A Golden Moment in the lives of the legendary Sandra and Richard Brown

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Tony Taylor

STOP PRESS – See responses below from Richard and Sandra plus photos and the mention of an intriguing mystery!

Given our club’s proud Centurion tradition it is fitting and proper that we celebrate a milestone in the lives of Richard and Sandra Brown, those legendary ultra-distance walkers and record holders – their Golden Wedding Anniversary. According to Dave Ainsworth, in keeping with their reputation they celebrated by going out for a walk together and collecting a “take away” on the return to enjoy at home. 

50 YEARS – NOW AND THEN

 

Tim Erickson, a great historian of our sport. has written two fascinating tributes to the couple, which reveal in detail their astonishing careers.

SANDRA BROWN

At one point he asks Sandra what might be her best performances. She replies.

The performances, all judged race-walking, I’m probably most pleased with are:
◦ 18.36.29 in my second UK Centurion 100 at Leicester in 1984, the British ladies’ best time
◦ 200kms in 24.04.20 at Vallorbe in 1991, a world best
◦ 50 miles in 7.54.54 in the Manchester to Blackpool in 1991
◦ 50kms in 4.50.51 at Basildon in 1991, then a world best and still the W45 age group record
◦ 189.949kms at Wadelincourt [Belgian 24h championship] in 2014, the W65 24h record
◦ 51 completions [to date] of proper Centurion races worldwide, including 31 in the UK; 20 of these 51 in a first class time [under 20 hrs for 100 miles] including 14 in the UK
◦ Winning outright various Centurion 100s in the UK and elsewhere
◦ Winning over 30 Paris-Colmar/Alsace qualifying events [no. 30 was Wadelincourt 2014 and I have won others since]
◦ 191 completions of 100 miles or more, to date.

RICHARD BROWN

Sandra and Richard together in the Isle of Man

Just to give you a flavour of Richard’s feats.

He has 25 finishes in official Centurion walks, with a best of 16:50:28, and has won the British Centurions race a record 10 times. Apart from his British best time, he has 4 further times under 18 hours and 6 further times under 19 hours.


21:03:49 24/06/1983 Ewhurst GBR UK760
18:50:23 27/07/1984 Leicester GBR
18:33:52 18/05/1985 Sint-Oedenrode NED CN144
19:00:09 10/05/1986 Sint-Oedenrode NED
18:17:17 25/07/1986 Leicester-Congerstone GBR
17:00:35 29/07/1988 Leicester-Congerstone GBR
17:54:28 28/07/1990 Hungarton (Leicester) GBR
17:52:47 28/06/1991 Ewhurst GBR
18:50:29 21/07/1992 Leicester GBR
16:50:28 22/05/1993 Sint-Oedenrode NED
17:58:17 21/07/1993 London-Battersea GBR
18:39:42 29/07/1994 Hungarton (Leicester) GBR
19:23:16 05/08/1995 London GBR
18:12:04 03/08/1996 Colchester GBR
19:22:26 20/06/1998 Douglas IOM
19:08:16 14/08/1999 London GBR
20:29:45 24/09/2000 Golden,CO USA US49
19:50:39 04/08/2001 Colchester GBR
177.772 25/08/2001 Genting Highlands MA MC820:31:59 07/05/2005 Weert NED
20:33:00 30/07/2005 Kings Lynn GBR
20:12:44 11/07/2009 Newmarket GBR
21:23:10 22/-9/2012 Colchester GBR
21:45:23 15/08/2015 Castletown IOM
22:48:55 06/08/2017 Bury St Edmunds GBR

Both of them are remarkable. Their achievements almost beyond my comprehension.

Much more fascinating information on their web site – the ultrabrowns

CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL AT LWC

Richard replies:

How very kind of you to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with such a lovely addition to the Lancashire Walking Club website.

It has been 50 years full of adventures and none more enjoyable than our races here in Britain and overseas. Although we were quite late coming to the sport of race-walking and, for both of us, our first race was at 100 miles, we’ve enjoyed racing at every distance and have enjoyed every minute. The camaraderie and friendship within the walking community, and the encouragement and support from so many people, have been truly amazing and we could not have achieved anything without that friendship from across the walking fraternity.

In 1986 a watering can comes to the rescue!

