Good to see Martin back in the mix and he’s seeking advice on shoes – see a future request for your views on footwear
MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM 1 Lancashire Walking Club (82.48%) 2 Quickstep Fitness (72.65%) 3 Sarnia Walking Club (71.62%) 4 Scotia Race Walking Club (57.74%) 5 Steyning AC (53.49%) 6 Birchfield Harriers (41.23%)
MENS 2KM TEAM 1 Lancashire Walking Club (51) 2 Quickstep Fitness (59) 3 Sarnia Walking Club (68) 4 Scotia Race Walking Club (159) 5 Steyning AC (183) 6 Birchfield Harriers (189)
Quite a few people have commented upon the mental challenge posed by doing a solo 8 kilometres so thanks to everyone for continuing to support the series. At least 6 injury-struck people have sent their apologies and hope to tackle the 10 kilometres challenge in August. Whatever the dilemmas thrown up by virtual race walking our series and the original 2k series overseen by Helen Elleker and John Constandinou are keeping us on our toes through these surreal times.
Congratulations to Mary Pusateri, 2019 USATF Masters F50 5k and 10k champion, Thanks to Luke Lu for the photo and John Constandinou for the discovery
8 KILOMETRES SCRATCH
[G] indicates Guest, who is not counted in the team race.
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 42:51
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia RWC 43:16
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 44:08 [G]
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia RWC 46:55
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia RWC 46:59
Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 47:00 [G]
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia RWC 52:56
Dave Evans M70 LWC 53:01
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia RWC 53:55
Mary Pusateri F50 USA 54:16 [G]
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia RWC 54:19
Joe Hardy M75 LWC 55:08
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 55:13
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia RWC 55:16
Pat Evans F65 LWC 55:29
Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 56:10 [G]
Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia RWC 56:16
Greg Smith M65 LWC 56:30
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 57:24
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 57:38 [G]
Tony Bell M55 LWC 57:46
Martin Payne M55 LWC 58:02
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia RWC 58:40
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 61:31
TEAM RACE [MIXED]
SCOTIA RWC [2, 3, 4 and 5] 14 pts
LWC [1, 6, 9 and 10] 26 pts
8KILOMETRES AGE-GRADED
Andrea well-wrapped up in the winter at Chorley
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 42:51 – 99.13%
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 61:31 – 87.68%
Pat Evans F65 LWC 55:29 – 83.13%
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia RWC 43:16 – 82.94%
Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia RWC 56:16 – 81.97%
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia RWC 46:55 – 81.25%
Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 56:10 – 81.21% [G]
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia RWC 58:40 – 81.13%
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 57:24 – 80.70%
Joe Hardy M75 LWC 55:08 – 80.32%
Dave Evans M70 LWC 53:01- 80.12%
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia RWC 54:19 – 78.00%
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia RWC 52:56 – 78.02%
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 55:13 – 76.93%
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia RWC 46:59 – 73.69%
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 44:08 – 73.38% [G]
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia RWC 53:55 – 71.47%
Greg Smith M65 LWC 56:30 – 70.59%
Mary Pusateri F50 USA 54:16 – 68.84% [G]
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia RWC 55:16 – 66.19%
Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 47:00 – 63.38% [G]
Martin Payne M55 LWC 58:02 – 63.04%
Tony Bell M55 LWC 57:46 – 61.55%
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 57:38 – 59.05% [G]
TEAM RACE [MIXED]
LWC [1, 2, 3 and 8] 14 pts
SCOTIA RWC [4, 5, 6 and 7] 22pts
8 KILOMETRES HANDICAP
The race within a race based on handicap allowances was a traditional feature of Race Walking events across the decades at a club level, but particularly within Open races. Entry forms would always ask for one’s latest performance to assist the handicapper decide on your allowance based on the fastest prospective competitor starting from scratch i.e. having no handicap allowance. The handicap race was seen as providing motivation for athletes throughout the field – from a younger walker breaking through to a seasoned veteran still striving to do do their best.
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC Actual time 61:31 H’cap Allowance 27:25 H’cap time 34:06
Thanks again to everyone and to Marco and Mary for providing an international flavour to the proceedings.
This month’s challenge is 10 kilometres. I haven’t forgotten my promise to write something about the history of the 5 miles distance now superseded by the metric 10k.
