Firstly to make you smile perchance Chris Bolton sends memories of some of our proud Centurions.
Bill Cowley. C 319
Bill Cowley
Bill qualified in the Chigwell 100 in 1961 in 22-28-30. He attended the celebration dinner at the Mansion House to receive his award. On the way home, probably after celebrating too much, he lost his certificate. Several days later his mother opened the door to a policeman asking to see Bill.
He found Bill lying on the settee watching TV. He told Bill his certificate had been handed in at the station but he wanted to see just “what sort of a nutter would walk 100 miles”. Thereafter Bill always referred to the Centurions as the Nutters Club.
Eight years later in 1969 Bill, Alan Hudson and Alan Day took part in the Bristol 100. They walked together the whole way and I was their attendant. I was knackered running after them and at ninety three miles Bill shouted for the sponge. I soaked it in the bucket and ran after him: he stuck it down his shorts and mopped out his over heated tackle. As he returned the sponge Alan Hudson, 20 yards ahead, shouted “sponge”, the bucket was now 150 yards back down the road and I thought sod it, ran after Alan and gave him the sponge. He took it wiped round his face and took a big drink from it. I never told him it had just been round Bill’s groskies.
They crossed the finishing line together in third place and with three to score were handed the team trophy as they finished. I have always said that you don’t cry when you lose, you cry when you win and at that emotional moment there were a few less than dry eyes, including mine.
John Todd. C285
John qualified at Leicester in 1958 in 23-07-37. John told me that at 85 miles he was ready to retire but his attendant poured Sloan’s Liniment, a lethal remedy, down his legs and put his track bottoms on. He said he shot to the finish and then started running.
John Todd
Chris Bolton. C332
A youthful Chris [12] alongside Frank O’Neill [13] with John Grocott not far behind- see note below
I qualified at Leicester in 1962 in 22-9-27. After my fourth place in the Blackpool Walk the previous Saturday I must have had feelings of grandeur and set off at 6mph passing 10 miles in 1-40-05, just a minute behind Frank O’Reilly. I’ll never know what prompted this act of suicide. I’ve never been a night hawk and approaching midnight I couldn’t keep my eyes open and persuaded Bill Cowley and Bert Butterworth , my attendants, to let me have a sleep. After twenty minutes sleep at the side of the road I had recovered and was back on the road. At 65 miles there was a breakfast stop for the attendants and Bill told me that Bert ordered a full English and when he had finished ordered another – and then another. Bert had a prodigious appetite and after walking four days at 55 kms each day in Nijmegan he finished weighing more than when he started. At 80 miles Bill ran out with a big smile on his face to tell me that Frank OReilly had won and was now in the bath. With twenty miles to go I was not amused.
John Grayson. C432
John, of Wakefield Harriers, qualified in the 24 hour track walk at Leicester in 1969. He walked well for 70 miles and then suffered badly. Guy Goodair and I were his attendants and at one stage he took twenty minutes for one 440 yard lap. He passed 100 miles in 23-19-52 and he wanted to retire but Guy insisted that he do one more lap in case the lap counters had made a mistake. We then carried him into the changing room and laid him out. After 35 minutes Guy took me to one side and whispered that somehow we had to get him back onto the track. Guy was a grade one pot hunter and had realised that there were two awards, one at 100 miles and one at 24 hours. John didn’t want to know but despite his protests we carried him to the track and held him upright at the spot where he had retired. With ten seconds to the twenty four hours we released him and he staggered another five yards. Sadly the Centurions handbook doesn’t recognise this achievement.
At the same event John Eddershaw C299 was competing. At 6-00 am I asked him if he needed anything. Yes, he said, get me an ice cream. I managed to find a newsagents with a freezer open at that unearthly hour and got John his ice cream. I don’t think he ever realised the problem he caused and of course I wouldn’t tell him.
Secondly the photograph of Chris, Frank and John in the 1959 Bradford 7 is taken from a wonderful collection of photos given to Roy Gunnett by Harold Ogden. I’m in the process of scanning them for use on the web site. There are some gems from the past. I’m also trying to find out more about Harold himself. Any information gratefully received.
Finally it would be remiss not to draw your attention to the sad loss of another leading race walker from the period described as the Golden Era by Ron Wallwork, namely Peter Fullager.
His great friend and leading historian of our sport, Tim Erickson has produced a special edition of the Victoria Race walking Club newsletter, marking a sad farewell to UK and Australian racewalking representative Peter Fullager. Peter, who had lived in Adelaide since emigrating to Australia in 1970, died in the early hours of Wednesday morning, December 23rd after a battle with cancer.
Tim remarks, “we remember Peter as a consummate competitor, as tough as nails, with a relentless surging action that left most walkers in his wake”.
1967 Lugano Trophy in Bad Saarow – Frenkel (GDR), Solodov (RUS) and Peter Fullager (GBR)
Result of the above 20 kilometres Lugano Trophy final
N. Smaga [USSR[ 88:38.4
V. Golubnichy [USSR] 88:58.0
R.Laird [USA] 89:12.4
C.Sperling [GDR[ 90:14.4
P.Frenkel [GDR] 90:29.6
P.Fullager [GB] 91:14.4
Our own Greg Smith was Basildon AC’s club secretary when Peter joined in 1968, having left Surrey WC. Greg comments, “Peter was deadly serious about race walking, a fearsome model of commitment and rationality in training. I tried, I think unsuccessfully, to get his track 30km and 20 miles times from 1967 accepted as UK records. In the end he’d had enough of the nonsense of English officialdom and went to Australia”.
Tim Erickson’s tribute is a fascinating, revealing and moving portrait of an outstanding and fiercely independent athlete. It is to be found in a special edition of the VRWC December newsletter – see link below.
The newspaper headlines announced that ‘a Lancashire WC team ravaged by illness and injury’ had lost its top spot in the Virtual Age-graded competition. Interviewed by a leading commentator on Cretan radio, Tony Taylor surrounded by a flock of goats announced, ‘never fear, uphill or down dale’, we’ll bounce back!
Tony Taylor chasing goats in a Greek cross-country race a few years ago!
MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM 1 Birchfield Harriers (80.44%) 2 Manx Harriers (79.59%) 3 Lancashire Walking Club (75.92%) 4 Quickstep Fitness (71.11%) 5 Steyning AC (59.26%) 6 Sarnia Walking Club (47.96%) 7 Yorkshire Race Walking Club (40.69%) 8 Redcar Race Walking Club (40.50%
MENS 2KM TEAM 1 Manx Harriers (19) 2 Birchfield Harriers (49) 3 Quickstep Fitness (74) 4 Lancashire Walking Club (85) 5 Steyning AC (197) 6 Redcar Race Walking Club (218) 7 Sarnia Walking Club (230) 8 Yorkshire Race Walking Club (232)
Our team as follows:
Greg Smith M65 75.04% Lancs WC 12:35.0
Martin Payne M60 67.09% Lancs WC 12:55.0
Dave Evans M70 77.62% Lancs WC 12:56.0
Roy Gunnett M70 75.10% Lancs WC 13:22.0
Tony Bell M55 62.60% Lancs WC 13:27.0
And, as ever, a special mention for Pat Evans, who finished 3rd equal in the Women’s Age-graded competition
Paul battling the heat and altitude in Mexico City 1968. Thanks to Mark Shearman for permission to use the striking image
It is more than fitting to open this tribute to the legendary Paul Nihill with these words from our own inspirational Ron Wallwork.
