REMINISCENCES 6 – John Crahan observes ‘Le Temps Perdu’

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Tony Taylor

How it all began. Stephen Hawking and “Scoop” Crahan

At a Blackpool and Fylde A.C social function,w hich to my disgust was held in a pub. I proclaimed that I had done every track and field event.”What about race walking?”I was asked.

So on 15.5.76 in the Lancashire Championships, in Blackpool I lined up for the 3k walk. A very polite, smartly dressed chap walked with me till boredom made him take off. That was my first meeting with the legendary Fred Pearce Jnr. The next day in the 10k walk I had my greatest thrashing (Christian Brothers excluded). The winner did around 43 mins and lapped me 7 times.I did 61 min 26.4 sec to go with my 17m 39.6 sec in the 3k. However I was 4th in the 3k, shot and discus.

My favourite series of races is the Civil Service 7mile/10k race. They are friendly, well organised events but highly competitive. I have many fond memories including winning the odd team medal. In particular I remember my first race which was at Battersea Park. I was soon in splendid isolation and I had 6 team mates ahead of me. I did not know the protocol for retiring so I made a vague hand signal and jogged to the finish .As I rounded a blind corner a man in a raincoat leapt out at me. It would have been the best hand-off of my rugby career. At the subsequent inquiry the match referee and the judge accepted the explanation that I was a discus thrower.

It was a real education for me, as was my meeting with Eric Hall at Blackheath many years later.He had turned up to watch.He did no warm up and was attired in a string vest, borrowed shorts and wore brogues. He started slowly but I could hear someone offering advice to the judges. At 5 miles Eric caught me and informed the next judge  “You were rubbish at White City in 1958.” Given my technique lapses it was as well for me that they all obeyed his instructions to “Keep that paddle in your pocket”.

It was over 50 years since the 1952 Olympics. He had not been very well and was only strolling. I caught him with 10 yards to go. I lay on the grass verge about to do empirical research into life after death. Eric approached, not even out of breath, “Splendid walk young man -we must do this again.”

John leaving Sailash in his wake

Best performances – a misnomer in search of a home.

After a promising start- being awarded the Junior Victor Ludorum cup at school in 1959 and winning the Blackpool Welly Throwing- “Golden Welly” in 1974 it has been, unlike Chorley, downhill all the way.

In 1999 I entered the British Vets 3,000mts indoor race at Birmingham. The unusual feature was that you raced against walkers with roughly the same best times. You did not race exclusively in your age group.I t was 15 laps of hell I was carrying a back injury and expected the judges to have a say.I struggled throughout the race but caught but could not pass two female walkers. (Please note this was before gender fluidity).

 

I was in real pain.However 2 weeks later, fortified by Deep Heat and strong lager I was amazed to read in AW that I was a British Champion Over 50. Around the same period I did just over 67 mins for 7 miles .

My one attempt at the Manchester to Blackpool race brings back mixed emotions.My training and commitment gave me great satisfaction and boosted the sales of Vaseline. I was quite naïve and made too many  errors. I over trained, neglected speedwork, wore the wrong shoes and drank too much pure orange juice. My time of 11hrs 17 mins was really poor as I was expecting to finish sub 10:30.

On a positive note in 2019 I did a Parkrun with my 5 year old granddaughter Alexis .She found it easy and I had to stop her jumping on benches. We did 38min 15 sec.It was without doubt my favourite race.

Alexis takes an exhausted John for an ice-cream [and a pint]

I have greatly appreciated reading about the superb performances of  my fellow athletes. I have not scaled the heights of previous contributors but I have loved every second of my involvement in our wonderful sport.

EDITOR’s POSTSCRIPT

The Eric Hall of Belgrave Harriers mentioned in John’s reminiscence represented Great Britain at both the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. For a time he was something of a regular at Lancashire WC club races. I presume he may have been working up North. I’ll do some more research and perhaps Ron Wallwork can fill in some details. I’ve got a feeling that Eric’s competitive presence was significant in assisting Ron’s development in the early 1960s.