Firstly to encourage everyone involved thus far in our Club Series and indeed any new faces to submit their 8k times by midnight, Sunday, August 2 to tonymtaylor@gmail.com. As ever photos welcomed.
Secondly, as you can see below, with Tony Malone, Stephen Walker and Tony Taylor absent, we slipped down the Virtual League Series team competition. Hopefully we’ll bounce back in Week 17, although Tony Malone probably won’t figure as he’s experiencing problems with his breathing, whilst Stephen is struggling with a back problem.
MENS AGE GRADED TEAM
1 Scotia Race Walking Club (75.95%) 2 Sarnia Walking Club (75.31%) 3 Quickstep Fitness (73.87%) 4 Lancashire Walking Club (71.33%) 5 Birchfield Harriers (39.80%)
MENS TEAM
1 Sarnia Walking Club (26) 2 Scotia Race Walking Club (38) 3 Quickstep Fitness (52) 4 Lancashire Walking Club (70) 5 Birchfield Harriers (193)
STOP PRESS – See responses below from Richard and Sandra plus photos and the mention of an intriguing mystery!
Given our club’s proud Centurion tradition it is fitting and proper that we celebrate a milestone in the lives of Richard and Sandra Brown, those legendary ultra-distance walkers and record holders – their Golden Wedding Anniversary. According to Dave Ainsworth, in keeping with their reputation they celebrated by going out for a walk together and collecting a “take away” on the return to enjoy at home.
50 YEARS – NOW AND THEN
Tim Erickson, a great historian of our sport. has written two fascinating tributes to the couple, which reveal in detail their astonishing careers.
At one point he asks Sandra what might be her best performances. She replies.
The performances, all judged race-walking, I’m probably most pleased with are: ◦ 18.36.29 in my second UK Centurion 100 at Leicester in 1984, the British ladies’ best time ◦ 200kms in 24.04.20 at Vallorbe in 1991, a world best ◦ 50 miles in 7.54.54 in the Manchester to Blackpool in 1991 ◦ 50kms in 4.50.51 at Basildon in 1991, then a world best and still the W45 age group record ◦ 189.949kms at Wadelincourt [Belgian 24h championship] in 2014, the W65 24h record ◦ 51 completions [to date] of proper Centurion races worldwide, including 31 in the UK; 20 of these 51 in a first class time [under 20 hrs for 100 miles] including 14 in the UK ◦ Winning outright various Centurion 100s in the UK and elsewhere ◦ Winning over 30 Paris-Colmar/Alsace qualifying events [no. 30 was Wadelincourt 2014 and I have won others since] ◦ 191 completions of 100 miles or more, to date.
He has 25 finishes in official Centurion walks, with a best of 16:50:28, and has won the British Centurions race a record 10 times. Apart from his British best time, he has 4 further times under 18 hours and 6 further times under 19 hours.
21:03:49 24/06/1983 Ewhurst GBR UK760 18:50:23 27/07/1984 Leicester GBR 18:33:52 18/05/1985 Sint-Oedenrode NED CN144 19:00:09 10/05/1986 Sint-Oedenrode NED 18:17:17 25/07/1986 Leicester-Congerstone GBR 17:00:35 29/07/1988 Leicester-Congerstone GBR 17:54:28 28/07/1990 Hungarton (Leicester) GBR 17:52:47 28/06/1991 Ewhurst GBR 18:50:29 21/07/1992 Leicester GBR 16:50:28 22/05/1993 Sint-Oedenrode NED 17:58:17 21/07/1993 London-Battersea GBR 18:39:42 29/07/1994 Hungarton (Leicester) GBR 19:23:16 05/08/1995 London GBR 18:12:04 03/08/1996 Colchester GBR 19:22:26 20/06/1998 Douglas IOM 19:08:16 14/08/1999 London GBR 20:29:45 24/09/2000 Golden,CO USA US49 19:50:39 04/08/2001 Colchester GBR 177.772 25/08/2001 Genting Highlands MA MC820:31:59 07/05/2005 Weert NED 20:33:00 30/07/2005 Kings Lynn GBR 20:12:44 11/07/2009 Newmarket GBR 21:23:10 22/-9/2012 Colchester GBR 21:45:23 15/08/2015 Castletown IOM 22:48:55 06/08/2017 Bury St Edmunds GBR
Both of them are remarkable. Their achievements almost beyond my comprehension.