So a huge thank you to everyone, and what memories we share….including of the Manchester to Blackpool, which was one of our favourite events. We shall always remember the very special support along the route, running the gauntlet of kids, grannies and donkeys as we aimed for Blackpool Tower over that last golden mile, the blissful baths, followed by the wonderful presentation and high tea! Happy days! We attach some of our treasured photos from the M-B events.

In 1986 the Mayor and Mayoress present Richard with the trophy watched by John Eddershaw

Since she is too modest to say this, Sandra has now successfully completed over 200 events of 100 miles or above – itself another world record….by miles!

In 1991 Sandra dogs the footsteps of Andy Trigg
Double victors in 1993 with the Mayoress on the promenade

Our thanks again and best wishes to you and all at Lancashire Walking Club.

Intriguingly in another message Richard speaks about the crucial role played by roadside supporters.

The helpers are always the vital and too often unsung heroes of the road. We well remember a Lancs supporter in his Jag with scented sponges and Tizer on offer. Wonderful…. and a real lift when you had that experience.

And Sandra adds her reminiscence.

We both remember those eau-de-cologne scented sponges and how refreshing they were, on a warm August afternoon, along that long road through Lytham St Annes. Maybe this good Samaritan lived in that area? There was another supporter, somewhere around half way I think, who provided delicious little jellies set in small cake cases. They used to slip down so nicely!

I’m afraid that I wasn’t at the 1986 race. Indeed our daughter was still a baby then and I did little racing for a couple of years. So I don’t have records for that. Maybe the RWA website or someone else who did the race can help? I do have in my records a page from a programme in the 1990s where it appears that only 6 men’s winning times bettered the 7h 54.54 that I did when coming second to Andy Trigg in 1991. It was my bad luck to be narrowly beaten by him that year and Richard another year when I did 8.02. In 1991, Richard and our young Vicky were in a car trying to give me drinks but had real problems finding places to stop. At one roundabout, they parked just as I sped by, and I could hear Vicky calling after me “Come back for your drink Mummy!”

Thank you again so much for your and the club’s friendship and all your wonderful events over the years. Such memories we share!

Can anyone shed light on the identity of the Jag-driving, Tizer-loving, scented Lancastrian? I’ve got an idea!

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Virtual League Racing Series 2 kilometres – Race 15 sees Lancashire in the lead

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Tony Taylor
Alf Taylor with a very cold, lopsided son, Tony Taylor, prior to the Leigh Harriers One Mile championship 1957/58

MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM


1 Lancashire Walking Club (84.34%)
2 Quickstep Fitness (74.10%)
3 Sarnia Walking Club (72.70%)
4 Manx Harriers (52.38%)
5 Scotia Race Walking Club (51.27%)
6 Cardiff AC (43.06%)
7 Birchfield Harriers (40.93%)

MENS 2KM TEAM

 1 Lancashire Walking Club (45)
2 Quickstep Fitness (58)
3 Sarnia Walking Club (75)
4 Manx Harriers (169)
5 Cardiff AC (173)
6 Scotia Race Walking Club (176)
7 Birchfield Harriers (197)

Our team as follows:

Tony Taylor M70 95.91% Lancs WC 10:28.0

Stephen Walker M60 81.38% Lancs WC 10:52.0

Greg Smith M65 74.45% Lancs WC 12:41.0

Tony Bell M55 61.68% Lancs WC 13:39.0

Guy Goodair M80 75.73% Lancs WC 00:15:19.2

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Guy Goodair remembers the sportsmanship of Ray Manning, Centurion 415 – Rest in Peace

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Tony Taylor

Sadly we have to report that Ray Manning, Centurion 415, passed away on 3rd July aged 88 after a short illness. Ray, a member of Wakefield Harriers and well-known to his contemporaries in our club, qualified in the 1968 Leicester to Skegness race in 19:56:20. Indeed I remember chasing after him with a sponge in the 1970 Blackpool walk, which as the club secretary of the time I organised. His daughter Linda says her father was a proud Centurion and his medal, certificate and plaque will be displayed at the funeral, which will take place on the 16th July, being restricted in these difficult times to the family.

Guy Goodair remembers fondly those past years and a wonderful sporting gesture by Ray.

Ray was a great club man. Although he lived in Newcastle he was always willing to make a trip down to wherever we needed him for the team.

The start of the 1967 TT Walk, Ray, number 18, finished 6th .Ta to John Cannell.