Paul was the last of the Golden Era Greats* to pass on. His titles and list of race wins (along with his retirements and comebacks) were indeed prolific. I was fortunate enough to be his rival and his team-mate;we both made our international debuts in the zone match of the 1963 Lugano Cup.
[ And in October of that year Paul and Ron contributed enormously to the second Lugano Trophy win for Great Britain, the former finishing second to Ken Matthews in the 20k, the latter setting a personal best finishing 5th in the 50k]
As a rival I had repeated views of his back and as a friend he was always kind and encouraging and in recent years was an avid Moulton Walks supporter.
The last time we met was at the Cecil Gittins walks in 2017 (pictured) where he greeted me with a big smile and “Don’t mention Milan”, which was always the introduction
The story behind this greeting emanates from the 1965 Milan 30km where I had a rare but somewhat hollow triumph finishing in front of him. We left England in a late wintry spell and the race was held in warm spring sunshine which turned out to be Paul’s undoing, as he renewed his rivalry with his Tokyo conquero Abdon Pamich. Their pace took them well clear of the rest of us, but Paul as in Tokyo just wouldn’t give the Italian an inch, until eventually the sun and heat took its toll and he hit the wall. Just one of many memories.
It was a privilege to be his friend – Rest in Peace Condolences to Claire, Tony and all his family.
*The six year period twixt 1958 and 1964 when GB amassed two Olympic Golds, a silver and a bronze as well as two European Golds and two bronez medals. If you count Norman Read in 1956 the stat looks even better.
Ron Wallwork
We are indebted for the following insights and statistics to Peter Matthews. Editor of Athletics International & International Athletics Annual – the renowned athletics statistician and staunch supporter of our sport.
Vincent Paul NIHILL (GBR) (b. 5 Sep 1939 Colchester) died on December 15 at Medway Hospital, Gillingham, Kent, aged 81. He won a record 27 UK national walking titles between 1963 and 1975: on the track, he was AAA champion at 2 miles 1965, 3000m 1970-1 and 1975, 7 miles 1965-6 and 1968, 10,000m 1969; and on the roads he won RWA 10 miles 1965, 1968-9, 1972; 20km 1965-6, 1968-9, 1971-2; 20 miles 1963-5, 1968-9, 1971; 50k 1964, 1968, 1971; not only was he the only man to win at all the four road distances, he won them all in one year, 1968. He also won the Irish 1M title in 1962 and 1964 (in an Irish record 6:31.4). A member of Surrey Walking Club, he won the 50km silver medal at his first Olympics in 1964 and he won 35 successive walks races from December 1967 to his failure to finish the Olympic 50km in 1968 in the heat and high altitude of Mexico City, but then won a further 51 consecutive races to June 1970, including the European 20km in 1969. He took the European 20km bronze medal in 1971 and was 6th at 20km and 9th at 50km at the 1972 Olympics and was 30th in the 1976 20k. 2nd Lugano Cup 20k 1963. 15 GB internationals 1963-76. In his career 1960-77 he won 355 races. He was awarded MBE in 1976.
He set world track bests for 3000m 11:51.1 (1971) and 5000m 20:14.2 (1972), and road 20k 1:24:50 (1972). His numerous other British records and bests included track: 1M 6:17.0 (1970), 30k 2:28:44.0 (1972), 20 miles 2:40:42.6 (1972), and road: 10M 1:08:18 (1972), 20k 1:24:50 (1972), 20 miles 2:30:35 (1971), 50k 4:11:31.2 (1964). Other pbs: track 2M 13:16.0 (1969), 5M 34:25.0 (1969), 7M 49:03.0 (1969), 10,000m 42:34.6 (1972), 1 hour 13.671m (1969); road 10k 42:17 (1972), 30k/35k 2:23:54/2:49:53 (1972).
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Paul on his way to silver in Tokyo 1964, Thanks again to Mark Shearman
We’re pleased to post this tribute from the Reverend Roy Lodge MBE, the 1967 National 20 miles championin 2:42:43 ahead of Don Thompson and Ron Wallwork.
I write this obituary immediately on my return from my local gym having spent an hour on the cross trainer that I dedicated to Paul’s memory as I thought of his dedication, courage, stamina and discipline as one of our greatest Race Walkers. Along with Ken Matthews, Paul Nihill was someone I looked up to as a role model and gained enormous inspiration from his determination to reach the pinnacle of sporting excellence.
Despite his many athletic achievements as a Race Walker he was unpretentious , warm and affable. He was Olympian, yet the twinkle of humour always lurked. He was also extremely courteous, with old fashioned charm. Beneath the impassive countenance lurked strong passions which belied the public image. He above all combined impenetrable discretion with a silky intelligence, extremely discreet and extremely skilful in his discretion.
Such were his qualities that he commanded respect and admiration, friends and colleagues and opponents trusted him, believed in him and had confidence in him as a man who was true to his word and would not let anyone down. In his life he honoured that trust and confidence placed in him and did not let himself, his family or his colleagues down. We give thanks that it was because he felt highly regarded and valued for who he was that he achieved so much. The Race Walking world owes him a great debt of gratitude, for what he gave of his life in time, energy and dedication.
Others will write of his outstanding achievements in the domestic and on the international stage. If there is one race that I recall with fond memories it was the Calne Six Mile Open Race Walk on the 11th October 1969. It was the nearest I ever came to Paul in second place with Roger Mills third. Our times were 42.09; 43.12; and 43.16 respectively. My second prize vase will now have a poignant memory.
When I heard of Paul’s death I thought immediately of three lines of Edith Sitwell in her poem: “Eurydice” “Love is not changed by death, and nothing is lost and all in the end is harvest.”
We give thanks that he has left us a legacy of laughter and happy memories – warm hearted with a tough core – human warm memories from a very human warm man.
In the annals of Race Walking history he will be immortalised and ever remembered as a Race Walking legend.
Our deepest sympathy to his beloved children and extended family members, we share their grief and honour his memory.
Rev. Dr. Roy Lodge MBE
Great picture of Paul with Ron Laird, Enfield Open 7, 1971. Ta to Sportsview and Trevor McDermot
As I did earlier in the year when composing a tribute to Colin Young I’ve copied and pasted a selection of the memories of Paul posted on Facebook.Other responses from other sources being added.
