The end of June is approaching fast and with it the deadline for your speedy 5 kilometres clockings in our very own Club Virtual Series. Can Lancashire rise to the gauntlet thrown down by Scotia? I’ll accept submissions up to midnight on the first of July to give you a bit of room for manoeuvre over the next few days. Send your result to Tony at tonymtaylor@gmail.com
Meanwhile, the battle between ourselves and our Scottish rivals continues in the original Virtual League Series organised by Helen and John.
RACE 12
MENS 2K TEAM
1 Scotia Race Walking Club (30) 2 Lancashire Walking Club (47) 3 Quickstep Fitness (65) 4 Sarnia Walking Club (83) – RUSSIA (159) – AUSTRALIA (191) 5 Birchfield Harriers (212) 6 Ilford AC (217)
MENS 2K AGE GRADED TEAM
1 Lancashire Walking Club (86.71%) 2 Scotia Race Walking Club (81.12%) 3 Sarnia Walking Club (74.69%) 4 Quickstep Fitness (73.20%) – RUSSIA (60.23%) – AUSTRALIA (50.13%) 5 Ilford AC (43.38%) 6 Birchfield Harriers (39.09%)
I can’t recommend enough that we all spend some time reflecting on this challenging contribution from Chris Bolton. Back in the mid-1960s Chris was a leading light in the transformation of the club’s sense of itself, shifting it from being inward-looking to viewing itself as a major force on the national scene. This change was symbolised by the creation of the club’s very own magazine, CONTACT’. It is to his great credit that almost sixty years on he is still concerned about the club’s future and creative in his recommendations.
For the moment I’ll desist from having my pennyworth and hope very much that our members/readers/supporters will be involved in the necessary and vital discussion opened up by Chris.
Chris close to the finish of the Blackpool
The future of Lancashire Walking Club
Tony Malone’s story has prompted me to give a lot of thought to how we can improve the fortunes of Lancashire Walking Club.
Tony came to race walking from his attendance at a young athletes’ course and in his first road race finished thirteenth well inside the hour for six miles. That means of course that there were at least thirteen novices inside the hour; how times have changed. These young athletes are however still there and we must do all we can to attract them.
Our immediate problem is that we have an aging membership and don’t seem able to attract younger members. We are not seen as athletes and are no longer part of the athletic scene. When our HQ was at Longford Park we were included in the Stretford Track League events and we were seen and accepted as athletes, sadly this has been lost.
Many athletic clubs In our area have a membership of over five hundred and we are missing out.
Additionally, I believe that race walking in general has suffered from the demise of the six and seven in the hour badge schemes. The slogan of the novice walk was “Can you walk six miles in an hour?” I wrote to every affiliated athletic club in the area and it attracted huge interest – Dave Vickers, the winner, of course came from Bolton United Harriers.
I believe that we should now make our One Hour Track Walk our flagship event and promote it to every club in our catchment area. If you agree I will supply and pay for an initial supply of cloth embroidered badges, maybe for wearing on tracksuits. They would recognise achievements of nine, ten and eleven Kms in the hour and could possibly be classed as Bronze, Silver and Gold standards. My first stab at a design is attached.
Although controversial I believe that we must seriously consider a move of HQ to a venue with a track, parking facilities and situated adjacent to paths or roads suitable for race walking.
Even more controversial I think we should eventually consider changing the club name to Lancashire Race Walking Club.
Without being too pessimistic I see the club stagnating. We must do something before it is too late or we shall be composing the funeral hymn of this great club.
I do trust that you will understand that I am trying to be constructive and truly have the interest of the club at heart.
Our Reminiscences Series returns with this welcome, revealing contribution from Tony Malone. I’ve not deleted his many unnecessary apologies to the reader.
Hi Tony, herewith as requested is my athletics biography. Hope it isn’t too boring for everybody.
A young Tony
I’d always been interested in running especially as I was the 2nd fastest miler in my last year at school and I always ran from the north side of Stockport to watch Stockport County on the south side of the town. I always had to be first through the the turnstiles when they opened. I supposed if I had got there five minutes before the kick off I would still have been first in the queue!
If you’re already getting bored carry on reading at bed time and I will soon cure your insomnia.