Probably his best ever individual performance was finishing 3rd in 1968 over the gruelling 37.75 mile TT course in the Isle of Man

He was a counting member of the Wakefield team which won the team event in both the 1968 and 1970 Manchester to Blackpool 51.75 miles races, the 1968 Bradford 50km and the 1968 Northern 50km,

Ray was also a team counter when Wakefield took 2nd place in 1970 Northern 20 miles, and 3rd place in National 50km Championship.

Ray was a member of the Centurions team which took 12th place in the 1969 Swiss Airolo to Chiasso relay which was from the St Gotthard pass to Chiasso on the Italian border. He did the 14km leg from Bellinzona up to the summit of Monte Ceneri. The following week he finished 15th in the Lugano 100km in 11h 36m 18s


Thinking about Ray and those years of yore, one occasion particularly sticks in my memory. We’d gone to Switzerland for the Lugano race walking week – four of us from Wakefield Harriers, myself, George Barras, Ray and Eric Lee plus Harry Holmes Jnr from Yorkshire RWC. As we were all Centurions we entered under that title for the five-legged Airolo – Chiasso relay. Looking back we were up against Italy, USA, Czechoslovakia, Sweden a London team (Warhurst, Mills, Marlow, Wesch and Embleton) and a German team which had internationals in it. We finished 12th which wasn’t too bad.

Pat Duncan, Roger Mills, Peter Marlow, Eric Lee, Me, George Barras, Judith, Harry Holmes Ray is immediately above John Warhust’s head
Wilf Wesch, is next to John then Phil Embleton not sure who it is next to Phil. All is revealed, next to Phil is our very own Tony Malone, who raced the Thursday evening 10 kilometres.

The following weekend was the Lugano 100km and from the start my stomach was ‘off’ – I had the runs and at every town had to dash for the toilets in the local railway station. A good remedy I’ve found is Fernet-Branca (foul tasting drink) but it helps. Judith dashed into a bar early on before the bar was properly open and asked for a drink.The woman behind the bar was pouring a small measure, Judith grabbed a tumbler, poured her measure plus a lot more into the tumbler and dashed out to me.

“[Fernet] benefits the stomach, promotes digestion, strengthens the body, overcomes cholera, reduces fever, and heals those suffering from nervous weakness, lack of appetite, sickness or tapeworms; suitable for use as a preventative measure for all those who are obliged to reside in damp and infectious conditions.”

She was having her work cut out trying to feed us all but George and Harry were getting too far away. I was also, as the race went on, getting cramp and the toilets in the stations were holes in a flat surface with mouldings to place your feet. Now that’s no place to be when cramp strikes!

After the halfway  (Locarno) there’s a mighty climb up Monte Ceneri and there was a rule you had to get there inside a certain time after the leader had gone through. If you were over this then you were stopped and classified.

Both Ray and Eric were miles in front of me but asked Judith how I was doing and would I make the cut off. She told them I should just make it. Then with generous sportmanship they decided to wait for me at the summit and ‘shepherd’ me into the finish where we were 15th in 11h 36m 18s – a great gesture because they’d have done much faster times if they’d not waited.


Happy days and great memories – Rest in Peace, Ray.

Ray Manning – Personal bests

10 miles 85m 20s

20 km  107m 5s

20 miles 3h 4m 17s

50km 5h 1m 34s

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Virtual League Racing Series 2 Kilometres – Race 14

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Tony Taylor
John Constandinou – without whom the Virtual Series would not exist. Ta to Greg for the photo.

MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM

1 Lancashire Walking Club (89.30%)

2 Scotia Race Walking Club (79.32%)

3 Sarnia Walking Club (77.23%)

4 Quickstep Fitness (73.95%)

– AUSTRALIA (73.13%)

5 Manx Harriers (51.95%)

6 Cardiff AC (43.33%)

7 Birchfield Harriers (38.25%)

MENS 2KM TEAM

1 Sarnia Walking Club (33

)2 Scotia Race Walking Club (44)

3 Lancashire Walking Club (51)

– AUSTRALIA (56)

4 Quickstep Fitness (75)

5 Manx Harriers (178)

6 Cardiff AC (184)

7 Birchfield Harriers (216)

Our team as follows:

Tony Taylor M70 97.31% Lancs WC 10:19.7

Dave Evans M70 89.90% Lancs WC 11:10.0

Tony Malone M65 80.70% Lancs WC 11:42.2

Greg Smith M65 73.89% Lancs WC 12:38.0

Tony Bell M55 62.99% Lancs WC 13:22.0

Guy Goodair M80 75.32% Lancs WC 15:24.4

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VIRTUAL SERIES 2 KILOMETRES – RACE 13

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Tony Taylor

It’s great to see Greg Smith and Chris Harvey join our ranks.