Alan Buchanan – Ron Laird gave me the vest he is wearing in the above Enfield photo with Paul. He stayed in Hove for a month or so on his visit here for competition and training and I regularly trained with him. He also came up with me to Scotland for a January Track 2Ok at Grangemouth organised by ex Belgrave Harrier Gerald Cameron. I have a long letter from Paul thanking me for my RWR support [Alan was eiort of the Race Walking Record at the time] and detailing the hate mail he received from a coach and others because he took up the vacant place in the 50km in 1976 Olympics , after racing the 20km. The selectors had controversially left out Bob Dobson, 3rd in the trial. Paul retired from walking the following year switching to running as well as having a popular DJ slot on a Kent radio station. A lovely man. RIP
John Cannell – Very sad to hear this. Paul came over to the Isle of Man many times. He stayed at my parents’ guest house on a few occasions. His times were at the Bowl, now the N.S.C were very fast indeed including a WR in 1972.
Steve Till – The guv’nor of race walking – gold and bronze at Euro 20km, silver in Olympic 50km, walked a 6-min mile paced by David Hemery in training!! He was race walk director at Quadrathon 83-84 and I trained with him a few times as I lived in Croydon, as he did. He is proud of the fact that he raced before the 1948 London Olympics and after the 2012 ones!! Gave a great address at the Centurions centenary at House of Commons 2011, commenting that it was the first time he had ever followed Carl Lawton!!
First time I met him, I was running one night, and I saw this bloke race walking, recognised him and chased after him, just about catching him up. He turned round; I introduced myself; “I thought you were a mugger,” he said!! 1976 – he was putting in the miles to try and qualify for his 4th Olympic Games.
Chris Maddocks – Paul Nihill wrote to me with a much appreciated letter around the time of my 4th or 5th Olympics. It’s saved in my scrapbooks. Top man. An athletic legend whose greatness will not be forgotten.
Godfried Dejonckheere – Did you know Paul Nihill is the person that motivated me to race walk when I was a young boy in South Africa? I saw him there for the first time at the Phildiche stadium in Pretoria . where we have 5 km race together …Paul won this race , and took one lap on me … wonderful time Thanks Paul …. where ever you are
Zurich, 2 mai 1971, arrivée de Paul Nihill (20km marche), photo Dominique GUEBEY
Peter Frenkel[who won the gold medal for East Germany in the Munich Olympics of 1972 in the 20 kilometre walk, in a time of 1:26:43] – Nihill was a great walker… Ich erinnere mich an München 72.
Trevor McDermot – I was introduced to Paul as a schoolkid, quite overawed, knowing exactly whom he was. On such a tragic passing it is strange what springs to mind. Not the medals and all those national titles so much but something else. In his book George Williams describes how he and Nihill, practically penniless, would knock out demon 220 yd intervals together, sometimes with Stan Vickers too. I believe it was that early intensive work Paul credited for giving him the leg speed that he built his subsequent career on. This would have been in the early sixties when he began to break through (minus a kneecap). Always racing, racing and learning, from club track events to Birmingham ‘Outer Circles’ and even the ‘Hastings’. One Sunday morning they happened to find a pile of coins outside a train station and went straight to the café for a very welcome cooked breakfast. Decades later Nihill wrote about seeing a young Rob Heffernan race and instantly recognising that same raw hunger, desire and determination.
The other thing concerns the 20 Miles, probably his ideal distance. Six RWA wins at the old Blue Riband championship (+ utterly dominant with a perfect, even-paced 2.30 on the tough out and back from Hillsborough, Sheffield during his peak). Yet somehow he never got to compete in an Empire or Commonwealth event. In ’62 it didn’t exist, in ’66 he had the breakdown, in ’70 fell victim to illness, in ’74 he was semi-retired and by ’78 fully so. We’ll never know
Peter Fawkes – I remember him being instrumental in getting me and Ken Munro into Meadowbank Stadium when we wanted to watch both him and Marion walk against the Swedes. Security guards wouldn’t let us in as the main track and field events didn’t didn’t start until the afternoon whereas the walks were on in the morning but Paul intervened and got us in. It was worth it as Paul walked the 20k like a metronome with less than 1 second separating his lap times. A true gentleman and legend. R.I.P.
Rob Elliott – I wasn’t involved with race walking when Paul Nihill competed in the Guernsey Church to Church 19.4 miles setting a new record time of 2.43.19 in 1968. Through the connections made by Guernsey walkers based in England it was quite a major achievement to have an Olympic medalist on the start line. Press reports and from others involved in that race, which was being used as a final race before the 68 Olympics, said that Paul suffered a lot in the latter part of the race, overcome by car fumes from following spectators. He apparently had also done a 6 miles warm up on the morning of the race. Paul confirmed this to me over thirty years later when visiting a second time to watch the event. His name, from when I started in 1970 was always known to me but only introduced to him thirty years on. I felt very proud to be the walker that finally improved on his course record. RIP Paul Nihill.
John Dowling – I am so sad to hear of the passing of Ireland’s greatest walker, tho he represented Britain in International events, the great Paul Nihill was born in Dublin. We spent a great week together at his Aunt’s house in the Quays, when he broke my 1 mile walk record, at Santry!!!
When we were in Dublin, Paul asked if anyone fancied a walk the following morning, I volunteered, altho I was not a distance walker in the 1950s. Paul suggested that we walk to Howth Head, and back. I did not have a tracksuit, so Paul lent me one of his G.B. ones. People were actually clapping us as we raced around the bay. Believe it or not, to my amazement I walked him into the ground. It was that day I learned that long distance walking was my Forte. It was the only time, I ever got the better of the Great Paul Nihill. He was not the least bit concerned.
He was a real gentleman, quiet, and reserved, we got on very well together. I remember one scorching hot National 50km, when we both had retired with exhaustion, one of the few times either of us had packed in. Paul had led most of the way, and was in the lead, when he fell in a ditch and could not carry on. When I saw him I stopped to help him but he was too far gone, so we both had to abandon rhe race. After the race Paul’s club captain, was saying nasty things to Paul, calling him all sorts of names. Paul was too much of a gentleman to reply to him, but I aint a gentleman, and I gave the man a right going over, telling him he wasn’t fit to tie Paul’s shoelaces, and making other choice remarks. We nearly came to blows, but Paul calmed things!!
Graham Young – Paul once told me after I had enquired , that he won 99 domestic races in a row, and 131, with just that one ‘defeat’ spoiling the record!
Tony Taylor – I remember vividly in 1969 watching him clock a seemingly effortless 48:25 in the Leicester 7. And that same year chatting with him on a bench at Charing Cross station as with not the slightest whiff of self-importance he encouraged me to think I had a future as a race walker.
