All praise to the indomitable spirits, competitors, officials and supporters, who did Dick Maxwell proud by turning up at Simister on Saturday for the club’s Xmas 10 kilometres. Nightmarish conditions even though we didn’t use the infamous Nightmare course! Saying I would have loved to be there rings rather hollow!
Post-Race 1 – thankfully back in the warm
As ever Dave Evans reports:
The journey to Simister for this memorial race was about the worst we can remember. It lashed down and several competitors faced delays with accidents on the motorway caused by heavy rainfall and high winds. A pre-race check by one of our marshalls indicated that our usual out and back course would have to be shortened by about 300 metres unless our walkers were happy to walk that distance in calf-high water.
Do we really want to?
Despite the heavy drizzle and cool breeze, the field of seven set off into the maelstrom while the officials ran for cover. It was just over half an hour later when the leading walkers came into view clocking reputable times in the conditions. A number had indicated that their day’s activity would be limited to half of the full race and it was no surprise to see Glyn Jones heading the field in fine style despite a niggling knee problem. Glyn and Pat Evans chose the shortened course recording times of 32 minutes 24 and 35 mins 13 respectively.
Glyn finishing strongest over 5k
The remaining weather hardened individuals stood to their task with gusto(strong wind in Italian !)and actually walked as well if not better in the second part of their challenge. Defying his years, Ian Hilditch claimed the fastest gross time of the day with a very strong 65 mins 29 with new club president Joe Hardy claiming second spot in an excellent 68 mins 47.
Ian – fastest on the day
Phil McCullagh straddles both running and walking and achieved an admirable 69 mins 44 walking both halves in the same time. Stephen Wilde, another duathlon performer, runner and walker, added another race to his portfolio with a steady 73 mins 12 and club secretary Roy Gunnett, recovering from some medical treatment on his shoulder and arm, walked with his usual aplomb and great style.
Phil, oblivious to the elements
Roy looking relaxed
Greg Smith, a more regular Marshall these days, did a virtual solo out and back and recorded a sound 33 mins 53, the second-fastest time on the short course.
Great to see Greg back on the road
Pat dashing back to warm the pies
Thanks to Sailash Shah, Irene Pike, Louise Waite and Martin Payne for helping with the officiating and Pat Evans for the catering which rounded off a good day despite the abysmal weather.
Post-race 2 featuring Greg – taken by Louise?
Thanks to Martin Payne and Greg Smith for the photos.
Post-script
It’s no wonder familiar faces were missing on the day but a special mention for Tony Bell, who spent Thursday night in the Sheffield Hospital A & E with his sick wife. We hope she is on the mend. Not to forget Stephen Walker, whose step-son, Michael is featured on BBC Saturday Kitchen Live, then has been chosen to do a film shot on Monday in London. Congratulations in order.
We are looking forward to a grand turnout for our annual Xmas event at Simister, especially as no one need be deterred by talk of the Nightmare course!! In the spirit of goodwill to all men and women, not least John Crahan, the race will take place on the usual out and back to Heaton Park, starting at 1.30 p.m. Sighs of relief all round.
Over fifty wintry years ago I’m losing touch with the formidable Jake Warhurst [Sheffield UH] and hanging on to a hidden Mick Holmes [YRWC]
As has become usual in these unusual times we are asking you to inform Dave Evans if you are attending and in what capacity – as a competitor, as a spare of hands or merely as a welcome spectator. Most importantly, on the vital issue of the post-race pie and peas, we need you to let Pat know whether you require the vegetarian option. Contact dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk
Being an adopted Wiganer from Leigh [a very dangerous thing to admit locally] I’ve obviously ordered a couple of pies, However, as things stand, I will not make the start line but will be vociferous on the sideline, exclaiming the usual welcome banalities – ‘looking good’; ‘keep it going’; ‘dig in’ etc……
And, to add that the club annual subscription is due – an absurd snip at only 15 pounds. Details to follow.
Smartly dressed Sam Morgan might well be on his way to the Club AGM of that year[?].
Ahead of the full minutes of the 2021 AGM Dave Evans draws our attention to the following:
Joe Hardy has accepted the role of President.