Tony being congratulated by the LWC old guard – from the left Fred Pearce Senior Joe Lambert and Albert Rigby
I was at my local youth club back in 1968 when the club leader asked if I was interested in attending a young athletes’ course at Mellands Fields in Manchester and the club would pay the fees. On the Saturday of the course, I didn’t want to go but my parents insisted as the youth club had already paid. So I went along with my tee shirt, shorts and pumps (yes, pumps!). When I arrived most athletes had clubs vests, track suits and trainers and spikes. I put myself down for middle distance and after a short while threw off my pumps and continued the weekend in my bare feet. The coaches were not amused!
A the end of the weekend three guys came and gave a demonstration of race walking and all the young athletes had to have a go.Then the senior of the three guys gave a little speech and said if you haven’t already got a club then you should join one. I took him at his word, approached him, asking if could I join his walking club. rest they say is history. The three guys were Maurice Ireland, Chris Bolton and Fred Pearce Junior.
So for all those ladies and gents out there, who have had to put up with me for all these years you can blame Maurice, Chris, Fred and my parents.
I went training each Sunday at Stretford track with Maurice. I did two Stretford league races, in which I came 2nd from last in both, just ahead of Dave Grindley of Lancs Walking Club. This isn’t as easy as it looks were my thoughts. [Eds note – Ron Wallwork has dug out one of the results, August 20]
My first road race was the LWC annual 6 mile novice Walk from Mellands Fields, Manchester on the 24th August 1968, finishing 13th in 57m.35 sec. The race was won by Dave Vickers from the home club in 48m.14sec. One thing I’ll always blame Chris Bolton for (my Mum always did!!) is that he never mentioned anything about greasing up prior to a race. I spent the rest of the weekend on the floor with my legs apart resting on a chair! I was just a ‘little sore’.
It was after this I was coached by the late Dick Smith at Leigh on Tuesday evenings and from his chip shop on Thursday and Sundays. I was knocked into shape and slowly started to improve my technique and speed.
Are you still awake?
As always with Lancashire Walking Club there were plenty of events to compete in up and down the country. On many occasions there were enough of us to hire a coach to take us to the various venues. To think at times we could have as many as three teams in a race with eight needed to walk and four to score. On these excursions the club captain Ron Wallwork used to get the bus singing and one of the songs was always ‘You’ll never walk (M)alone’ by Gerry and Pacemakers! Sod!!!
Lancashire Walking Club were lucky enough to have a very good junior section. It took me over twelve months to break into the scoring team when we had such good walkers as Steve Crow, Mick Entwistle, Dave Ward, Mick Fishwick, Marshall Barnard, Keith Bebbington and later on Chris Eyre. Where are they all now?
I was fortunate enough to compete in the 1969 AAA’s Junior Championships at Crystal Palace, going down to make up the numbers with our own Dave Ward, the favourite to win. I admit (and those who know me know how modest I am) I was surprised with myself when I came second, 2/10th of second behind the winner Dennis Holly of Brighton. What was nice was when I returned home I received a call from Ron Wallwork to congratulate me on my performance. That’s something I’ve never forgotten.
Tony in full flow
Over the years I have competed in countless races both walking and running. Some of my favourite events over the years have been the Morecambe (possibly) 20kms, the Metropolitan 7 at Imber Court, theLeicester 7 (I like racing in Leicester), the Dick Hudsons from Bradford. I have always enjoyed in competing the national Championships, no matter what the distance or venue One thing I always wanted to do was to race along Blackpool promenade, the only problem being I had to start at Manchester Town Hall, which I did in 1982. From Horwich I was on my own all the way to the finish and to come 3rd in 8:41:07 wasn’t too bad for me.
Are you still with me? There’s loads to go yet AND it gets worse!!
I’ve had many satisfying races over the years – the above Manchester to Blackpool is just one of them. My GB Junior International at Battersea Park, London in 1970. The National 50km at Milton Keynesin 1977, not my fastest, but it was a multi lap circuit and I was lapped by Brian Adams and John Warhurst, followed by Peter Hodkinson from Cambridge Harriers, who I stuck with for the rest of hisrace and he dragged me though the field. I will always remember passing the late Colin Young, who really encouraged me, thinking I was battling Peter for 3rd place when in fact I was only passing Colin and not lapping him!
Tony wearing proudly his GB Junior vest
These days with not competing as much and there not being the same competition I look forward to competing in the Masters events such as Horwich and recently the Leicester 10km which includes the British Masters championships. Also now that I have switched (at long last) to the Republic of Ireland it iss great to represent and compete for them in Masters championships. The wearing of the Green is something special.