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RIP – Ann Sayer, Long Distance Walker Supreme and the first pioneering female Centurion

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Tony Taylor

Given our club’s proud history of long distance walking it seems fitting and appropriate to post this tribute to the remarkable Ann Sayer, the first female Centurion, written by Gail Elrick of the Long Distance Walkers Association. Thanks to Chris Bolton, a longstanding member of the LWDA, for bringing our attention to this sad loss.

Long Distance Walkers Association. The LDWA is an Association of people with the common interest of walking long distances in rural, urban, mountainous or moorland areas.

Ann Sayer MBE (LDWA no. 646) Vice President of the LDWA

born 16.10.36 died 15.4.2020

Ann died on Wednesday, April 15. She had been in the local hospital for nearly 2 weeks. She was admitted because of breathing difficulties, a problem that had affected her for some months. Also she had recently undergone an above the knee amputation of one leg and the remaining leg was causing problems. However she remained incredibly cheerful and positive throughout and had adapted to life in a residential home. Fortunately her window in the home gave a view of Bushy Park (she refused offers of bigger rooms to keep this view) and she recently took delivery of a second mobility scooter (the first having been returned as it was not fast enough).

This ability to remain positive and determined marked the lady who did so much to promote walking and the MBE, awarded to her in 2005, was for just this achievement.

Her first sporting love was actually mountaineering and her first competitive sporting activity was rowing. The latter began when she was in University and led to her selection for the GB Eights Team that rowed in the European Championships. Walking began in earnest with the completion in 1973 of the Long Mynd Hike (after which she joined LDWA) and in 1974 she did her first LDWA 100, the Peakland 100.

At this time she also began race walking. Unlike the LDWA where there were no restrictions on female participation, race walking restricted women to short distances. But this did not deter Ann competing in races not open to women and in 1977 Ann (and her friend Di Pegg) were allowed to race walk in the Bristol 100 and they both finished. Thus Ann became the first female Centurion (100 miles within 24 hours).

Further triumphs continued including in 1979, with an LDWA support Team, completing the 3 Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) walking 420 miles in 7 days and 31 minutes (a new record).

Land’s End to John O’Groats then followed, also with an LDWA support Team completing a route of 840 miles in 13 days, 17 hours and 42 minutes. Another record and entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

Many other Challenge Events and 100s continued, too many to list here. She also helped on numerous events and in Local Groups, served for 15 years on the NEC and was the first female Chair of the LDWA.

Remarkably these were not the only things in her life. She spent most of her working life as a geologist with BP and particularly in later years she was heavily involved in the life of the local community including leading walks for Walking for Health, acting as a volunteer guide at Strawberry Hill House and working in the visitor information centre in Bushy Park.

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REMINISCENCES 5 – MARION FAWKES, A LEGEND AND PETER, HER HUSBAND, NOT HALF BAD HIMSELF!

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Tony Taylor

Pleased and privileged to post these reminiscences from the greatest female race walker these islands have produced and her talented spouse. If you venture across the Pennines to race in the Northern Walking League of Trevor McDermot’s imagination you will find them still mucking in to support the sport they love.

What prompted you to take up race walking? When and where was your first race?

Marion:

I only really entered Athletics after school and initially had some success at County level winning senior titles at 200m Hurdles, 800m, 1500m, 3000m and Cross Country . I also won a number of local road races and became the first woman to win the Blyth 10 mile. However, on the track a friend of mine did the walks and I always volunteered to join her in order to gain points for my club. I hasten to say I was always last!

After a few years I decided to take the walks more seriously, mainly because the coach at my club said I shouldn’t as at 4’10’’ with short legs I was too small. I love a challenge so ignored him and the rest is history. Within a few short years I became National Walks Champion and an International.

 [Editor’s note – and World champion and World Record Holder!]

Marion on her way to winning the European Economic Community Championship

Peter:

Like Marion, I came into athletics late although I did win county championships at long and triple jump whilst at school. Road running was my favourite on leaving school and I ended up breaking 50 minutes for 10 miles and 1hr 48 mins for 20 miles. However, I sustained a serious injury to my foot and whilst recovering and to keep fit I used to accompany Marion on her walks for a short distance until she forged ahead and left me. I enjoyed doing the walking but couldn’t master the style so to improve I entered my first race at the Civil Service championships at West London Stadium and initially was devastated as I was hopelessly left by the like of Bob Dobson, Peter Selby, John Hall, etc. However, I was very impressed and encouraged as the whole field waited for me at the finish line clapping me in and from that moment I was hooked by the camaraderie of these strange people. 