Tony Bell won the AJTaylor Award and Martin Payne the Cliif Royle Trophy
Roy Gunnett covered the financial side of the club and said we were in good position with a balance of nearly £2000. We have decided to up the race fees for our own fixtures from £3 to £4 and this alone should help us to balance the books annually. We had a deficit in this last year but this was largely because we bought the Dave Crompton trophy. We are very lucky with Macclesfield and Chorley costing us precisely nothing to hire their facilities. The Bury track is subsidised but we still pay out over £100. The Simister hall costs us £30 which is pretty good.
The Centurions 100 will be at Middlesbrough next August (20/21). More details to follow. A copy of the revised fixture list will be circulated in due course.
We are not having the secret Santa next month. given that this is not really something appropriate to us oldies! Pat will be doing pie and peas and if you are vegetarian she will provide more vegetarian pies. Answers on a postcard or more immediately to dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk
There will be a Virtual addition to the fixture list in January 2022. It will form part of the club handicap competition and will be a 5k. More details to follow.
Pat Evans on the chase in grimy weather of this month’s AGM
In conversation with Dave, he revealed that he completely forgot to mention the collection of the annual subscriptions! I presume this might have something to do with Roy’s healthy financial report! Anyway, we need to cough up at the December race.
To many people’s relief, we will not be using the Nightmare course for the Xmas 10 kilometres. More details to follow.
Many thanks to David Lamb for the great photo of Sam Morgan. Sam gave outstanding service to the club and for many years was the organiser of the Moston 10 miles Open race.
Tony Bell leads five other aspirants towards the turn in Heaton Park
Nine sturdy aspirants toed the starting line and headed into a cold strong breeze on the outward 2.5 k leg of the AGM 5k. The handicapper played the usual trick of employing a start of sorts for each wave of walkers but none reflected their real handicap adjustment. The return journey was much more enjoyable I am told but the driving rain both ways was uncomfortable. We had no “guests” on this occasion so the competition was domestic and the final times were pretty good across the board with no one performing “out of character “.
Martin Payne in stylish headgear chased by Phil McCullagh
Winner of the handicap and now thankfully back to good health was Martin Payne whose 31 mins 20 in the race proper was only 23 seconds slower than scratch man Adrian Edwards, the latter strolling in the poor conditions and showing excellent style. Tony Bell appears to be benefiting from coaching at his Yorkshire base producing the second-fastest time of the day with a speedy 31 mins 02. Many thanks to Greg Smith for marshalling at the turnaround point and Pat for the post-race catering.
Pat Evans finishing just in time to sort out the refreshments. Much appreciated!
SCRATCH
1. Adrian Edwards 30 mins 57 2. Tony Bell 31 mins 02 3. Martin Payne 31 mins 20 4. Joe Hardy 34 mins 48 5. Sailash Shah 34 mins 55 6. Roy Gunnett 34 mins 58 7. Phil,McCullagh 35 mins 16 8. Pat Evans 35 mins 33 9. Andrea Lennon 42 mins 01
Andrea Lennon clearly glad to make the finish
HANDICAP
1. Martin Payne 27 mins 20 2. Tony Bell 27 mins 42 3. Joe Hardy 28 mins 24 4. Phil McCullagh 28 mins 37 5. Sailash Shah 28 mins 42 6. Roy Gunnett 28 mins 44 7. Andrea Lennon 30 mins 01 8. Pat Evans 30 mins 11 9. Adrian Edwards 30 mins 23
Great shot of Phil McCullagh in full stride
Thanks as ever to Greg Smith for the photos. More to follow in the coming weeks.
Photo taken before the start of a Club race at Flixton, October 24, 1950
Ahead of next week’s Club Annual General Meeting and 5 kilometres Yacht Handicap [1.30 start] at Simister, Dave Evans draws our attention to the following:
As has become usual it would be enormously helpful if you could let him know of your attendance and in what capacity. There is a good chance we will have a young up and coming Sheffield prospect competing so it will be especially important to have enough marshalls out on the course.
In addition all folk coming to the AGM are asked to do a lateral flow test a day or so before the meeting and to bring masks to the event. Simister Hall is pretty small and he wants to ensure that any risk of contracting the COVID virus is limited.