Tony leading Rob Elliott in the York Open 7
For some years I did quite a bit of running. My highs in running have been the Manchester Piccadilly Marathon of 1985 when before the start I met my old friend Roger Michell and we ran together for 22 miles when I think I must have upset him because he raced off and left me! I recorded my best time of 2h.51m.58s. finishing 201st. The 1st 100 finishers received a track suit, the 2nd 100 finishers received a T shirt. No way could I have passed another runner for that T shirt!
I remember running a 6 mile race in Stockport in 1977, when finishing downhill I lost my balance and fell passing two runners in the process I finished in 31:07 and was I believe dragged to the first aid area where I came to. Another satisfying completion was the 1988 Tour of Tameside. This is a double marathon of 6 races in7 days and was the inspiration of the great Ron Hill.
Wake up we’re nearly finished
I do have few regrets from my years in athletics. The first never having won a senior RWA Championship medal at either individual or team level and the second is having not competed and completed a 100 mile race to become a Centurion.
Well if you’re still awake you need to go and see your doctor!!
We continue to be the team to beat in the Age-Graded competition. And, as you can see, we are running out of photos, which always enhance the text. All additions to the library of images, old and new, will be gratefully received.
I can’t be accused of ignoring social distancing in this race at Dalton a few years ago
MENS 2K TEAM
1 Sarnia Walking Club (39) 2 Scotia Race Walking Club (51) 3 Lancashire Walking Club (54) 4 Quickstep Fitness (84) – AUSTRALIA (94) 5 Ilford AC (142) – RUSSIA (169) 6 Manx Harriers (185) 7 Surrey Walking Club (193) 8 Enfield & Haringey AC (194) 9 Cardiff AC (195) 10 Steyning AC (212) – NEW ZEALAND (220) 11 Birchfield Harriers (229)
MENS AGE GRADED 2K TEAM
1 Lancashire Walking Club (87.45%) 2 Scotia Race Walking Club (79.08%) 3 Sarnia Walking Club (74.55%) 4 Quickstep Fitness (71.64%) – AUSTRALIA (66.53%) 5 Ilford AC (61.58%) – RUSSIA (59.46%) 6 Enfield & Haringey AC (55.32%) 7 Steyning AC (53.67%) 8 Surrey Walking Club (51.06%) 9 Manx Harriers (50.95%) – NEW ZEALAND (47.31%) 10 Cardiff AC (42.95%) 11 Birchfield Harriers (39.27%)
A young Tony Malone – a taste of his soon-to-be released Reminiscences
Our Team comprised:
Tony Taylor M70: 96.53% : 10:24.5 Stephen Walker M60: 81.26%: 10:53.0 Tony Malone M65: 84.56%: 11:10.9 Tony Bell M55: 57.08%: 14:45.0 Guy Goodair M80 :76.99%: 15:04.0
And don’t forget to enter and submit your times for the USA Masters Race Walking Virtual Race Series.
John Constandinou and Helen Elleker are pledged to overseeing the continuation of the ‘World’ Virtual Series League, for which we are very grateful. The weekly distance will remain at 2 kilometres. It’s never too late to join in either by visiting the Facebook Race Walking Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/139423539480219/ or if you prefer do so through me on tonymtaylor@gmail.com. Helen needs simply your name, age and club, together with your 2k time for that week and I can act as go-between if you are averse to or don’t use Facebook.
Helen Elleker battles with Denis Jackson and Colin Vesty
For what it’s worth I would recommend being involved in the 2k series .My suspicion is that most of our members don’t do a fast session every week or indeed fast sessions at all. However signing up to the Series does provide an incentive to fit in the 2k bash even as the body suggests otherwise. My feeling is that if we pursue this challenge over the next few months. it will pay handsome dividends when we’re back on the track or road together – hopefully the Lambert Trophy in September.
MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM
1 Lancashire Walking Club (86.05%) 2 Scotia Race Walking Club (76.40%) 3 Sarnia Walking Club (74.73%) – AUSTRALIA (73.96%) 4 Quickstep Fitness (71.71%) 5 Ilford AC (62.98%) – RUSSIA (59.00%) 6 Surrey Walking Club (58.08%) 7 Steyning AC (52.80%) 8 Cardiff AC (43.01%) 9 Birchfield Harriers (38.86%)
MENS 2KM TEAM
1 Scotia Race Walking Club (53) – AUSTRALIA (56) 2 Sarnia Walking Club (58) 3 Lancashire Walking Club (73) 4 Quickstep Fitness (99) 5 Ilford AC (120) 6 Surrey Walking Club (153) – RUSSIA (163) 7 Cardiff AC (186) 8 Steyning AC (205) 9 Birchfield Harriers (217)
Our team comprised:
Tony Taylor M70 97.94% Lancs WC 00:10:15.2
Tony Malone M65 82.95% Lancs WC 00:11:23.9
Guy Goodair M80 77.25% Lancs WC 00:15:01.0
Results have dominated in the last few weeks but there are more Reminiscences in the pipeline plus what we hope will be the beginning of Ron Wallwork’s Recollections. Watch this space.
Bill on his way to a victory in the Allen Trophy 15 miles at Chorley
3 KILOMETRES SCRATCH
[G] indicates Guest, who is not counted in the team race.
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia RWC 14:32
Tony Taylor LWC M70 15:29.0
Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia RWC 15:53
Stephen Walker M60 LWC 16:25
John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 17:02 [G]
Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 17:17 [G]
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 17:23.1 [G]
Tony Malone M65 LWC 17:38.9
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia RWC 18:26
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia RWC 18:37
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia RWC 18:42
Dave Evans M70 LWC 18:56.9
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia RWC 19:04
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 19:15 [G]
Denis Jackson M70 Quickstep 19:37 [G]
Tony Bell M55 LWC 19:42
Greg Smith M60 LWC 19:56
John Crahan M70 LWC 19:58
Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 20:08 [G]
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia RWC 20:10
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 20:33
Martin Payne M55 LWC 20:45
Joe Hardy M75 LWC 20:54
Rosemary Hill F70 ScotiaRWC 20:55
Linda HinshelwoodF55 Scotia RWC 20:57
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia RWC 20:59
Pat Evans F65 LWC 21:03
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 21:32
Guy Goodair M80 LWC 23:20
Kenny Farmer M55 Scotia RWC 23:30
Ian Vaughan M65 LWC 23:48
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 24:12
TEAM RACE {MIXED}
Photo of an earlier team triumph fpr Scotia at Dalton
SCOTIA RWC [ 1, 3, 6 and 7] 17 pts
LANCS WC [2, 4, 5 and 9] 20 pts
3 KILOMETRES AGE-GRADED
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 15:29 – 98.72%
Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia 15:53 – 89.53%
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia 14:32 – 89.00%
Dave Evans M70 LWC 18:56 – 80.73%
Stephen Walker M60 LWC 16:25 – 80.33%
Tony Malone M65 LWC 17:38 – 78.79%
Glyn Jones M75 Cov.God 20:08 – 77.97% [G]
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia 20:55 – 77.80%
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 20:33 – 76.39%
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia 19:04 – 76.23%
Joe Hardy M75LWC 20:54 – 75.11%
Denis Jackson M70 Quickstep 19:37 – 75.03% [G]
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia 18:37 – 73.82%
John Crahan M70 LWC 19:58 – 73.71%
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 24:12 – 72.50%
Pat Evans F65 LWC 21:03 – 72.37%
Guy Goodair M80 LWC 23:20 – 72.31%
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia 20:10 – 71.27%
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia 18:42 – 70.52%
Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 17:17 – 69.71% [G]
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 21:32 – 68.35%
John Constandinou M45 Birch 17:02 – 67.86% [G]
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 17:23 – 66.49% [G]
Greg Smith M60 LWC 19:56 – 66.16%
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia 18:26 – 65.36%
Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia 20:57 – 65.19%
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia 20:59 – 65.08%
Tony Bell M55 LWC 19:42 – 63.87%
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 19:15 – 62.59% [G]
Martin Payne M55 LWC 20:45 – 60.64%
Ian Vaughan M65 LWC 23:48 – 58.37%
Kenny Farmer M55 Scotia 23:30 – 53.54%
TEAM RACE [MIXED]
LANCS WC [1, 4, 5 and 6] 16 pts
SCOTIA RWC [2, 3, 7 and 9] 21 pts
3 KILOMETRES HANDICAP
The race within a race based on handicap allowances was a traditional feature of Race Walking events across the decades at a club level, but particularly within Open races. Entry forms would always ask for one’s latest performance to assist the handicapper decide on your allowance based on the fastest prospective competitor starting from scratch i.e. having no handicap allowance. The handicap race was seen as providing motivation for athletes throughout the field – from a younger walker breaking through to a seasoned veteran still striving to do do their best.