Jennifer Langley – So very sad to hear of Paul’s passing away. Although I hadn’t seen him for some years I trained with him regularly at both Croydon arena and more often at Crystal Palace and on Sunday mornings around the Purley area. I was in Athens to see him win gold in 1969. He was an usher at my wedding in 1971 and disappeared to take part in a local race returning with the trophy! He was so kind and gentle and a good friend. My sincere sympathy to his family. A truly brilliant athlete. x
Chris Harvey – What a great athlete and a pioneer for our sport. RIP.
Helen Middleton – A kind man who made time to talk to me when I was new to walking. RIP
Cath Duhig – Always a kind and supportive word, never a hint of his own achievements but you knew he had history and form and spoke from experience. A very unassuming man.
Ron Penfold – Sadly another one of our greats to leave us this year, Paul always had a word of incouragement and support to all walkers. R.I.P we will miss you.
Olive and Bob Dobson – A true champion at every distance from 3 to 50kms. A legend.
Neil Munro – So very sad to see that Paul has passed away- we had such good fun racing each other.
Francisco Reis – I met Paul Nihill back in 1984 and since then Paul always been one of my great supporters. Always turning up to races to have a conversation about the sport and always happy to talk to people and support all athletes As he was an amazing athlete and a great champion he never turned his back to anyone. Always very happy to support everyone. We will miss you Paul, but this is life sooner or later happens to everyone. My condolences to everyone. Rest in peace my friend.
John Webb – I got pretty close to Paul during our racing together but the closest I got was in the European Champs 1969. We were going along with leaders – I thought it was a hard pace when Paul tapped my shoulder and said, “Webby, there’s a break, there’s a break“. I replied, “Go with them Paul – I’m at my limits”. Paul went on to win the gold medal which showed what a great athlete he was. Thanks Paul for the great memories.
Richard Cole – Very sad indeed. I did not meet him but knew of him. When I started walking they said I had a similar style. Certainly not the ability.
Ray Middleton – R.I.P. dear Paul. Sad to lose yet another great race walker who was simply the best.
Roger Mills – Sad, sad news.
Carl Lawton – Very sad, he was a gentleman and a pleasure to have raced against him. A stylist and in my eyes a true walker.
Chris Hobbs – By an amazing coincidence this afternoon I was watching the Cary Grant film “Walk Don’t Run” about a 50km walker in the Tokyo Olympics and was thinking of Paul.
Steve Uttley – Very sad news about Paul. I hadn’t realised his health was so poor.
Glyn Jones – This is sad news indeed. Another great loss and the passing of a stalwart and a great servant to the Race Walking Fraternity. Paul’s achievements in race walking will long live in the memory. He will not be forgotten.
Paul Warburton – This has been a bad year, and not just because of Covid. First Jordi Lopart, then Ernesto Canto and Peter Ryan, and now Paul. A true great character who also ran a rock n’ roll disco at one stage if I’m not mistaken.
Ian Robery – Such a shame he played a major part in the uprising of Havering AC Walking Club in the 70s. Please pass on our deepest condolences from the Robery family.
Andy Catton – That is very sad. Although I guess not unexpected as he looked very unwell when I last saw him some 3 – 4 years ago. Another legend departs with no proper send off.
Brian Keegan – Very sad, always had fond memories of Paul and he helped me do my fastest ever 6 miler in 46 min 50 sec during one of his many comeback races.
Mark Culshaw – Very sad. Sorry to hear this news. Give his family Belgrave Harriers sympathy and kind regards. A stalwart of race walking!! Very genuine kind person.
Olly Flynn – This is very sad news indeed, another great champion leaving us.
Paul in action at Battersea Park. Thanks again to Mark Shearman
Edbanger [Ed Shillabeer C590] – R.I.P. I missed his glory times but will never forget “the guv’nor”.
Jack Lord – A very sad day for British sport. A true champion that has left his name on the sport of race walking. I had the privilege of watching him on several occasions and marvel at how effortless he made it look. My deepest condolences to the Nihill family.
Tim Erickson – The sad loss of a mighty walker.
John Nye – I was a fellow club member at Surrey WC (introduced by the late Dickie Green). I remember chasing him home in the Battersea 10. He was quite surprised – he shook my hand at the finishing line and said, “You’ve improved a bit for a former scrubber!!”
Guy Goodair – Sad news indeed. Paul was our last living Olympic race walking medalist. Here’s hoping that 2021 is a much better year than 2020.
Laurie Kelly – Why is it that we are always being told these sad tales at this time of the year? Paul was such a great ambassador for our sport and will be greatly missed.
Kathy Crilley – Sad news about Paul but not unexpected. I am putting news on the Centurions Worldwide website as he was well known to Centurions and non Centurions alike.
George Nibre – My boyhood hero.
The 1965 British Games finds Paul third in line.Thanks to TOPIX
Bill and Kath Sunderland – A massive loss for British race walking being a champion through and through with such a humble, ever inspiring attitude. A fantastic racer from short to long distances. Sincere condolence to his family.
A really great tribute to the GREATEST ALL ROUND GB RACE WALKER OF ALL TIME, Paul Nihill, MBE. It is mentioned that he was never able to compete in the Commonwealth Games. My BRONZE MEDAL in 1970 at Edinburgh is very much his too as he motivated me and encouraged me so much. One of the first congratulatory telegrams I received was from Paul saying ‘Well done Bill.’ My medal will always be a living memory of Paul Nihill, who led so many to the heights in British Race Walking. Talking of the GB Greats let’s remember too the living Great Ray Middleton! Kind Regards to to many Race Walking friends.
Dave Ainsworth – THE FINAL CURTAIN Paul’s last competitive walking race was at Moulton in June 2013 where he completed 5 testing miles in 58.36. Paul as able to “bow out” when sampling the best of race walking’s heyday – that being a traditional Saturday afternoon road walk on a public highway. It was a nice day on a course which took a good number of enthusiastic participants through the delightful Suffolk countryside. Paul announced beforehand it’d be his last race – even though we’d heard this a few times before, he enjoyed warm start line applause. Paul’s desire was to be seen as having had an active career spanning 2 London Olympiads (1948 & 2012). He had published running results from before those 1948 Olympics as Paul was “in the running” before his race walking career commenced. In 2012 he was unwell for much of the time – so little was seen of him that year. But he was determined to race once after our 2012 Games so he could claim his career indeed did span 2 London Olympiads. He came to Moulton to complete one final race – and, this time, it was his last. Looking at a lengthy result sheet, many “Essex Walkers” were present on that occasion when Paul crossed a race walking finish line for a final time.
Peter Selby – Paul was one of a very select band of race walkers who put our sport at the top of the tree in the 1960s. His achievements as a GB athlete were phenomenal and his Silver Medal in Tokyo (just 17 seconds off of Gold) following on from Don Thompson s gold in Rome 4 years earlier proved the strength and depth we had at 50k. But Paul was equally at home doing 20k or even just 3k.As a club mate in the 1960 s I got to know his back very well almost to the point, when I was close enough…not very often….of having a conversation with his shoulder blades. He liked to be in front and made sure that that is were he remained. He particularly enjoyed going up hills and had a knack of getting to the top and where most would take a short breather, he upped the pace by 10%, one reason why he won many races.