What’s your favourite race and why?

Marion:

I don’t have a favourite race really although I most enjoyed Internationals and my fondest memory is the week spent touring Scandinavia with the England team where, between Carol Tyson and myself we re-wrote the record books. It was the bond we all forged together as a team that was the best aspect of this trip rather than the success we achieved. This bond came to fruition during subsequent races as we finally overcame the dominant Swedish team at Eschborn in the first official globally recognised championship for women.

Marion defeats the great Siv Gustavsson at a world meet 

Peter:

Like Marion, I don’t have a particular favourite race as I was in the sport for less than 3 years due to a subsequent injury halting my progress just as I was starting to understand the technique but I did enjoy my trips down to York to take part in the York Postal Sprint League very much.  

Which performance has given you the greatest satisfaction?

Marion:

A number spring to mind. Winning the Eschborn Cup was the pinnacle but also winning the EEC championships is high on my list as it now appears I could be the only British athlete, man or woman to hold that title. I also fondly remember my world records and Spanish wins at which I met many new friends and a mention must go to the 5000/10000 double I achieved at the Australian Masters 10 years after officially retiring. A win at the Geraldton (WA) half marathon in 1hr 26mins in 36 degrees of heat also compares favourably. All of these performances were very satisfying as I know they also made the late Charlie Fogg (my coach) proud.  

 

Civil Service Sports Personality of the Year

Peter:

Surprisingly finishing last in my first ever race gave me a lot of satisfaction as it introduced me to the wonderful, supportive nature of race walkers. Winning the Morecambe 20k and the Civil Service 3000m track also gave me pleasure but in general finishing any race and mingling with other walkers was always highly satisfying. I should also mention that remaining undefeated against Ian McCombie (he was only a boy at the time) is something I always remind him of.

Funniest moments?

Marion:

None, I was always more serious than Peter. 

Peter:

Watching Marion in an 800m track championship at Durham. With only 200m to go she was 40m clear of the field and pulling away when suddenly she bent over double, left the track and sat down. We all rushed over anticipating a serious injury; but the truth was that the elastic had snapped in her shorts and she couldn’t go on. She still can’t live that one down! 

Finally, Peter and I will be forever grateful to Betty Jenkins and Brian Armstrong who opened up their homes for us to stay on certain occasions when competing in the Midlands and the South, and also of course to Ron and Joan Wallwork for doing likewise when we attended the Moulton events.

POSTSCRIPT

A few days after the above was received Marion had second thoughts!

Peter and Marion out on the road together

Marion has remembered a funny incident. One summer we both attended a training group at the CS Sportsground, me as a footballer and Marion as an athlete. However, we all went for a 3 mile run interspersed with exercises as part of the training but the group dwindled until one night there were only the two of us. We went out but it was dark and we ran down a road with no lights. Suddenly I was talking to myself and realized Marion was no longer with me. On investigating, I discovered she had fallen down a deep hole left by workmen and I had to pull her out. We had a good laugh about it and from then on we became friends, then a courting couple and we finally got married in 1972. Over 50 years later we are still together so fate certainly played its hand.

Editor’s addition

Above Marion recalls the remarkable week in 1979 when she and the also magnificent Carol Tyson took Scandinavia by storm, pushing each other to remarkable performances. Find below the series of races they undertook and in which they excelled.

June 30 – 5,000 metres track, Sweden

  1. Carol Tyson 23:11.2 [World Record]
  2. Marion Fawkes 23:19.2
  3. T. Gylder [Norway] 23:33

July 1 – 5,000 metres road, Sweden

  1. Marion Fawkes 23:58
  2. Carol Tyson 24:00
  3. E.Glasson [Sweden] 24:05

July 4 – 5,000 metres road

  1. equal Marion Fawkes/Carol Tyson 23:47
  2. E.Olsson [Sweden] 23:58

July 6 – 3,000 metres track, Sweden

  1. Carol Tyson 13:25.2 [World Record]
  2. A. Jansson [Sweden] 13:39.4
  3. T.Gylder [Norway] 13:41.4

[Marion was disqualified in the last 25 metres trying to pass Carol!!}

July 8 – 10,00 metres track, Sweden

  1. Marion Fawkes 48:11.0 [World Record]
  2. T,Gylder [Norway] 49:55
  3. Irene Bateman 50:40

[Carol Tyson contested and won a 5,000 metres track race in 23:53 at the same meeting]