Sadly I won’t make it to the AGM, which is deeply irritating, given I’m the outgoing President. I was really looking to see everyone in the flesh. However, I’ve been under the weather recently and am booked in for an MOT!! Hopefully just a matter of an olive oil change. I’ve changed my flights to December, hoping to be at the Xmas 10 kilometres event.
Dave Evans provides his prompt and insightful report. Where would be without him? Whilst Greg Smith is responsible for the invaluable excellent photos, of which more to come.
Capturing the beauty of the testing course
October sees either an Indian summer or the first footprints of a early winter. On this occasion we drew the short straw. From the outset it was drizzly but towards the end of the race it mellowed a little and substituted a fresh wind.
Adrian on his way to the scratch victory
To make the event a bit more unpredictable the handicapper rearranged the 4 starts with groups setting off at intervals of scratch, 2 minutes, 3 minutes or 4 , with the last wave comprising the likely fastest walkers. The course is an out and back which affords the aspirants the opportunity of repeating this exercise three times. I make the case that it keeps everyone informed of what is happening throughout which is either uplifting or depressing !
Tony Malone, the Irish O70 Masters champion overtaking Martin ‘I’ll bake a cake’ Payne, recovering from injuryTony Bell digging deep
The two scratch performers returned the turnaround point sharing the lead with three of the eventual top 3 but as the race progressed the leading trio broke clear of the field. Adrian Edwards secured overall victory with new Irish Over 70 masters champion Tony Malone second and Tony Bell who showed quite a bit of speed across the floor and a good competitive attitude. When the chips are down , Tony digs deep. Stuart Edgar and Martin Payne were closely matched with the latter recovered from his fall at the Fred Pearce relays were he broke his radius and cut his temple quite badly. Martin presented his colleagues with a Thank You cake for their support on the day of the “accident”. Phil McCullagh and Joe Hardy performed well while Roy Gunnett completed the course quietly! Pat Evans took leave of the course at 7k with a time of 53 mins 14 remembering that she had a 16 mile walk to do the following day.
Sailash hits a climb ahead of Stuart Edgar, Phil McCullagh and Pat EvansJoe Hardy looking stron on the uphill return
Many thanks to Eric Horwill for timekeeping and Glyn Jones for manning the far end of the course in the unpleasant conditions. Keith Ackroyd, a new judge to the walking scene, kept an eye on the proceedings and has been welcomed by the assembly. Mention was made of the Centurions 100 mile which was scheduled for Southend on Sea next year, however, due to circumstances beyond their control it has had to be reassigned to a new venue and this information will be imparted to interested parties in due course.
Roy Gunnett quiet and composed
RACE RESULT
1. Adrian Edwards 63 mins 06 2. Tony Malone 64 01 3. Tony Bell 64 mins 47 4. Stuart Edgar 66 mins 05 5. Martin Payne 66 mins 25 6. Phil McCullagh 70 mins 38 7. Sailash Shah 72 mins 31 8. Joe Hardy 74 mins 45 9. Roy Gunnett 79 mins 49 10 Pat Evans (7k) 53 mins 14.
Tony Bell receives the Albert Rigby trophy from Kath Barnard
HANDICAP RESULT
1. Tony Bell 59 mins 47 2. Martin Payne 61 mins 25 3. Sailash Shah 61 mins 31 4. Tony Malone 61 mins 41 5. Adrian Edwards 62 mins 06 6. Stuart Edgar 62 mins 20 7. Phil McCullagh 63 mins 8. Joe Hardy 64 mins 45 9. Roy Gunnett 69 mins 19 10. Pat Evans
The post-race spread, courtesy of Marshall and Kath Barnard. Many thanks.
Andrew [12] in the company from L/R Greg Smith, Bill McFadden and Dave Crompton. Ta to Linda McDermot
We were shocked to hear that Andrew Fraser died very recently. As Dave Evans noted in response to the sad news, Andrew was a regular supporter of our club races until a few years ago, much liked and respected. The photo above captures the camaraderie that grew between Lancashire and our brothers and sisters across the border – not least because of Andrew’s enthusiasm and energy.
So too Andrew supported Northern race walking in general and Trevor McDermot has penned these touching thoughts.