MENS 2KM TEAM


1 Sarnia Walking Club (33)
2 Scotia Race Walking Club (35)
3 Lancashire Walking Club (51)
4 Quickstep Fitness (100)
– RUSSIA (163)
5 Cardiff AC (185)
– NEW ZEALAND (188)
6 Birchfield Harriers (231)
7 Ilford AC (236)

MENS AGE GRADED 2KM TEAM


1 Lancashire Walking Club (86.74%)
2 Scotia Race Walking Club (82.56%)
3 Sarnia Walking Club (76.46%)
4 Quickstep Fitness (72.02%)
– RUSSIA (60.29%)
– NEW ZEALAND (50.32%)
5 Ilford AC (43.98%)
6 Cardiff AC (43.35%)
7 Birchfield Harriers (36.12%)

Our team as follows:

Tony Taylor M70 95.61% Lancs WC 10:30.0

Stephen Walker M60 82.26% Lancs WC 10:45.0

Tony Malone M65 82.35% Lancs WC 11:28.8

Greg Smith M65 73.22% Lancs WC 12:45.0

Tony Bell M55 59.78% Lancs WC 14:05.0

Guy Goodair M80 76.40% Lancs WC 15:11.0

Chris Harvey M60 54.48% Lancs WC 16:24.0

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LWC Virtual Series – JUNE 5 Kilometres Results

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Tony Taylor
Atmospheric photo of Glyn Jones, race walking through and through, pounding the roads

Five Kilometres Scratch

[G] indicates Guest, who is not counted in the team race.

  1. Bill McFadden M55 Scotia RWC 25:52
  2. Tony Taylor M70 LWC 26:22
  3. Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia RWC 26:42
  4. Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 26:50 [G]
  5. Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 26:55 [G]
  6. Stephen Walker M60 LWC 27:44
  7. Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia RWC 28:33
  8. Tony Malone M65 LWC 30:25
  9. Colin Simpson M60 Scotia RWC 30:55
  10. Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 32:05 [G]
  11. Dave Evans M70 LWC 32:40
  12. Mary Pusateri F50 USA 32:41[G]
  13. Greg Smith M65 LWC 32:59
  14. Denis Jackson M75 Quickstep 33:07 [G]
  15. Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia RWC 33:22
  16. Lynette Frame F60 Scotia RWC 33:31
  17. Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia RWC 33:59
  18. Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 34:04 [G]
  19. Joe Hardy M75 LWC 34:20
  20. Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia RWC 34:44=
  21. Martin Payne M55 LWC 34:44=
  22. Tony Bell M55 LWC 35:00=
  23. John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 35:00= [G]
  24. Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 35:01
  25. Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia RWC 35:06
  26. Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia RWC 35:07
  27. Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 35:13
  28. Pat Evans F65 LWC 35:26
  29. Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 35:40 [G]
  30. Guy Goodair M80 LWC 39:29
  31. Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 43:44

TEAM RACE [MIXED]

  1. SCOTIA RWC [1, 3, 5 and 7] 16 pts
  2. LWC [ 2, 4, 6 and 8] 20 pts

5 KILOMETRES AGE-GRADED

  1. Tony Taylor M70 LWC 26:22 – 98.69%
  2. Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia 28:33 – 85.58%
  3. Bill McFaddenM55 Scotia 25:52 – 85.07%
  4. Stephen Walker M60 LWC – 83.40%
  5. Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia – 81.47%
  6. Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 35:01 – 80.90%
  7. Denis Jackson M75 Quickstep 33:07 – 80.73% [G]
  8. Tony Malone M65 LWC 30:25 – 80.39%
  9. Linda Hinshelwood F55 Scotia – 79.94%
  10. Dave Evans M70 LWC 32:40 – 79.66%
  11. Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia 26:42 – 79.47%
  12. Joe Hardy M75 LWC 34:20 – 78.96%
  13. Glyn Jones M75 Cov God 34:04 – 78.48% [G]
  14. Pat Evans F65 LWC 35:26 – 78.36%
  15. Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia 33:22 – 76.77%
  16. Guy Goodair M80 LWC 39:29 – 76.47%
  17. Colin Simpson M60 Scotia 30:55 – 75.61%
  18. Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 43:44 – 75.04%
  19. Lynette Frame F60 Scotia 33:31 – 74.60%
  20. Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 35:13 – 73.89%
  21. Ray Robinson M45 Redcar 26:50 – 73.32% [G]
  22. Greg Smith M65 LWC 32:59 – 73.28%
  23. Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 26:55 – 67.49% [G]
  24. Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia 35:06 – 66.69%
  25. Gerard McConnell M60 scotia 33:59 – 66.01%
  26. Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 32:05 – 65.56% [G]
  27. Mary Pusateri F50 USA 32:41 – 65.44% [G]
  28. Martin Payne M55 LWC 34:44 – 64.59%
  29. Tony Bell M55 LWC 35:00 – 62.28%
  30. Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 35:40 – 58.48% [G]
  31. John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 35:00 – 57.14% [G]