1979 IAAF World Race Walking Cup, September 29-30, Eschborn, FDR

Womens 5,000 metres [held for the first time]

  1. Marion Fawkes GB 22:51 [World Best]
  2. Carol Tyson GB 22:59
  3. Thorill Gylder Norway 23:08

TEAM RACE

  1. Great Britain 85 pts
  2. Sweden 74 pts
  3. Norway 69 pts

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Lancashire WC – the leading age-graded team in the Virtual Series plus news from Stephen Walker

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Tony Taylor

The latest news from the Virtual Series sees your ageing team of Taylor, Malone and Goodair flying the flag in the Masters section – thanks to Helen Elleker and John Constandinou for sorting out the results.

MENS TEAM


– AUSTRALIA (45)
1 Sarnia Walking Club (53)
2 Surrey Walking Club (59)
3 Lancashire Walking Club (90)
4 Manx Harriers (117)
5 Scotia RWC (121)
6 Steyning AC (148)
7 Winchester AC (149)
8 Birchfield Harriers (179)

MENS AGE GRADED TEAM


1 Lancashire Walking Club (32)
2 Surrey Walking Club (56)
– AUSTRALIA (70)
3 Sarnia Walking Club (82)
4 Steyning AC (114)
5 Manx Harriers (121)
6 Scotia RWC (124)
7 Winchester AC (152)
8 Birchfield Harriers (191)

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Meanwhile Stephen Walker writes:

Attached is a picture post the Llanelli Half Marathon on 8th March. I was walking with a Disabled Athlete who was going to be having a go at the London Marathon next month.
London’s chosen charity this year is Mencap. Hence some of us are supporting athletes with disabilities to encourage and support them.
Problem is now got to keep fit for another 6 months now until the rescheduled date 

😢

Keep safe
Stephen


Oh time was 2hrs 59mins and 47secs

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REMINISCENCES 4: MARTIN PAYNE WALKS IN CIRCLES

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Tony Taylor

Whilst Martin doesn’t respond to our set questions specifically, he rewards us with a delightfully written account of his journey to becoming a Centurion. As something of a lightweight I remain in awe of all those who’ve cracked the 100 miles. It was originally penned for the Dark Peak fell running club newsletter.

WALKING ROUND IN CIRCLES 

Martin showing good form recently at Chorley – racing a sensible distance!

49 laps, 98 miles down, 1 lap to go. About 1 and a half hours left and it’s in the bag unless I have a major cardiac event. As I walked past the various marshalls and judges for the very last time I thought back to how this Centurion obsession began…..

The idea of walking 100 miles within 24 hours started shortly after the club Alport Castle race way back in June 2013. I was in good shape and finished within seconds of Tom Westgate and so was delighted—until the next morning when I realised my left ankle was sprained. Tried resting if for a few days before running again but on reflection I was just too impatient and it became a chronic problem which culminated about 3 months later in an MR scan and an offer of a steroid injection which I politely declined. Instead I decided to get sensible and just stop running. 

Walking didn’t seem to hurt though and it was around this time that I came across an article in Strider ( the LDWA magazine ) about someone who qualified as a British Centurion by walking 100 miles around Lingfield race course in under 24 hours. It sounded quite a barmy thing to do. But a seed had been planted ! 

With slight trepidation I told my regular running partner Jim Fulton about my plan to have a go at the Centurion, expecting a bit of light ridicule, but to my surprise he was quite taken with the idea. In fact within hours I know he was on the net researching race walking technique! So we started going out midweek on fast 2 hour urban walks and on Saturday mornings we ventured out on longer walks, sometimes taking in country lanes out into Derbyshire whilst on other occasions we would head into the estates of Parsons Cross, Woodbourne, the Manor and Parkhill. 