It was a sunny autumn day at the old Whitcliffe leisure centre in Cleckheaton when we first encountered Andrew Fraser of the Yorkshire RWC. A short, stocky, loveable bear of a man ambling around the car park barefoot, he was quite animated about that morning’s event as he enthused over the performances of others, even jumping with delight on hearing that the back marker had set a PB.
Andrew on his way to victory in a Northern League 10 kilometres at Thornton-le-Clay. Ta to Linda McDermot
On another occasion his action looked particularly smooth when winning a league 10km at York in 50 minutes and change (not bad going on an up-and-down course), and he remarked afterwards how magically easy it felt. One of those days most athletes get to experience when everything just seems to click.
Having initially got involved with race walking in South Africa, he was living back home in Scotland and these instances were on his frequent trips south for meaningful races, despite the long drives. Andrew’s earnest hope was to get the discipline established in his native land and, such was his enthusiasm, he seemed to have no limit in trying to attain that dream. Friends at his Portobello club would be exhorted to have a go, local running promoters be prevailed upon to add a walking event, parkruns invaded and lessons offered afterwards, and English contacts invited to visit for coaching weekends in Edinburgh with everything paid for.
A Scotia quartet
Fairly soon after he had Scotia RWC established, and with the support of Scottish Vets and others he was advertising championships on track and road. Video conference calls would be set up beforehand to go through the preparations and emails would arrive with a ton of bullet points involved, so keen was he to get everything just right. Andrew would bubble over with praise for the progress of all his members, and was extremely proud of Bill McFadden’s achievements. Unfortunately, In recent years he had gone off the grid with what we sadly heard were employment and relationship issues, and major problems with his health.
Marion Fawkes’ evocative image of Andrew and a passing tractor that made the front cover of the Race Walking Record
Often, a few days after one of our own promotions, a card would arrive from him full of thanks along with many kind words, which typified his warm, thoughtful and encouraging character. He shall be most fondly remembered. One imagines him now up there somewhere, racing tractors on some heavenly veldt.
RIP Andrew ❤️
Andrew’s hopefully enduring legacy is the revival of race walking in Scotland and the formation of the Scotia Race Walking Club, ably continued by Bill McFadden.
Scotia sisters and brothers with Andrew in the centre
And, finally with the following photo taken by Linda of Andrew with Dave, both sadly no longer with us and Greg, all at Lancashire Walking Club offer our sincerest condolences. We remember Andrew with much affection and in terms of his contribution to our sport with great pride.
Even a smile or two to be discerned – Andrew and Dave RIP
In addition I’ve copied and pasted these tributes from Facebook. I’ll be pleased to add more.
Tony Malone – Andrew was on a business trip to Stockport a few years ago we met up for chat, walk around old Stockport and a lunch together. It was a good day and still remember it when ever I pass that cafe, which I will be doing this morning as usual on a Tuesday. God bless you Andrew.
Brenda Lupton – Great words for lovely man he will be missed. R.I.P.
John Softley – I first met Andrew at Pollok parkrun in Glasgow. I was running and he finished just behind me racewalking! We struck up a conversation and went into the Burrell cafe for a coffee and became friends and I was soon racewalking! RIP Andrew.
Mark Williams – I remember him once travelling to a 10,000m track race in Birmingham, he set out in the early hours of the morning and travelled back straight after the race due to work commitments, he was incredibly interested and encouraging with everyone else performances. So sad to hear of his recent problems, such a sad loss of a really nice guy, a gentleman. May he rest in peace.
Peter Fawkes – A leading light in reviving Racewalking in Scotland. He made many friends and will be missed greatly.
Pamela Abbott – Such sad news. Andrew was so encouraging of those new to racewalking and generous with his time and expertise, and his energy and vision was a major contribution to the revival and success of racewalking in Scotland, such a loss to our community.
Dave Evans – A big shock and he will be greatly missed.
Catherine McGrath – Gosh, that is a shock. Such a lovely man.
Steve Uttley – Very sad news. RIP.
Steve Allen – That’s very sad to hear.
Edmund H Shillabeer – Oh were there more of his ilk!
Alistair Shand – Really shocked & saddened to hear the news about Andrew. We’d always intended to meet-up for a walk on one of my trips ‘back home’ north of the border, but unfortunately – as is so often the case with best-laid intentions – it never happened. However, I always enjoyed our chats at races. Will remember Andrew with great warmth and affection.