Dave Evans, our diligent club handicapper with much to muse upon as he prepares for the 5k
KatrinaWeldon F55 Scotia Actual 15:53 Allowance 4:35 H’cap time 11:18
Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia 18:26; 6:00; 12:26
Bill McFadden M55 Scotia 14:32; 1:00; 13:32
Stephen Walker M60 LWC 16:25; 2:50; 13:35
Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia 18:42; 4:55; 13:47
Lynette Frame F60 Scotia 19:04; 5:00; 14:04
Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 17:17; 2:50; 14:27
Tony Taylor M70 LWC 15:29; 1:00; 14:29
John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 17:02; 2:30; 14:32
Tony Malone M65 LWC 17:38; 2:50; 14:48=
Ian Vaughan M65 LWC 23:48; 9:00; 14:48=
Ray Robinson M45 Redcar17:23; 2:20; 15:03
Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 19:15; 4:10; 15:05=
Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia 20:55; 5:50; 15:05=
Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia 20:10; 5:00; 15:10
John Crahan M70 LWC 19:58; 4:40; 15:18
Colin Simpson M60 Scotia 18:37; 3:10; 15:27
Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 20:33; 5:00; 15:33
Dave Evans M70 LWC 18:56; 3:10; 15:46=
Greg Smith M60 LWC 19:56; 4:10; 15:46=
Denis Jackson M70 Quickstep 19:37; 3:50; 15:47
Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia 20:57; 5:00; 15:57
Glyn Jones M75 Cov.God 20:08; 4:00; 16:08
Pat Evans F65 LWC 21:03; 4:45; 16:18
Guy Goodair M80 LWC 23:20; 7:00; 16:20
Tony Bell M55 LWC 19:42; 3:10; 16:32=
Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 21:32; 5:00; 16:32=
Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 24:12; 8:20; 16:32=
Martin Payne M55 LWC20:45; 4:10; 16:35
Joe HardyM75 LWC 20:54; 4:10; 16:44
Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia 20:59; 4:10; 16:49
Kenny Farmer M55 Scotia 23:30; 6:30; 17:00
Be gentle with me if you find any mistakes. The weekend has been barmy. Our ageing car abandoned in the mountains. A Beaufort 8 gale creating bedlam and the internet connection erratic!
Sincere thanks to everyone for their involvement.
Now for the 5 kilometres challenge in June. Best foot forward to all.
Without exaggerating the significance of self-policed time trials we have been a force to be reckoned with in the National Endurance Virtual Series. For my part I’ve worked hard on the knees with photos to prove it but that feels a self-centred form of special pleading. Clearly I’ve been pretty fit and trying to rediscover a sense of how I used to walk, which puts aside the modern stress on getting the front foot down as quickly as possible – the 30/70% stride equation in favour of a classic 50/50 differential. Sadly there is little chance of my action being put to the test in the near future. A special vote of thanks is due to Tony Malone, Guy Goodair, Stephen Walker and Tony Bell for flying the club’s colours.
Certainly there is no doubt that the Virtual Series has been a success, attracting the involvment of as many as 120 athletes each week. Hence Helen Elleker and John Constandinou, who deserve our sincere thanks, are going to keep alive the 2 kilometres challenge every week until normal service is resumed. On whether normal is possible see a future post on England Athletics proposals for recommencing live racing. It’s never too late to join this weekly 2 kilometres series and if you wish to, get in touch with me about sending in your times etc. The more the merrier and committing yoursel to a fast session of 2 kilometres each week acoss the summer will pay rich dividends on the roads of Simister or Sutton. Promise!
Look out for the results of our very first Club Virtual series in the next few days. Meanwhile the June challenge is 5 kilometres and I’ve already received a couple of times to get things going.