We contacted the secretary of the British Centurions but they were a bit slow in deciding the venue for the annual qualifying event for 2014-so we looked further afield and signed up for the Dutch version in Schiedam in early June. Flights and hotels were booked and our training got ever so slightly serious as we started the new year—but not too serious with Jim around as you can imagine.

After we had exhausted the roads near and far, Jim devised an excellent route which made good use of the national canal towpath network. One particular Saturday in February we set off from Lodgemoor to eventually reach the Peak Forest canal by way of Castleton and a sewage works just short of Buxworth canal basin.  After all the ups and downs on the hills it was full steam ahead along the tow path to eventually reach our destination, New Mills Central railway station for a train back home. Whilst enjoying the well earned sit down on the platform we were a bit put out to hear the announcement that the 16-10 train to Sheffield had been cancelled. Disappointing but it gave us time to check out New Mills and grab a tea and some cakes before the next train back. Fortunately the cafe owner, Ali, seemed to be better informed than National Rail as he gently informed us that there wouldn’t actually be another train to Sheffield until next Tuesday ! The only way back by rail involved a jog to New Mills Newtown station and then a train to Stockport where we would then pick up a Sheffield connection. I explained our predicament to the guard on the train en route to Stockport and he quoted something like £45 for the price of a single ticket to Sheffield—each. Jim muttered something about “not wanting to buy the actual train” and fortunately the guard saw reason and let us off with a £6 ticket each instead. We eventually made it to the Tap at Sheffield station for a well earned beer or two.

On another Saturday we walked to Congleton via the canal system, a distance of 50 miles, in a shade under 12 hours, and on arrival at the station we were both feeling a bit damp around the edges. Still, the train to Stockport arrived very promptly and I sat back feeling quite mellow until Jim told me that he wanted to get out of his damp clobber and into some dry gear that he had stashed in his rucksack. There were no toilets in our bit of the train but that didn’t seem to worry Jim who insisted on getting out of ALL his clothes and into the dry stuff. I must say he was quite slick about it which made me think he’d done it before in similar circumstances, but slick or not I sat quietly praying that the guard or another passenger would not come strolling down the aisle in our direction.

On another occasion I remember feeling a bit anxious when Jim suggested that the route for the midweek evening walk, in darkness, would be along the Tinsley canal starting at the canal basin in central Sheffield. He was very reassuring and against my better judgement we set off with torches one moonlit Wednesday evening. I must admit it was lovely to see the moon reflecting off the water and very peaceful as we approached Tinsley locks but just when my defences were down a young chap just appeared from the shadows to ask us if we were dogging. I can’t recall the exact response but I do remember the rather sudden surge in pace as we strode on and away heading for the Tinsley viaduct, a fine place to walk offering excellent views of the water treatment works down far below. 

For a bit of “mental toughness” training one Saturday we drove to Rother valley country park and proceeded to walk a 2 mile loop around one of the lakes, again and again for a full 8 hours. We performed well and felt just about ready to take on the 100 miler in Schiedam. Jim and Hilary flew to Amsterdam and spent a few days exploring the city before heading onwards to Schiedam where I joined them the day before the event. Although we had done lots of long fast walks we felt rather nervous as we made our last preparations for the event.

The Dutch were friendly and welcoming and at 12 noon we set off in a group of about 50 walkers in Beatrix Park. We soon settled into a decent pace on a 2.5 mile loop-but could we keep it going? In the afternoon the park filled with locals who tucked into beers and BBQ’s enjoying the sunshine as we plodded on and on around them, lap after lap after lap. In the night Jim’s feet started to give him some serious grief and eventually he had to seek help from the first aid station. He actually fainted in there and after dressings had been applied and coming round he was strongly advised to retire. My feet were fine but my mind was all over the place and after about 66 miles we both decided to throw in the towel and we slunk off back to the hotel feeling quite miserable. Jim showed me his feet later and the soles looked like a Dominos pizza topping. Not good. Strange how Jim can run for miles and miles without any blisters but when he walks he just can’t seem to avoid them. Something to do with biomechanics I guess, but whatever he wasn’t keen to try another Centurion anytime soon. I had about 6 weeks to regroup though and try again as I had already entered for the British event in Southend.