Bill and Kath Sutherland – It must be a really tough time for Scotia Race Walking Club and all its members and many friends of Andrew Fraser. He came from a very rare breed and bubbled in enthusiasm in everything he did and with everyone he met. Being privileged to have spent a long weekend with him in Portobello in 2014 I was able to relive the memories of the 1970 Commonwealth Games and my childhood and join Parkrun at scenic Crammond. What a wonderful host he was and he accompanied me to Glasgow for the C G Athletics..Let’s hope the Meadowbank Stadium can now be kept for eternity in his memory. We will all meet again. Rest in Peace.
Tony Bell – Sad news, here I was with Andrew a few years ago showing Callum Wilkinson how to do it 🙂
Greg Smith – Very sorry to hear of Andrew’s passing. He was generous in spirit and in action. The shorts I’m wearing in Linda McDermot’s photos of us (above) in the 2014 NARWA 35kms are Andrew’s — he lent them to me just before the start of the race, when I discovered I’d forgotten to bring mine! Since then I always travel to races with two pairs of shorts in my bag…RIP Andrew.
Richard Cole – Andrew was well-liked and respected. He was always the same: pleasant, an easy-going charm, cheerful and engaging and in love with walking. A real gentleman. Always interested in what you had been doing. I was always pleased to see him in a race and have a chat. Amazed at his dedication and time just getting to the start line. The tributes all reflect the above qualities. A sad loss to walking – when we need him.
There was a significantly large crowd waiting outside for Andrew’s send off in Edinburgh yesterday, testament to his easy charm and ability in making so many, from all walks of life, consider him a warm and close confidant. A lone piper played as the funeral cortege arrived, with coffin draped in the white and blue Saltire. On top of this a single training shoe had been placed.
The packed congregation heard a service prepared by close friends. The reading touched on aspects of a most interesting life, from his early South African days, Rhodes scholarship, Army service with undercover work in the Namibian bush, teaching career and re-settlement in Scotland. His extensive travels as a globetrotter and athlete included the completion of five marathons on five continents and attending the Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ was played after which we heard much more concerning his time among us. A touching tribute followed on behalf of his mother, Moira, who was watching proceedings via video link from thousands of miles away.Rather fittingly, opening bars of the humorously chosen ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ retuned us to South African rhythms, before the kilted piper rendered ‘Amazing Grace’ for the final goodbye
I am very pleased to republish Paul F. DeMeester’s coruscating critique of British Athletics’ disgraceful decision to exclude Cameron Corbishley and in particular Dominic King from the GB Olympic team and its craven role in supporting the abolition of the 50 kilometres race walk from the Olympic and World championship programmes. On the issue of the 50 kilometres’ execution, which strikes at the very heart and soul of our sport, we should not go gently into the night.
The piece first appeared in the Victoria Race Walking Club’s, Number 50 newsletter, ‘Heel and Toe’. In issue 49 Tim Erickson has put together a fascinating piece on the momentous history of 50 km walking in Australia. Recent copies of the newsletter can be found at http://vrwc.org.au/
The Decline and Fall of the British Empire
By Paul F. DeMeester
The 1928 Olympic Games went on sans race walking but before they were over, the IAAF (the former name of World Athletics) had decided to bring race walking back. Great Britain voted in Council in favor of a 50K (14 for 50K, 4 for 30K, and one abstention). (Handbook of the IAAF 1927-1928, Minutes of the 9th Congress of the IAAF, at pp. 56-57.)
British athletes showed their appreciation for that vote right out of the gate. Tommy Green won the inaugural Olympic 50K crown in Los Angeles in 1932.
Tommy Green winning the Manchester-Blackpool in 1932 – the same year as his Olympic triumph
Harold Whitlock succeeded him at the 1936 Berlin Games.
Harold Whitlock winning the Liverpool to Manchester in 1935 – the year before his Olympic victory
Tebbs Lloyd Johnson took bronze when the Games resumed in 1948 before a home crowd.