I believe Paul started out as a boxer and when he was racing you could sense his jabs especially going up hill until at a certain point in the race he produce the “killer” punch and surge on to victory. I am sure that many of the top walkers at that time (the world over) were beaten by Paul’s sheer tenacity, he was not a natural athlete but one whose determination had no equal……he had a dry and ironic sense of humour but liked nothing better than a good chat after a race. His early progress was very much guided by Dickie Green who did so much for many young walkers and novices whether they be in Surrey Walking Club or the Stock Exchange. Sport generally and athletics in general then did not show quite the interest or support now offered to our top performers but I suspect Paul may not have wanted it any other way…….. Farewell to a truly brilliant walker and athlete you inspired many of us.
Paul Blagg – Very sad news a great champion and gentleman
John Lees – So sad to learn of the passing of Paul Nihill. He was a nice man – a true gentleman – and to my mind the greatest race walker this country has ever produced. Paul, himself, would always give that honour to Ken Matthews. But Ken was a sprinter, whereas Paul could beat anybody from 3K to 50k. And just think of his longevity – 14 years as an International – 4 Olympics – a record 27 National titles – and then continuing to take part way after his best days. I remember Dave Ainsworth ringing me up many years after I’d stopped racing to say “You must take part in the 400th Essex League Race”. I replied that I had not appeared in any of the previous 399 editions but turned up to be delighted that Paul had also entered. I first met Paul in late 1971. He won a race in Brighton on the Saturday, then stayed overnight to do a 40 mile training spin with Dave Boxall and myself. I prayed that he wouldn’t talk about his projected trek across the States but out came the news. This was a hammer blow to me because having walked Lands End-John O’groats in 1971 and joined in that year’s London-Brighton [unofficially 15th in 9 hours 23 mins], my chief reason for walking was that I intended to take on Bruce Tulloh’s 54 day record from LA to NY. I had not told this to anyone in the sport. How now could I undertake this and undercut my hero? I confided all to Alan Buchanan who said ‘Just tell him’. And when I did, Paul could not have been nicer. After I had returned from America, Paul invited me to his home in Thornton Heath and after our training sessions he would leave me to sleep overnight on his couch. He didn’t have to do this but what a boost it was to an aspiring walker.
For a while in the 60s, Paul was as good as anyone in the World so it is sad that he didn’t win an Olympic Gold. Mind you, it was no disgrace to finish second to Abdon Pamich in the Tokyo 50k in 1964. The thin air of Mexico in 1968 was too much for the great Ron Clarke – and for Paul as well. He told me that his planning had been wrong – he shouldn’t have done the 50k but gone for the 20k instead. A year later he was completely dominant when winning the European 20k Gold in Athens. In the 70s we had an, ultimately successful campaign to Keep Walking in the Olympics which centred on a March to Parliament. Going into a Government Minister’s office seemed quite daunting – but not with Paul aboard. The Minister for Sport, Dennis Howell, was one of Paul’s biggest fans. Paul said one thing to me that I’ll never forget – he had no time for any sportsman who was great on the field of play but a complete jerk off it. A boxer in his younger days, Paul Nihill always played by the Queensbury Rules. Best regards .
Don Cox – How much worse can 2020 get? All of our friends and heroes are dying. I suppose at our age that’s what happens but you never think it would happen to our great Paul Nihill. I’m so sad. I started race walking in 1968, at that time Paul was out there in front, the first ever great athlete I met, PAUL NIHILL, just saying his name brings back memories, that little blue book, Athletics Weekly (AW) always had Paul’s race results and race reports. Paul was a race walking hero long before I got into the sport, one time 20k world record holder. All we ever saw in a race of Paul was his back, the nearest I ever got to him was 2nd in the Inter County track championship. Very sad. RIP Paul.
Steve Barry – Without doubt ‘The Guv’nor’. Paul wrote many letters to me during my career offering advice and encouragement. We also had lots of chats about his and my passion for boxing. I for one won’t forget. RIP Mate.
Shaun Lightman – Paul and I trained together for several years. He had some stories to tell. He wanted to train 200 miles in a week – counting trips to the paper shop. He reached 199 but could not find the strength to go the last mile! He turned up to a Surrey Walking Club 5 mile race hoping for an easy one without realising I was going to be there. He upped the pace and left me in the dust. He is the only person I know who can talk extensively on pop music fo the whole of a 50km session. He also said that when he began in the 60s there was this whippersnapper who regularly broke 7 mins for the mile and thought I could do that! In 1969 before the European Games in Athens where Paul won his gold medal, we regularly had sessions at the Crystal Palace – 6 x 800m each one in 3m 15s.
John Paddick – Remembering the days in Japan [1964] when we roomed together. He was always aware that his major opponent was Abdon Pamich. Great memories pal – RIP
Mescari Mohamed – un grand marcheur que j’ai toujours suivi.
Brian Adams finishing 9th in the Olympic 20k in Montreal. Photo by George Herringshaw
Brian ‘Bernie’ Adams – Paul was a hero for me to look up to in the 60’s, be it from a distance. His feats during this time have already been listed. The 1976 Olympic trial was the first one to have a strict selection of the first three to finish. Paul had made a comeback and he passed me in the closing stages to push me out of third spot and out of the Olympic team, until Roger’s unfortunate collapse allowed me back into the team via the back door. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought of sharing a room at the Montreal Olympics with the great Paul Nihill at his fourth Olympics. A long forgotten comment or joke meant that from then onwards Paul always greeted me as Bernie! What a tribute, and a reflection of the encouragement he so willingly gave to others that so many youngsters have benefitted from being part of the England ‘juvenile’ team to take on the Irish opposition in the Nihill Shield.
Guy Goodair – Fifty six years ago I got the Friday afternoon off work and went down to London, watched GB v Poland athletics match at the White City in the evening and the following morning got the train to Hastings for the annual Hastings to Brighton walk. I was the only Northerner in the field and Paul asked me who was my attendant. I confessed I hadn’t got one. I was OK early on but as time progressed got increasingly uncomfortable when not getting drinks when I needed them (other walker’s attendants always reckoned they hadn’t any to spare)
That day for some reason Paul retired around 28-29 miles but he remembered I’d no one looking after me and very generously arranged for his attendant to look after me for the rest of the race, enabling me to finish 5th in 6h 7m 25s just behind Dickey Green and a couple of minutes in front of Colin Young
RIP Paul – though no doubt Paul is already limbering up for his first celestial walking race
Mike Parker– The day before yesterday while on one of my infrequent visits to those rare few race walking sites that retain my interest I read the news of the very sad death of Paul Nihill. I add my name to the very long list of people who have passed on their condolences already to Pauls’s family and also to the wider race walking fraternity particularly in the UK, but also to others around the world who knew Paul and have been impacted by his passing.