There was no park at Southend-this time it was a 400m track in an athletics stadium.
About 25 walkers set off and round and round we went in the sunshine carefully
watched by judges sat at various points around the track to make sure we didn’t break
into a jog. Unfortunately it was quite a hot day but at midnight I was pleased to be on
target and treated myself to my Ipod nano and a change of trainers. Sadly the ipod had
lost its charge which was a body blow as by then I was losing all interest in the
“scenery” and needed something to distract me. Anyway I carried on and managed to
keep going, just, for the full 24 hours, but only completed 97 miles so failed in my bid
to become a Centurion. My initial thought was to stop there and take up something
more sensible like train spotting but after a decent night’s sleep I decided that I should
try again the following year.


The qualifying event in 2015 was to take place around a 2 mile course along
pavements in Castletown which is quite a scenic port just down the road from the
airport at Douglas on the Isle of Man. I sent in my entry fee early and cracked on with
the training which often involved walks out to Macclesfield , returning by train. At the
end of December in 2014 my old car finally died and I decided not to replace it and
instead walk to and from work as a way of providing a little bit more weekly mileage!
Jim continued to keep me company on some training walks which was great for
morale and perhaps our favourite walk out of all of them was a night outing to
Manchester, leaving my house in Lodgemoor at 11pm one Friday, arriving in good
time for a Wetherspoons’ breakfast in the city centre near Piccadilly gardens. We
were surrounded by groups of young lads and it was difficult to decide if they were
starting early or finishing late as they knocked back their pints. Needless to say Jim
joined in with a couple of Robinsons’ best whilst light weight that I am stuck to a pint
of Builder’s tea. Although it rained the whole way it was a fantastic outing and the
breakfast was the best that I’ve ever had. We even obtained seats on the train back to
Sheffield !


Well, August soon arrived and after a short flight from Manchester I checked into my
hotel in Castletown. After a solid breakfast I registered and then just tried to relax
until the “race” started at 2pm. There were about 100 entrants and the locals were
very supportive as we fast walked round and round the 2 mile course. I recall going
through 50 miles in something like 11 hours 10 minutes and I felt pretty good at that
stage. My lap times were quite consistent, generally 25 to 28 minutes for the first half
and 28 to 30 minutes for the second half of the event. There were 48 finishers within
the 24 hours, the fastest with an incredible time of 19 hours and 14 minutes but I was absolutely delighted to be the 32nd with a time of 22 hours and 59 minutes, making me
the 1153th Centurion since records began back in 1911.

ALSO SEE THIS POST FOR THE LIST OF CLUB CENTURIONS, TO WHICH WE SHOULD ADD MARTIN’S NAME.

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2019/08/12/honouring-the-clubs-centurions-and-wishing-adrian-and-sailash-all-the-best-in-the-isle-of-man-august-17-18-2019/

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HAPPY EASTER AND NEWS OF A VIRTUAL RACE SERIES – APRIL THROUGH MAY

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Tony Taylor

With all its contradictions and limitations have a good Easter!

Apologies for missing the first week of this initiative, but it’s not to late to be involved

Message from Andi Drake

In challenging times, we still want to be competitive. We’re introducing a virtual racing series to the race walk event group using World Athletics points.  

The National Centre for Race Walking Summer League is a virtual racing series occurring every Tuesday, commencing 7th April 2020; results are posted on a Thursday following each virtual race. 

Record your performance, and earn bragging rights via World Athletics point scores (M/F, junior age groups M/F).

It’s still possible to be involved – go to website for more detail and to enter your time.

https://nationalendurancecentre.co.uk/challenges

Series dates

5th-7th April 2 km

12th-14th April 2 km

19th-21st April 3 km

26th-28th April 3 km

3rd-5th May 4 km

10th-12th May 4 km

17th-19th May 5 km

24th-26th May 5km

However, given the age of most of our members a parallel Masters version of the series is being organised by Helen Elleker. However you need to muck in by Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/139423539480219/

You let Helen know and post your times by midnight on the appropriate Tuesday.

As things stand Tony Malone, Guy Goodair and I are registered and involved.

Full results of first round here

Find below the age-grading results.

If you want to be involved and are a bit confused/uncertain, drop me a line at

tonymtaylor@gmail.com

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England Athletics Webinar – endurance training and technique videos plus Q& A on April 8 and 13

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Tony Taylor

Late notice but Andi Drake, our National Events coach, is fronting two web broadcasts in the next few days.