Tebbs Lloyd Johnson wins bronze in 1948 – Britain’s oldesr athletic medallist
Whitlock returned in 1952 at age 48 (shades of Jesus Garcia) to finish 11th at the Helsinki Olympics, where his younger brother Rex just fell short of the podium.
Rex Whitlock in the London-Brighton
Four years hence, a Brit took gold again, sort of, as New Zealander Norman Read, from Plymouth, England, had emigrated Down Under only three years before his Olympic triumph.
Norman Read in 1960
Don Thompson would return to the top step of the podium at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Half of the 50K gold through those Games had been placed around British necks (without counting Read’s).
Don Thompson [75[ alongside Tom Misson[76] in the London to Brighton 1958. Tom was fifth in Rome as Don strode to victory
It was the last British 50K gold but not the last medal. Paul Nihill took silver at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. A favorite for gold four years later, he dropped out in a grueling race at high altitude in Mexico City. Nihill finished 9th at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Zurich, 2 mai 1971, arrivée de Paul Nihill (20km marche), photo Dominique GUEBEY
But by 2004, there were no more Brits in the Olympic 50K, a sad state of affairs that continued in 2008 and just now at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. One 50K walker represented Britain at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics: Dominic King. King earned a third Olympic spot this year based on his World Rankings but he and his colleague Cameron Corbishley, who were ranked respectively in 56th and 53rd, were withdrawn by British Athletics from Olympic selection even though the top 60 on the World Rankings list gained an Olympic entry. Out of those 60, 38 had met the 3:50:00 entry standard, with the next 22 having qualified on points (World Ranking).
What a shame considering that the 11th place finisher (Montana – Colombia) at the recent Olympic 50K was 76th on the World Rankings list prior to the Olympics; the 15th place finisher (Leyver Ojeda – Mexico) was ranked 59th; the 17th place finisher (Helebrandt – Hungary) was ranked 74th; the 24th place finisher (Cocioran – Romania) was ranked 83rd; the 26th place finisher (Kinnunen – Finland) was ranked 92nd; the 27th place finisher (Amores – Ecuador) was ranked 98th; the 35th place finisher (the indomitable Jesus Angel Garcia of Spain – age 51) was ranked 65th; the 36th place finisher (Papamichail – Greece) was ranked 81st; the 39th place finisher (Litaniuk -Ukraine) was ranked 68th; the 40th place finisher (Mundell – South Africa) was ranked 95th; the 41st place finisher (Morvay – Slovakia) was ranked 69th; the 45th place finisher (Bilodeau – Canada) was ranked 94th; the 46th place finisher (Gdula – Czech Republic) was ranked 62nd; and one of the non-finishers (Singh – India) was ranked 103rd.
In other words, Dominic King had every right to be among those participants. More so if one considers that he set a new British National Record at the British Olympic 50K Trials race in Dudince on March 20, 2021, when King posted a 3:51:13. King was 10th overall in that race. The guy who was 5th was only 1 minute 50 seconds ahead of King. And who might that guy be? Poland’s Dawid Tomala, who happened to win the Olympic 50K in Sapporo in 3:50:08, 45 seconds slower than his Dudince time.
Dudince turned out to be a good barometer for Olympic participation and performance. Of the 9 walkers who placed ahead of Dominic King in Dudince, 8 walked in Sapporo. They placed 1st, 13th, 18th, 31st, 34th, 36th, and 44th, with one non-finisher. The one other walker could not go because three colleagues from his country filled the three per nation limit already. Of the walkers who finished behind Dominic in Dudince, 11 made it to the Olympic 50K this year, finishing in Olympic positions 15, 20, 24, 26, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, and 46, with one non-finisher.
Dominic King should have been in that 50K Olympic race in Sapporo. The reason he wasn’t is that the British Athletics selection policies are riddled with conflicts of interest, a lack of transparency and an anti-athlete attitude. What do you mean, anti-athlete attitude? Isn’t British Athletics there for the athletes? Far from it. When Dominic wanted to improve on his Dudince time at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Podĕbrady last May, he bumped into his federation’s ‘nyet.’ British Athletics was not even subtle about it. They said so in their selection policy for the meet: “British Athletics will only select athletes for the 20km events for the 2021 edition of the competition.” (See British Athletics Selection Policy 2021 European Race Walking Team Championships. – attached below as a pdf).