TEAM RACE [MIXED]

1st equal on 18 pts !!

Lancashire Walking Club [1, 4, 6 and 7]

Scotia Race Walking Club [2, 3, 5 and 8]

5 KILOMETRES HANDICAP

The race within a race based on handicap allowances was a traditional feature of Race Walking events across the decades at a club level, but particularly within Open races. Entry forms would always ask for one’s latest performance to assist the handicapper decide on your allowance based on the fastest prospective competitor starting from scratch i.e. having no handicap allowance. The handicap race was seen as providing motivation for athletes throughout the field – from a younger walker breaking through to a seasoned veteran still striving to do do their best.

Roy Gunnett hasn’t got a double chin. There’s another walker on his inside!! Ta to Greg for the image.
  1. Ray Robinson M45 Redcar Actual time 26:50; H’cap Allowance 4:45; H’cap time 22:05
  2. Andrew Fraser M50 Scotia 26:42; 4:30; 22:12
  3. Roy Gunnett M70 LWC 35:13; 11:40; 23:33
  4. Joe Hardy M75 LWC 34:20; 10:36: 23:56
  5. Greg Smith M65 LWC 32:59; 9:00; 23:59
  6. Shirley Simpson F60 Scotia 33:22: 9:23; 24:01
  7. Linda Hinshelwood F65 Scotia 34:44; 10:41; 24:03
  8. Colin Simpson M60 Scotia 30:55; 6:48; 24:07
  9. Michelle O’Neil F55 Scotia 35:06; 10:45; 24:21
  10. Martin Payne M55 LWC 34:44; 10:22; 24:22
  11. Rosemary Hill F70 Scotia 35:07; 10:38; 24:29
  12. Pat Evans F65 LWC 35:26; 10:51; 24:35
  13. Stephen Walker M60 LWC 27:44; 3:08 ; 24:36
  14. Denis Jackson M75 Quickstep 33:07; 8:28; 24:39
  15. Daniel McKerlich U23 Cardiff 26:55; 2:15; 24:40
  16. Glyn Jones M75 Coventry Godiva 34:04; 9:20; 24:44
  17. Guy Goodair M80 LWC 39:29; 14:40; 24:49
  18. Ian Hilditch M75 LWC 35:01; 10:02; 24:59
  19. Tony Malone M65 LWC 30:25; 5:10; 25:15
  20. Dave Evans M70 LWC 32:40; 7:23; 25:17
  21. Tony Taylor M70 LWC 26:22; 1.00; 25:22
  22. Bill McFadden M55 Scotia 25:52; 0:00; 25:52
  23. Lynette Frame F60 Scotia 33:31; 7;36; 25:55
  24. Tony Bell M55 LWC 35:00; 8:36; 26:24
  25. Gerard McConnell M60 Scotia 33:59; 6:56; 27:03
  26. Graham Jackson M50 Quickstep 32:05; 4:35; 27:30
  27. Katrina Weldon F55 Scotia 28:33; 1:00; 27:33
  28. Andrea Lennon F75 LWC 43:44; 16:07; 27:37
  29. Marco Bernatzki M50 Germany 35:40; 7:55; 27:45
  30. Mary Pusateri F50 USA 32:41; 4:40; 28:01
  31. John Constandinou M45 Birchfield 35:00; 4:10; 30:50

Thanks to everyone involved, especially Marco and Mary from overseas. A warm Lancashire welcome to you both. We’ll have a word with the handicapper!!

This month’s distance is 8 kilometres, very close to the classic British distance of 5 miles, now long forgotten. In the next week I’ll do a post reviving memories of the significance of this distance in the history of our club.