Andi Drake

Wednesday, April 8th

England Athletics Webinar: Endurance walks warm-up (part 1) followed by Q&A from 17.30 -18.30. Hosted by Andi Drake to be found at:

https://englandathletics.clickmeeting.com/endurance-walks-warm-up-part-1-followed-by-q-a

Monday, April 13th

England Athletics Webinar: Race Walk technique video followed by Q&A from 17.30 -18.30. Hosted by Andi Drake to be found at:

https://englandathletics.clickmeeting.com/endurance-race-walk-technique-video-followed-by-live-q-a

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REMINISCENCES 3 ; Tony Bell looks back

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Tony Taylor

Many thanks to Tony for the third in our series of reminiscences.

Tony, safe as houses, in the 2019 AGM 5k

What prompted you to take up race walking? When and where was your first race?

I have been a runner since 1983, my running “style” has always been a marathon shuffle with a short stride never getting that far off the ground. Running clubmates would make jokes that I was “lifting” as I ran along. 

When I went up to Cambridge in 1995 I met my future wife Shelley, who is also a runner. Shelley was a good masters middle distance track runner for her age group, good enough to win age group medals in national championships. I would accompany her to masters championships where I saw racewalking. Shelley’s middle distance events were too short for me as a marathon runner.

In 2001 there was an open track and field meeting in Bury St. Edmunds which included a 1000m race walk, organised by Mick Graham (coach of Callum Wilkinson). Shelley ran 800m and I did 7.37 for 1000m off hardly any training. For many years I had a 1000m pb at a slower pace than my 50km pb, until I walked 5.32 for 1000m in 2018.

What’s your favourite race and why?

When I turned 40 in 2003 I was then old enough to compete with Shelley in masters competitions. I then started to do more racewalking in training to go with my running, as I was still living in Cambridge I would go down to London every month to do the Enfield League (organised by our friend Ron Wallwork). I learned a lot about racewalking at Enfield, I would go every month until I moved back home to Cheshire in 2005. I still miss the Enfield League, I was last there for the Friendship Walk during the London 2017 World Championships.

Which performance has given you the greatest satisfaction?

In 2011, even though I was living in Germany, I returned home to take part in the test event for the London 2012 Olympics. I did 20km, mostly in pouring rain, up and down The Mall past Buckingham Palace. I was used to walking on quiet country lanes or round parks, walking in the centre of London was somewhat surreal. I set my lifetime pb of 2h03.11, just about avoiding the cut off time of 1h50 at 18km.


Attached photo shows me on The Mall (number 24) with Cath Duhig (58) and Colin Vesty (27).

1 year later I was back on the Olympic course as a spectator.



Tony Bell

Scientist. runner, race walker and cat-lover

Sheffield, UK

http://ynotlleb.wordpress.com/

LATEST CORONA CANCELLATION

Adrian Edwards informs us of the inevitable.

I hope you’re all surviving the current situation, managing to stay well, and maintain a degree of fitness.I’m contacting everyone i have e-mail addresses for regarding the 5K masters road walk. As some of you may have seen on their website the Horwich festival of racing has been cancelled; it will hopefully take place next year 2021.

There were a couple of options available; finding an alternative venue, or a new date. An alternative venue could still leave us having to cancel at short notice; and a lot of the people we need to contact regarding permissions etc. are not currently working. Unfortunately every event cancelled over the last few months is looking for a new date; it will be impossible to avoid a clash, and officials will be over worked when athletics does start up again.

Horwich is a particularly magical event which will be impossible to recreate elsewhere; the decision has therefore been made to cancel the 5K road walk this year; but we hope to return as part of the Horwich festival on Sunday 20th June 2021.There are a few people who always enter by post, that I don’t have e-mail addresses for, so if you see friends please spread the word.

Sorry! Hope to see as many as possible in 2021.

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Reminiscences Two : Guy Goodair reflects

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Tony Taylor

What prompted you to take up race walking? When and where was your first race?