Much more fascinating information on their web site – the ultrabrowns
CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL AT LWC
Richard replies:
How very kind of you to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with such a lovely addition to the Lancashire Walking Club website.
It has been 50 years full of adventures and none more enjoyable than our races here in Britain and overseas. Although we were quite late coming to the sport of race-walking and, for both of us, our first race was at 100 miles, we’ve enjoyed racing at every distance and have enjoyed every minute. The camaraderie and friendship within the walking community, and the encouragement and support from so many people, have been truly amazing and we could not have achieved anything without that friendship from across the walking fraternity.
In 1986 a watering can comes to the rescue!
So a huge thank you to everyone, and what memories we share….including of the Manchester to Blackpool, which was one of our favourite events. We shall always remember the very special support along the route, running the gauntlet of kids, grannies and donkeys as we aimed for Blackpool Tower over that last golden mile, the blissful baths, followed by the wonderful presentation and high tea! Happy days! We attach some of our treasured photos from the M-B events.
In 1986 the Mayor and Mayoress present Richard with the trophy watched by John Eddershaw
Since she is too modest to say this, Sandra has now successfully completed over 200 events of 100 miles or above – itself another world record….by miles!
In 1991 Sandra dogs the footsteps of Andy TriggDouble victors in 1993 with the Mayoress on the promenade
Our thanks again and best wishes to you and all at Lancashire Walking Club.
Intriguingly in another messageRichard speaks aboutthe crucialrole played byroadside supporters.
The helpers are always the vital and too often unsung heroes of the road. We well remember a Lancs supporter in his Jag with scented sponges and Tizer on offer. Wonderful…. and a real lift when you had that experience.
And Sandraadds herreminiscence.
We both remember those eau-de-cologne scented sponges and how refreshing they were, on a warm August afternoon, along that long road through Lytham St Annes. Maybe this good Samaritan lived in that area? There was another supporter, somewhere around half way I think, who provided delicious little jellies set in small cake cases. They used to slip down so nicely!
I’m afraid that I wasn’t at the 1986 race. Indeed our daughter was still a baby then and I did little racing for a couple of years. So I don’t have records for that. Maybe the RWA website or someone else who did the race can help? I do have in my records a page from a programme in the 1990s where it appears that only 6 men’s winning times bettered the 7h 54.54 that I did when coming second to Andy Trigg in 1991. It was my bad luck to be narrowly beaten by him that year and Richard another year when I did 8.02. In 1991, Richard and our young Vicky were in a car trying to give me drinks but had real problems finding places to stop. At one roundabout, they parked just as I sped by, and I could hear Vicky calling after me “Come back for your drink Mummy!”
Thank you again so much for your and the club’s friendship and all your wonderful events over the years. Such memories we share!
Can anyone shed light on the identity of the Jag-driving, Tizer-loving, scented Lancastrian?I’vegot an idea!
Sadly we have to report that Ray Manning, Centurion 415, passed away on 3rd July aged 88 after a short illness. Ray, a member of Wakefield Harriers and well-known to his contemporaries in our club, qualified in the 1968 Leicester to Skegness race in 19:56:20. Indeed I remember chasing after him with a sponge in the 1970 Blackpool walk, which as the club secretary of the time I organised. His daughter Linda says her father was a proud Centurion and his medal, certificate and plaque will be displayed at the funeral, which will take place on the 16th July, being restricted in these difficult times to the family.
Guy Goodair remembers fondly those past yearsand a wonderful sporting gesture by Ray.
Ray was a great club man. Although he lived in Newcastle he was always willing to make a trip down to wherever we needed him for the team.
The start of the 1967 TT Walk, Ray, number 18, finished 6th .Ta to John Cannell.
Probably his best ever individual performance was finishing 3rd in 1968 over the gruelling 37.75 mile TT course in the Isle of Man
He was a counting member of the Wakefield team which won the team event in both the 1968 and 1970 Manchester to Blackpool 51.75 miles races, the 1968 Bradford 50km and the 1968 Northern 50km,
Ray was also a team counter when Wakefield took 2nd place in 1970 Northern 20 miles, and 3rd place in National 50km Championship.