I’ve already received a couple of early clockings. Everyone on their marks.

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REVIVING THE NOVICE RACE: ‘HOW FAR CAN YOU WALK IN AN HOUR?’

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Tony Taylor

The unfolding discussion sparked by Chris Bolton’s proposals in his ‘The future of Lancashire Walking Club’ has been thought-provoking. In a couple of week’s time, I’ll endeavour to summarise the main arguments as a contribution to moving matters forward.

In the meantime it might be useful to clarify Chris’s proposal of a One Hour Challenge as a fresh way of reviving the Club’s Novice Race. The challenge to both new and old participants would be ‘how far can you walk in an hour?’ In planning for the event there are obvious marketing/media possibilities in posing this question.

Following Ian Vaughan’s helpful suggestion Chris proposes that we have the following targets rewarded with badges: 8k Bronze; 9k Silver; 10k Gold; 11k Diamond; 12k Platinum; and 13k Five Star.

In terms of the Race Walking Association the smart lapel badges are now collector’s items on Ebay. As of a few years ago RWA 10k cloth badges were distributed at the Jeff Ford 10k race in Sheffield, but there is no mention of the the One Hour award on the RWA web site. However there is every reason to believe that our Club awards can be complementary if the RWA scheme is still alive .

Whatever our reactions to other parts of Chris’s argument about the future I think the One Hour Challenge proposal is something we should pursue. Quite when we can make it happen is of course in the present climate another matter.

AND ANOTHER REMINDER THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING 5 KILOMETRES CLOCKINGS FOR OUR CLUB VIRTUAL SERIES THROUGH TO MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, JULY1

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Virtual League Racing Series – Race 12 plus a reminder about the June 5k deadline!

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Tony Taylor

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%)

Our team as follows:

Tony Taylor M70 96.53% Lancs WC 10:24.8

Stephen Walker M60 79.91% Lancs WC 11:04.0

Tony Malone M65 83.68% Lancs WC 11:17.0

Tony Bell M55 68.63% Lancs WC 12:16.0

Greg Smith M65 71.26% Lancs WC 13:06.0

Guy Goodair M80 76.15% Lancs WC 15:14.0

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The future of Lancashire Walking Club? Chris Bolton recommends a way forward

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Tony Taylor

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. 

Chris Bolton. C332. 

Posted in History, News | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Virtual League Racing Series – Race 11

Posted on June 21, 2020 by Tony Taylor

The latest week’s result sees us still locked in mortal combat with Scotia!!

Tony Malone and former National Coach, Julian Hopkins disturbing the peace – early 1970s

MENS 2K TEAM


1 Scotia Race Walking Club (39)
2 Lancashire Walking Club (56)
– AUSTRALIA (57)
3 Sarnia Walking Club (76)
4 Quickstep Fitness (109)
5 Ilford AC (129)
– RUSSIA (165)
– NEW ZEALAND (189)
=6 Enfield & Haringey AC (193)
=6 Surrey Walking Club (193)
8 Cardiff AC (195)
9 Steyning AC (218)
10 Birchfield Harriers (229)

MENS 2K AGE GRADED TEAM


1 Lancashire Walking Club (87.48%)
2 Scotia Race Walking Club (81.46%)
– AUSTRALIA (75.53%%)
3 Sarnia Walking Club (73.46%)
4 Quickstep Fitness (72.46%)
– RUSSIA (60.02%)
5 Ilford AC (59.24%)
6 Enfield & Haringey AC (53.72%)
– NEW ZEALAND (51.18%)
7 Steyning AC (50.67%)
8 Surrey Walking Club (50.66%)
9 Cardiff AC (43.26%)
10 Birchfield Harriers (38.71%)

Our team comprised:

Tony Taylor M70 94.71% Lancs WC 10:36.8

Stephen Walker M60 83.04% Lancs WC 10:39.0

Tony Malone M65 84.69% Lancs WC 11:09.1

Tony Bell M55 69.10% Lancs WC 12:11.0

Guy Goodair M80 76.40% Lancs WC 15:11.0

LWC VIRTUAL SERIES- JUNE: 5 KILOMETRES

It’s now just over a week to the end of June by which day we need your 5 kilometres clocking. Time for a couple of big efforts.

Looking forward to receiving your submissions to tonymtaylor@gmail.com plus any photos of your exploits, old or new!

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