My own particular memories of Paul Nihill go back to the earliest days of my own athletic career. The Olympic Games of Tokyo 1964 was a great Games for New Zealander’s, Peter Snell (who also died in 2020) was receiving blanket coverage in the media on account of his two gold medals. As a very young lad of 11, it was not Snell who inspired me though, it was watching Ken Mathews on television win the 20 km walk in such a dominant style that piqued my interest. A month or so later my parents took me to the cinema to watch “Tokyo 1964” and there I viewed the tussle between Abdon Pamich and Paul Nihill in the 50 kms. These guys along with Vladimir Golubnichy and Dieter Linder became my heroes. Before that year’s end, after pestering my poor mother witless, she had contacted the local athletic club and enrolled me. I was the club’s third race walker. Training for me was never a problem, I had the company of my heroes we would be fighting out some imaginary race at the Olympic Games, somewhere or other and I was usually the winner!
So in a way, Paul Nihill was a very real part of my career as a racewalker. When I first arrived in the UK in early 1977 I had several goals I wanted to achieve. Some I attained others I didn’t. One that I feel very sad about was not having the opportunity to race just once against “The Great Paul Nihill”. Paul retired at the end of 1976 so I missed out by a few months. I still feel regret, not being able to say I raced against one of the two greatest British race walkers of all time. At least I got to meet him a few times and I always found him to be inspirational. To be honest, I can’t decide between Paul and Ken Matthews as to who was the best, I feel they were the equal of one another. Nihill’s long list of achievements and his wonderful range of distances, as John Lees alluded to, isn’t quite enough to nudge him past Ken Mathews’s mighty 1964 Tokyo Olympic performance. So in my opinion these two great champions are both the Greatest of the UK’ race walkers.
Paul Nihill will always remain a hero to me a great race walker and a man who believed that race walking should be walking and not the sham that race walking has become in the modern era. R.I.P. Paul Nihill. Regards to all, Mike Parker (sugar-ray@hotmail.com}
[ Mike, a New Zealander, was the UK 20 kilometres champion in both 1980 and 1981.]
It would be brilliant to get more additions to these responses – after all not everyone is enamoured of Facebook. Thanks already to Dave Ainsworth for forwarding further responses. If you are so inclined, please post your memories to Tony at tonymtaylor@gmail.com
Tim strikes an apt and ironic note when revealing that:
In 2016, Nihill was honoured to have a road in Addiscombe named after him. It was only fitting that the road-naming ceremony took place on the day on which the 50 km walk was taking place at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
I did like the comment by the Inside Croydon reporter:
Sadly, we believe that the developers have missed a trick, by opting to call the road Nihill Place. Nihill Walk would have been much more fitting.
Virtual League Racing Series – Race 35 – Anders Hansson Memorial Race
Congratulations to everyone, who has kept us on top in the Age-graded competition. Unfortunately I’ve got a nagging hip problem that looks likely to keep me out until the New Year. It’s great to see Greg Smith improving week by week, now under 11 minutes.
Back in the balmy days of summer
MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM 1 Lancashire Walking Club (84.41%) 2 Birchfield Harriers (80.10%) 3 Manx Harriers (77.79%) 4 Sarnia Walking Club (75.64%) 5 Quickstep Fitness (69.14% – RUSSIA (52.05%)
MENS 2KM TEAM 1 Manx Harriers (25) 2 Birchfield Harriers (37) 3 Sarnia Walking Club (42) 4 Lancashire Walking Club (43) 5 Quickstep Fitness (74) – RUSSIA (177)
Our team as follows:
Tony Taylor M70 93.53% Lancs WC 10:44.0
Greg Smith M65 85.07% Lancs WC 11:06.0
Tony Bell M55 64.68% Lancs WC 13:01.0
Roy Gunnett M70 70.78% Lancs WC 14:11.0
Guy Goodair M80 72.63% Lancs WC 16:14.0
————————————————————————————————————————————–
Virtual League Racing Series – Race 36
Greg at Kirkby Fleetham a few years ago
MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM 1 Lancashire Walking Club (78.33%) 2 Manx Harriers (76.42%) 3 Birchfield Harriers (74.94%) 4 Quickstep Fitness (71.62%) 5 Sarnia Walking Club (47.59%) 6 Northern AC (39.97%)
MENS 2KM TEAM 1 Manx Harriers (30) 2 Birchfield Harriers (49) 3 Quickstep Fitness (54) 4 Lancashire Walking Club (55) 5 Sarnia Walking Club (205) 6 Northern AC (206)
Following Ron Wallwork’s exploration of the club’s team successes at a national level and the barren years after the early 70s it is revealing to mark Chris Harvey’s individual victories in the Junior 10 kilometres in 1978 and Senior 10 miles in 1979. The painful irony is that as Chris’s talent blossomed the nucleus of the competitive teams of 1969/70/71 pursued an abortive attempt to create a Blackburn Harriers Walking section. This brief, even ignominious adventure, usually brushed under the carpet, will get some serious attention in the near future. For now it left Chris, apart from Tony Malone, without the back up necessary for the club to mount a challenge in the team competitions.Indeed such was their frustration that Chris and Tony joined for a time the then up and coming York Postal Race Walking Club.
Chris muses:
I used to do high jump at school and sprints but couldn’t break through until I did the walk and won it. The two boys in front kept running behind the buildings to build up a lead but I shouted to my dad, who informed the judge, who collared them in the act!
I started walking seriously at school because my dad was coaching a local lad, who finished 6th in the English Schools in 1971. I finished 3rd in the 1973 3 kilometres behind Mike Dunion and Dave Cotton. I went on to be the National Boys Club national champion from 1975-1977.
Chris in action at Longford Park, Stretford
HONOURS, CHAMPIONSHIP AND OPEN VICTORIES AND PLACINGS
1974 3rd National Junior 5 Miles
1977 3rd National Junior 10 kilometres
1978 1st National Junior 10 kilometres
1978 6th National 10 miles
1978 GB International, Spanish 20 kilometres, Barcelona
1978 GB Junior International v Italy
1979 1st National 10 miles
1979 GB International in the Lugano World Cup Championship
1979 1st York Postal Open 7 miles
1980 GB International, Spanish 20 kilometres, Barcelona [finished 3rd in 89.12 and of the top 6 I was the only one not go to the Olympics in Moscow]
1980 3rd Inter-Counties 10 kilometres
1980 1st York Open 20 kilometres
Missing from this list at the moment are Northern Junior and Senior titles and placings.
Press cutting after his great victory in the 1979 National 10 miles at York
PERSONAL BESTS
TRACK
3 kilometres 12:12 [1980] – perhaps my best single performance
10 kilometres 43:19 [1980]
ROAD
7 miles 48:47 [1979]
10 miles 71:25 [1979]
20 kilometres 88:26 [1979]
35 kilometres 2:59;16 [1980]
Marathon 3:45:00 [1982]
RUNNING [ROAD]
Half Marathon 76:25
Press cutting acclaiming Chris’s selection for the GB team in 1979
In 2020 Chris has been less than well, but he hopes to be on the road in 2021. Thus his comments on his career are limited, but hopefully he will fill out the above sketch of his accomplishments in the near future.In his own words he concludes.