Ray was a member of the Centurions team which took 12th place in the 1969 Swiss Airolo to Chiasso relay which was from the St Gotthard pass to Chiasso on the Italian border. He did the 14km leg from Bellinzona up to the summit of Monte Ceneri. The following week he finished 15th in the Lugano 100km in 11h 36m 18s
Thinking about Ray and those years of yore, one occasion particularly sticks in my memory. We’d gone to Switzerland for the Lugano race walking week – four of us from Wakefield Harriers, myself, George Barras, Ray and Eric Lee plus Harry Holmes Jnr from Yorkshire RWC. As we were all Centurions we entered under that title for the five-legged Airolo – Chiasso relay. Looking back we were up against Italy, USA, Czechoslovakia, Sweden a London team (Warhurst, Mills, Marlow, Wesch and Embleton) and a German team which had internationals in it. We finished 12th which wasn’t too bad.
Pat Duncan, Roger Mills, Peter Marlow, Eric Lee, Me, George Barras, Judith, Harry Holmes Ray is immediately above John Warhust’s head Wilf Wesch, is next to John then Phil Embleton not sure who it is next to Phil. All is revealed, next to Phil is our very own Tony Malone, who raced the Thursday evening 10 kilometres.
The following weekend was the Lugano 100km and from the start my stomach was ‘off’ – I had the runs and at every town had to dash for the toilets in the local railway station. A good remedy I’ve found is Fernet-Branca (foul tasting drink) but it helps. Judith dashed into a bar early on before the bar was properly open and asked for a drink.The woman behind the bar was pouring a small measure, Judith grabbed a tumbler, poured her measure plus a lot more into the tumbler and dashed out to me.
“[Fernet] benefits the stomach, promotes digestion, strengthens the body, overcomes cholera, reduces fever, and heals those suffering from nervous weakness, lack of appetite, sickness or tapeworms; suitable for use as a preventative measure for all those who are obliged to reside in damp and infectious conditions.”
She was having her work cut out trying to feed us all but George and Harry were getting too far away. I was also, as the race went on, getting cramp and the toilets in the stations were holes in a flat surface with mouldings to place your feet. Now that’s no place to be when cramp strikes!
After the halfway (Locarno) there’s a mighty climb up Monte Ceneri and there was a rule you had to get there inside a certain time after the leader had gone through. If you were over this then you were stopped and classified.
Both Ray and Eric were miles in front of me but asked Judith how I was doing and would I make the cut off. She told them I should just make it. Then with generous sportmanship they decided to wait for me at the summit and ‘shepherd’ me into the finish where we were 15th in 11h 36m 18s – a great gesture because they’d have done much faster times if they’d not waited.
Happy days and great memories – Rest in Peace, Ray.
Atmospheric photo of Glyn Jones, race walking through and through, pounding the roads
Five Kilometres Scratch
[G] indicates Guest, who is not counted in the team race.
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia RWC 25:52
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 26:22
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia RWC 26:42
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 26:50 [G]
Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 26:55 [G]
Stephen Walker M60 LWC 27:44
Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia RWC 28:33
Tony Malone M65 LWC 30:25
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia RWC 30:55
Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 32:05 [G]
Dave Evans M70 LWC 32:40
Mary Pusateri F50 USA 32:41[G]
Greg Smith M65 LWC 32:59
Denis Jackson M75 Quickstep 33:07 [G]
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia RWC 33:22
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia RWC 33:31
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia RWC 33:59
Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 34:04 [G]
Joe Hardy M75 LWC 34:20
Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia RWC 34:44=
Martin Payne M55 LWC 34:44=
Tony Bell M55 LWC 35:00=
John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 35:00= [G]
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 35:01
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia RWC 35:06
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia RWC 35:07
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 35:13
Pat Evans F65 LWC 35:26
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 35:40 [G]
Guy Goodair M80 LWC 39:29
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 43:44
TEAM RACE [MIXED]
SCOTIA RWC [1, 3, 5 and 7] 16 pts
LWC [ 2, 4, 6 and 8] 20 pts
5KILOMETRES AGE-GRADED
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 26:22 – 98.69%
Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia 28:33 – 85.58%
Bill McFaddenM55 Scotia 25:52 – 85.07%
Stephen Walker M60 LWC – 83.40%
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia – 81.47%
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 35:01 – 80.90%
Denis Jackson M75 Quickstep 33:07 – 80.73% [G]
Tony Malone M65 LWC 30:25 – 80.39%
Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia – 79.94%
Dave Evans M70 LWC 32:40 – 79.66%
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia 26:42 – 79.47%
Joe Hardy M75 LWC 34:20 – 78.96%
Glyn Jones M75 Cov God 34:04 – 78.48% [G]
Pat Evans F65 LWC 35:26 – 78.36%
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia 33:22 – 76.77%
Guy Goodair M80 LWC 39:29 – 76.47%
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia 30:55 – 75.61%
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 43:44 – 75.04%
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia 33:31 – 74.60%
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 35:13 – 73.89%
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 26:50 – 73.32% [G]
Greg Smith M65 LWC 32:59 – 73.28%
Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 26:55 – 67.49% [G]
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia 35:06 – 66.69%
Gerard McConnell M60 scotia 33:59 – 66.01%
Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 32:05 – 65.56% [G]
Mary Pusateri F50 USA 32:41 – 65.44% [G]
Martin Payne M55 LWC 34:44 – 64.59%
Tony Bell M55 LWC 35:00 – 62.28%
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 35:40 – 58.48% [G]
John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 35:00 – 57.14% [G]
TEAM RACE [MIXED]
1st equal on 18 pts !!
Lancashire Walking Club [1, 4, 6 and 7]
Scotia Race Walking Club [2, 3, 5 and 8]
5 KILOMETRES HANDICAP
The race within a race based on handicap allowances was a traditional feature of Race Walking events across the decades at a club level, but particularly within Open races. Entry forms would always ask for one’s latest performance to assist the handicapper decide on your allowance based on the fastest prospective competitor starting from scratch i.e. having no handicap allowance. The handicap race was seen as providing motivation for athletes throughout the field – from a younger walker breaking through to a seasoned veteran still striving to do do their best.
Roy Gunnett hasn’t got a double chin. There’s another walker on his inside!! Ta to Greg for the image.
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar Actual time 26:50; H’cap Allowance 4:45; H’cap time 22:05
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia 26:42; 4:30; 22:12
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 35:13; 11:40; 23:33
Joe Hardy M75 LWC 34:20; 10:36: 23:56
Greg Smith M65 LWC 32:59; 9:00; 23:59
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia 33:22: 9:23; 24:01
Linda Hinshelwood F65 Scotia 34:44; 10:41; 24:03
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia 30:55; 6:48; 24:07
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia 35:06; 10:45; 24:21
Martin Payne M55 LWC 34:44; 10:22; 24:22
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia 35:07; 10:38; 24:29
Pat Evans F65 LWC 35:26; 10:51; 24:35
Stephen Walker M60 LWC 27:44; 3:08 ; 24:36
Denis Jackson M75 Quickstep 33:07; 8:28; 24:39
Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 26:55; 2:15; 24:40
Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 34:04; 9:20; 24:44
Guy Goodair M80 LWC 39:29; 14:40; 24:49
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 35:01; 10:02; 24:59
Tony Malone M65 LWC 30:25; 5:10; 25:15
Dave Evans M70 LWC 32:40; 7:23; 25:17
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 26:22; 1.00; 25:22
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia 25:52; 0:00; 25:52
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia 33:31; 7;36; 25:55
Tony Bell M55 LWC 35:00; 8:36; 26:24
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia 33:59; 6:56; 27:03
Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 32:05; 4:35; 27:30
Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia 28:33; 1:00; 27:33
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 43:44; 16:07; 27:37
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 35:40; 7:55; 27:45
Mary Pusateri F50 USA 32:41; 4:40; 28:01
John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 35:00; 4:10; 30:50
Thanks to everyone involved, especially Marco and Mary from overseas. A warm Lancashire welcome to you both. We’ll have a word with the handicapper!!
This month’s distance is 8 kilometres, very close to the classic British distance of 5 miles, now long forgotten. In the next week I’ll do a post reviving memories of the significance of this distance in the history of our club.
I’ve already received a couple of early clockings. Everyone on their marks.