It gets worse. World Athletics published a list of potential entries when the qualification period for the Olympic 50K had ended. King and Corbishley’s names were at the bottom of the list with the term “Withdrawn” next to their names. They were the only two listed in that fashion. How embarrassing for a federation to publicly state that its athletes who had qualified for the Olympic Games had been withdrawn by the federation itself. Don’t be fooled by any British Athletics talk that athletes like King would have been selected only if they were expected to be in the top 8 of their competition. A male British marathon runner managed to finish only in 54th place out of 106 starters, the other two Brits not having made it to the end. So much for the predictability of the British selection system.
British athletics officials acting against athletes in general, 50K walkers in particular? Who knew? They must have learned that from their British role model Seb Coe, who as President of World Athletics engineered the demise of the 50K not only at the Olympics but also at our own World Championships and who was the aider and abettor in the Olympic conspiracy to shrink the athletics footprint at the Games. What Seb won’t do in his quest to succeed IOC President Thomas Bach when the former Olympic fencing gold medalist will be term limited out of office.
What a far cry from the days in 1928 when British athletics officials voted to bring race walking back to the Olympics and inaugurate the 50K. Brits helped launch the 50K and less than a century later brought about its abolition. Dominic King is the kind of athlete who embodies the Olympic spirit that participation is more important than winning. He has a regular day job and a family. Race walking is his hobby. He has performed as well as he has over the years without much support from his federation. I was privileged to assist Dominic when he appealed his non-selection. But arguing with those who stabbed him in the back got the expected result. British Athletics should drop the term ‘athletics’ from its name. They do not deserve the appellation.
The Albert Rigby Trophy race is to go ahead as normal on Sarurday. October 2nd, starting at 1.30 p.m. from the Sutton Ex-Servicemen’s Club. Refreshments will be provided.
The Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Hollins Lane
As usual it would be really helpful if you could let Dave Evans or Tony Taylor know if you are coming and in what capacity. For instance the Sutton course needs a number of marshalls. You cooperation is much appreciated.
I’ve been searching for a photo of Albert Rigby without success. However I hope you will indulge me posting an image of the start of a LWC 8 miles race held in May, 1938 from, I think, the club headquarters in West Didsbury.
A decent day to greet the walkers although the absence of a gate opener at the Bury Track half an hour before the off made us wonder if we would lose the event unless we could straddle the metal fence around the venue. After a number of frantic phone calls we were eventually let into the complex by a young lady who had little or no notice of our impending arrival. The prime key holder was on holiday and his deputy had forgotten to arrive.
Despite this unexpected hiccup the field of 10 walkers eventually hit the tartan fifteen minutes late. We were delighted to welcome back Steve Uttley, a Lancashire Walking club member decades ago , who certainly added to the ambience of the race and some real opposition.
Steve displaying the classic triangle of yesteryear
The race began at a relatively casual pace with no one prepared to act as the hare but after a couple of laps the charge was underway and Steve set off with a clear objective of lapping the field. Tony Bell made a spirited challenge and Stuart Edgar looked like he meant business. Roy Gunnett and Glyn Jones we’re close rivals throughout most of the race and Ian Hilditch continues to improve.
Joe Hardy and Pat Evans continued their rivalry with neither managing to break away and it was only in the last two or three laps that Joe inched that bit further ahead.
Joe and Pat matched stride for stride
Eric Horwill, Adrian Edwards, Greg Smith and Irene Pike ensured that we lap scored correctly and Keith Ackroyd, a new judge, made the long journey from Leeds which we appreciate. It was also nice to see Chris Harvey who could be back walking with us in the future.
Steve passes a posse of much needed and dedicated officials
Results
Steve Uttley 9766 metres
Tony Bell 9250 metres
Stuart Edgar 8881 metres
Roy Gunnett 8720 metres
Glyn Jones 8705 metres
Ian Hilditch 8544 metres
Sailash Shah 8299 metres
Joe Hardy 8177 metres
Pat Evans 8155 metres
John Crahan 7783 metres
Stuart beginning to haul in Roy
As ever sincere thanks to Greg Smith for the great photos.
Lancashire Walking Club : Health The First Wealth 