for the pic.
1. Martin Payne 95 mins 36 2. Tony Bell 99 mins 36 3. Martin Fisher 101 mins 54 4. Ian Hilditch 105 mins 08 5. Glyn Jones 107 mins 43 6. Phil McCullagh 109 mins 21 7. Sailash Shah 111 mins 53 8. Steve Wilde 113 mins 00 9. Joe Hardy 114 mins 20 10. Greg Smith 117 mins 00 11. Roy Gunnett 118 mins 49
Andrea Lennon (6.8 miles)104 mins 20
Handicap
1. Martin Payne 90 mins 06 2. Tony Bell 94 mins 36 3. Ian Hilditch 94 mins 38 4. Glyn Jones 94 mins 43 5. Phil McCullagh 95 mins 21 6. Steve Wilde 97 mins 30 7. Sailash Shah 98 mins 53 8. Martin Fisher 100mins 24 9. Joe Hardy 101 mins 20 10. Roy Gunnett 102mins 19 11. Greg Smith 107 mins 30
Lancashire Walking Club : Health The First Wealth 