As I withdrew from serious competition I coached at the local Vale Royal athletics club. I carried on running but not much walking, although I did a 10 mile in Bury in 76 minutes around 1985, along with a 69 minutess for 15k in Stockport but it came to nought.
I did some walking after my Dad died in 1997 but it was proper rubbish so I retired to be plagued by bad knees and thence two knee transplants in 2005 & 2012.
Oh by the way Tony Taylor and Mick Holmes are two of the best walkers I’ve come across. The hardest to beat when I was a junior were Maurice Ireland and Ken Harding. The most impossible to get past was Amos Seddon, a legend. And I saw Paul Nihill, what a stylist and of course Roger Mills. Not forgetting my good friend Steve Uttley with whom I’ve laughed and laughed!
Sincere thanks to Ron Wallwork for his latest historical offering
LANCASHIRE WALKING CLUB: OUR TEAM SUCCESS ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
On the club Website in mid August Tony Taylor made reference to 1970 and how successful that year was for the Club which could boast the colllecting of team medals in all six national championships, two of them being gold.
The years either side were also fairly successful; Two runner-up medals in 1959 which served notice of Lancashire’s potential and three in 1971 as the club past its zenith.
With the help of “The Sport of Race Walking”, Race Walking Record and the NUTS booklet No16 “WALKS” I discovered that the Club’s first national team medal (which was three to score) may well have been in the 1936 national 50km at Derby which was also the Olympic trial race. LWC took the bronze team medals behind Belgrave H and Surrey WC, whilst Joe Hopkins 4.31.01 took the individual silver behind Harold Whitlock 4.30.28. Harold went on to a great victory in Berlin, but Joe had the misfortune to be ill in the days leading up to the race.
Lancashire WC gained another bronze in the 1938 50km championship staged at Bradford which probably accounted for the considerably slower times than those registered in 1936. Harold Whitlock 4.43.01 won again with Joe Hopkins 5th 4.45.51 on this occasion. Belgrave H were the winners again and it was Leicester WC who finished second.
So far I’ve been unable to discover who the scorers were in these two pre-war championships, but results from the early 1940’s show that the likes of the O’Neill brothers Jim and Frank, John McCormick and Dick Smith were prominent in club and open events, so could well have been Joe’s back-up men.
It was a thirty year wait before the Juniors made their first contribution to the tally, with a third place performance behind Belgrave H and Steyning AC. In 1958 with a number of yougsters turning out on a regular basis, the club entered and met the travel costs to the national Junior 5 championship at Vauxhall Motors, Luton. A year later they returned from the same championship held at Wembley with the runner-up medals. Charlie Norton (58), Alan Hall (59) along with Fred Pearce and myself were the scorers.
In 1960 the Juniors went close to making it three national medal collections in consecutive years, finishing fourth in their championship, and although fielding senior teams in the national 10 and 20 miles, the sixties started with a blank year.
1961 Silver medals in the 10 miles at Leicester and the 50km at Sheffield was the haul . In alphabetical order the scorers were: Charlie Colman (50k), Mike Jeffreys (10m/50k) Jack Sankey (10m/50k) John Todd (10m/50k) and myself (10m).
Ron, Jack Sankey and Mike Jeffreys
The club had individual representation at nationals in the ensuing five years; 34 different walkers, but its record of fielding teams in the championships was patchy to say the least. Only nine out of seventeen senior and one out of ten junior/youth championships were contested.
Contrast that with the next five years when 55 walkers turned out in nineteen of 20 senior and nine out of ten junior/youth championships and collected a 14 medal haul, including two national senior wins and a junior 5 victory, along with nine top six finishes.
Ron’s famous 1967 National 10 miles victory
1967 Following a fourth place in the national 10 at Bolton, it was down to East Ewell, Surrey where in an over-distance 20km championship Julian Hopkins, John Todd and Mike Hatton backed up my individual winning performance and secured the team silver medal behind Trowbridge AC. The same four repeated another silver medal collection in the national 20 miles staged at Redditch.
A bit murky but this photo of the 1968 20k, where we finished 4th team shows Mike Hatton leading a group with Tony Taylor a few metres back
1968 The club’s first ever medal in the national youth 3 mile championship. A silver medal was secured at Manchester by Steve Crowe who was also the individual runner-up, David Ward and D.Platt. Although the seniors didn’t manage a podium finish, in their four championships, they were there or thereabouts closing in the top six in three of them.
1969 Four finishes in the top six by the seniors, one of them being second place in the 20km held at Gomersall where myself, Dave Vickers, Tony Taylor and Don Warren were the scorers and another silver in the junior 5 miles at Bromsgrove by Chris Eyre, Steve Crowe and Mick Entwistle.
L/R: Bill Cowley, Steve Crow, Dave Vickers, Tony Taylor, Maurice Ireland, Mick Entwistle, Dave Ward, Ron Wallwork,?, Don Warren, Bill Poynton, Dave Grindley, Tony Malone, Don Dakeyne,? with Frank O’Neill.
1970 The big year! Six championships contested – six team medals won, two of them for victories! Twelve walkers constituted the six teams. In alphabetical order they were K.Brewster (J) Steve Crowe (J), R.Edwards (J), Mick Entwistle (J/S), Chris Eyre (J/S), Julian Hopkins, Tony Malone (J/S), B.Sephton (J), Tony Taylor, Dave Vickers, Don Warren and myself. Significant statistics are that nineteen other walkers competed in the nationals that year, and in the 10 miles and 20km the club had closed in “B” teams.
1971 Early successes by the seniors with silver and bronze in the national 10 miles and 20km, the scorers being Tony Taylor, Dave Vickers, David Ward and myself, whilst Tony Malone in third place led Mike Fishwick and Steve Crowe to victory in the national Junior 5 miles.
1972 The junior championship was held in Birmingham and a Boys 2 miles was added to the programme. It was well supported with 56 starters making up 12 teams. Chris Bolton’s son Warren in fifth place supported by P.Percival and R.Allison finished third team behind Bromsgrove & Redditch and Leicester WC.
Thereafter it was a long forty-year wait during which time massive societal change had taken place and with it the sporting world. Amateurism bowed out, the Olympic 50km had been dropped and reinstated. A succession of rule changes tampering with the ‘definition’ only served to support the anti-walking lobby’s view that the discipline was unjudgable. The final definition agreed upon had a devastating effect on numbers participating domestically in the event. Ironically, globally there had been a huge increase in the number of countries and competitors.