Virtual League RacingSeries – NationalCentre for Race Walking – Race 8
Two of our trio of Tonys involved in the Virtual Series
2 KILOMETRES
Mens Team
1 Surrey Walking Club (60) 2 Manx Harriers (68) 3 Lancashire Walking Club (75) 4 Scotia Race Walking Club (86) 5 Sarnia Walking Club (94) 6 Quickstep Fitness (147) 7 Birchfield Harriers (157) – AUSTRALIA (169) – RUSSIA (175) – NEW ZEALAND (195) 8 Enfield & Haringey AC (213) 9 Cardiff AC (213) 10 Winchester AC (241) – GERMANY (250) – USA (259) 11 Ilford AC (288)
Mens Age Graded Team
1 Lancashire Walking Club (85.10%) 2 Surrey Walking Club (82.00%) 3 Manx Harriers (75.59%) 4 Scotia Race Walking Club (75.32%) 5 Sarnia Walking Club (73.31%) 6 Quickstep Fitness (71.26%) 7 Birchfield Harriers (62.08%) – RUSSIA (59.26%) – AUSTRALIA (52.87%) – NEW ZEALAND (52.56%) 8 Enfield & Haringey AC (51.42%) 9 Winchester AC (47.19%) – GERMANY (44.09%) 10 Cardiff AC (41.52%) – USA (40.89%) 11 Ilford AC (36.72%)
Team members:
Tony Taylor M70 95.46% Lancs WC 00:10:23.0 Tony Malone M65 82.59% Lancs WC 00:11:26.6 Tony Bell M55 64.19% Lancs WC 00:13:07.0 Guy Goodair M80 77.25% Lancs WC 00:15:01.0
Stephen Walker in jovial mood and pleasing form
Virtual League Racing Series – National Centre for Race Walking – Race 8
5 KILOMETRES: LAST OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE SERIES
Mens Team
1 Surrey Walking Club (56) 2 Scotia Race Walking Club (87) 3 Lancashire Walking Club (94) 4 Birchfield Harriers (131) 5 Manx Harriers (167) – RUSSIA (177) – NEW ZEALAND (188) 6 Sarnia Walking Club (196) 7 Winchester AC (202) 8 Enfield & Haringey AC (203) 9 Quickstep Fitness (217) – GERMANY (231)
Team Members:
Tony Taylor M70 97.11% Lancs WC 00:26:27.5 Stephen Walker M60 79.48% Lancs WC 00:28:48.0 Guy Goodair M80 76.47% Lancs WC 00:39:29.0
Yesterday, in times past Whit Monday, was the traditional date for the Bradford 50 kilometres organised by the Yorkshire Walking Club. John Cannell has sent me kindly the above YouTube recording of a Yorkshire TV [?] newspiece. I’m not sure of the year.It features the late Geoff Dowling, the historian and committed lover of the sport, the wonderful Jake Warhurst, asked what part of the tough course was the most difficult he replies, ‘none on it’, together with the ever stylish John Paddick. Our local interest is to be found in footage of Dave Crompton and Joe Hardy plus our good friends from across the Pennines, Graham Jackson and Martin Fisher.
I’ll do some more digging as to the overall result and any other gossip/information. Help gratefully received – perhaps from archivist and tireless devotee, John Constandinou, who can be seen finishing.
I must confess we were taken aback to find ourselves back on top of the Age-Graded Team competition and third in the Open, but very satisfied.
MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM
1 Lancashire Walking Club (86.20%)2 Manx Harriers (77.04%)3 Sarnia Walking Club (74.33%)- AUSTRALIA (73.51%)4 Quickstep Fitness (70.67%)5 Scotia Race Walking Club (70.09%)6 Birchfield Harriers (57.14%)7 Surrey Walking Club (56.19%)8 Steyning AC (54.80%)9 Enfield & Haringey AC (51.79%))- NEW ZEALAND (51.04%)10 Winchester AC (47.42%)11 Cardiff AC (42.76%)12 Ilford AC (37.18%)
MENS 2KM TEAM
AUSTRALIA (50)1 Manx Harriers (54)2 Sarnia WC (79)3 Lancashire WC (86)4 Scotia RWC (110)5 Quickstep Fitness (145)6 Surrey WC (163)7 Birchfield Harriers (196)- NEW ZEALAND (201)8 Cardiff AC (203)9 Winchester AC (210)10 Steyning AC (214)11 Enfield & Haringey AC (216)12 Ilford AC (276)
AND IT’S ONLY JUST OVER A WEEK TO THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING YOUR 3 KILOMETRE TIMES FOR INCLUSION IN OUR VERY OWN PIONEERING VIRTUAL SERIES, WHERE WE ARE INCREASING THE DISTANCES GRADUALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
As things stand I’ve received only three submissions plus Dave Evans has produced a carefully assembled handicap sheet.
Crossing fingers you are lining up a big performance this next week!!
Lancashire Walking Club : Health The First Wealth 