The result was that a century after two Lancashire WC members Bobby Bridge and Thomas Dumbill were competing in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, the championship the domestic programme was unrecognisable. The oldest championship the 20 miles first raced in 1912 and which from the late 70’s fluctuated between 30 and 35 km was eventually put to rest in 2004. The 10 miles having been discarded for a decade and resurected was finally terminated in 2014, thus leaving only the 20 and 50km’s which were attracting woefully small fields. Team composition rules changed to accommodate the new circumstances.
Greg Smith and Dave Crompton with the national 50k team trophy
Clubs with great race walking traditions have disappeared or are now unrecognisable ie. Sheffield United Harriers who dominated northern walking and was a national force in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is therefore quite an achievement that Lancashire Walking Club still operates, promoting club races, supporting open races and have fairly recently won the RWA National 50km titles; in 2014 and 2015, the scorers being Dave Crompton 2014/15), Greg Smith (2014), Roy Gunnett (2015) and Adrian Edwards (2015). Adrian also had the satisfaction of an individual win and Dave an individual bronze in 2014.
In summary, since 1938 Lancashire walking Club has won a total 22 RWA national team medals:
This is a snapshot of performances in the RWA national team championships and though the 32 scorers have been named in this piece, I have a list of names that show that this was only a third of the number that carried the Red Rose club colours all over the country throughout the eight decades.
This composition is about the club’s national team performances which is only a fraction of Lancashire Walking Club’s history. What about Northern championships, the classic Opens, the weekly club races and the individuals, not forgetting the officials who have ensured that the club exists today? . . . . Well! that’s several more stories
Many thanks to all who submitted clockings, especially our esteemed guests. It’s much appreciated. We received a number of apologies fom the sick and injured. From a club viewpoint it’s encouraging to see Greg Smith on the way back to form and fitness. It augurs well for the New Year if at last we hit the streets together. A word too for our handicapper, Dave Evans, who had nine of us finishing within just over half a minute of each other.
Our December Virtual Club Series distance remains 3 kilometres. Clockings to be submitted by midnight, Monday, January 4th to allow for wild excess across the festive period. It would be fun if participants could attach a photo of themselves paying homage to either the religious or secular traditions of the season. I think I have a set of antlers lying about somewhere!
Greg leading from the front. Ta to Linda McDermot for the pic.
SCRATCH
Tony Taylor 16:29
Greg Smith 17:15
John Constandinou 18:06 [G]
Dave Evans 18:36
Graham Jackson 19:33 [G]
Denis Jackson19:39 [G]
Tony Bell 19:45
Marco Bernatzki 19:49 [G]
Martin Payne 20:14
Pat Evans 20:19
Joe Hardy 20:35
Ian Hilditch 20:55
Roy Gunnett 21:15
Glyn Jones 21:25 [G]
Andrea Lennon 27:13
Dave handicapped only by one of Trevor McDermot’s flat courses. Ta to Linda once more
After taking into account the suggestions and feelings of our fellow committee members I am pleased to announce the winners of the above awards.
A J Taylor Award Winner: Andrea Lennon.
Andrea on the track
Andrea has been a regular at nearly all of our fixtures and has performed so well in Age related events that we feel her performances merit recognition at our club’s highest level.
Cliff Royle Trophy Winner: Guy Goodair.
Guy on the track
Guy is now in his 80’s and is still producing some fine times over a variety of distances. His age related performances in both the club virtual races and the world virtual series have been of the highest order and this over half century after winning the Manchester to Blackpool Walk. Despite advancing years he has continued to display an exemplary style.
Guy winning the Blackpool Walk in 1964
[ I’m not sure how many people know of Guy and Judith Goodair’s exploits in the world of orienteering. Both hold a string of medals at a national, European and World level.]
Greg Smith sent Pete a card on behalf of the club and we have received this touching message from Fiona, his partner and herself an active race walker [Enfield and HaringeyAC]. In addition we include the link to the funeral arrangements.
Pete in the Church to Chirch walk on Guernsey, of which he was a winner. Ta to Rob Elliott
Dear Lancashire Walking club
Thank you so much for your card.
My name is Fiona and I am Peter’s other half. It was a shock that Peter passed away so quick as he was only diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in mid August. He was told he had up to a year but sadly this was not to be. I know that Peter was delighted to received so many cards sent to him at the Woking Hospice towards the end of his life.
Peter had certainly packed a lot into his life which I am so glad he did. He had a twin brother called Richard. (Unfortunately he passed away away a year ago of Pancreatic Cancer). He joined Sheffield United Harriers with his brother at about 12 years old and did cross country and track. He won Sheffield schools senior Atkin trophy open to all students in year 7/8/9 represented Sheffield v Staffordshire + Liverpool at cross country. At about 16 he changed to race walking won the Northern Youths and 4th in National Junior.
Best Performances were 4.18.30 for 50km and 2nd at Basildon . Barry Graham from York won. The Leicester Mercury 20 miles 2 hrs 40 2nd to Murray Lambden and the 100 miles won by 55 sec in time of 19 hrs 57 mins at Newmarket in 2003.
He was a very good Police officer especially in Brentwood area. Everyone in Brentwood knew him as PC Ryan.
He is a life member of Sheffield Wednesday. He had travelled around the world and been to about 87 different countries. His favourite place is New Zealand.
He had for the last few years been doing parkrun round the world. It is a 5km course which you can ran or walk on a Saturday morning.
I met Peter late in life at about 2005 through race walking. I am so proud of Peter and he is a true gentleman.
I am hoping to put together his life story so if you have any story or photo I would be grateful to hear about it. As for myself as I am still working but as soon as the paperworks get sorted out I hope to give up work and travel. I will also will carry on with my athletics in running and race walking, competing at Master events at the world and European championship. This is what Peter have wanted me to do.
I am hoping to raised as much money for the Pancreatic Cancer Uk and hope to do an event in the summer to do so.
Also in the summer I will be having a wake by hiring a hall and celebrate Peter’s life . So I do hope very much that you will be able to come. I will of course let you know the date.
I hope we will keep in touch. I am deaf so it best to text me by phone if possible.
07905510215 (text only)
Once again thank you so much for the card and message.
Charles Peter Ryan passed peacefully on 13th November 2020 aged 66 years. Beloved partner of Fiona. He will be greatly missed by friends and colleagues throughout the world of athletics, football, travel, education and policing. His philosophy was that we should cherish the memories and move forward with our lives and in the words of his favourite song by Lynyrd Skynyrd: “I’m a free as a bird now and this bird you’ll never change”.
Because of COVID restrictions attendance at the funeral is by personal invitation only but the service will be filmed and streamed live and you will be able to view the service live by copying and pasting the below web address into your browser https://boxcast.tv/view/charles-peter-ryan-n58zepojj8nsi8fryaes
Finally thanks again to Rob Elliott for this atmospheric photo from the past. A fresh-faced Pete [201] with Rob [250] on his left.
Lancashire Walking Club : Health The First Wealth 