I was a member of Wakefield Harriers and we’d heard all about the famous Star Walk in Sheffield held every year on Whit Tuesday. Now although there were other races over Whitsun there were no local running races on the Tuesday so four of us decided to enter. The Star Walk was for ‘novices’ (those who hadn’t won a prize at race walking) although Sheffield United Harriers ‘groomed’ likely winners by telling potential winners to make sure they didn’t get into SUH’s medal or prize winning teams in the months before the race. The race was 11.5 miles long which was a long way for novices but luckily for us we’d done lots of long running races including marathons so the distance didn’t bother us. There were big crowds at the start and we were well back but gradually started catching the early leaders once we’d got past Hillsborough and climbing up Halifax Road.

Start of the 1958 Star Walk

Our lack of real race walking technique saw us losing ground on the descents and gaining on the climbs. Eventually John Hampshire and myself found ourselves in equal 4th spot approaching the finish at Corporation Street Baths – the officials at the end were trying to seperate us (think they only had 4 prizes ready) but we held hands and went over the line together for 4th place the race being won by Derek Slinn. John and I both got a prize at the lunch afterwards. Didn’t walk again until Northern Junior in 1961. [Editor’s note – Guy was second in the said race to Mick Grayson (Sheffield UH) with Ivor Percival of our club third, Fred Pearce was sixth.]

As Guy puts it, the certificate uses his Sunday name.

What’s your favourite race and why?

Manchester to Blackpool  – don’t really know why but as far as I was concerned once I’d got to Preston docks I’d ‘cracked it’ even though there was still 20 miles or so to go.

A knackered Guy, head leaning even more than ever to his left, finishing first in 1964, outside the Town Hall, the throng of enthusiastic female spectators kept back by the local constabulary.

Very proud of my race record here – 12 races between 1961 and 1974 – 6th on my first attempt and 6th on the last race otherwise never out of the first three (3 x 1st, 5 x 2nd and 2 x 3rd)

If you haven’t already seen these, follow the links below for an enthralling insight into Guy’s exploits in our club’s Blue Riband event, the Manchester-Blackpool, the like of which will never be seen again.

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2017/08/22/guy-goodairs-manchester-to-blackpool-memories-1961-1963/

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2017/08/24/guy-goodairs-manchester-to-blackpool-memories-continued-1964-1965/

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2017/08/31/guy-goodairs-manchester-blackpool-memories-continued-1966-1968/

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2017/09/05/guy-goodairs-manchester-blackpool-memories-continued-1969-1971/

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2017/09/21/guy-goodairs-manchester-blackpool-memories-completed-1972-1974/

Which performance has given you the greatest satisfaction?

Winning Bradford Walk in 1964 – felt really strong all the way round.

[Another Editor’s note – in truth I was deeply disappointed to find that Guy did not say that his finest hour was out sprinting yours truly in the Northern 2 miles championships on a loose cinder track in Bolton, July 27, 1968. Result: 1.Phil Bannan [Isle of Man] 14:16.8 2. Guy Goodair [Wakefield] 14:24.0 3. Tony Taylor [LWC] 14:.24.0. I still don’t know how they separated us!]

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Reminiscences One : Dave Evans looks back

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Tony Taylor

It’s fitting that Dave Evans, our indefatigible Chair, should be the first to share his memories in what we hope will be a series of revelations in the coming weeks, even months. Dave has been at the heart of holding the club together following the tragic loss of the much loved Fred Pearce.

Dave Evans finding time to shelter Tony Malone from the storm, whilst Eric Horwill has come as ever well-prepared

Like many of my club colleagues I came into race walking from another branch of Athletics , namely Track and Field. I joined the Civil Service in 1966 and quickly became involved with my department’s Athletic club.  When I eventually became Secretary of the club in 1979 I was both a competitive athlete and team selector. This role normally involved filling in when “vacancies” appeared in teams for the Civil Service championships. In the early 1990’s I had picked a squad for our race walking team from amongst our regular contingent only to find a shortage of bodies at the last minute.

I decided that being a strong runner I would fill the gap thinking the 7 mile race would be “easy” . My pride and confidence took a large knock when I finished the race almost last ! How could I, a sub 31 minute 10k performer, be beaten by around 20 walkers who between them , running in a relay team of six, would probably not have completed 10k before me. I came down to earth with a large bang and deservedly so.

My admiration for walkers began on that day and is still with me now even though my walking days are behind me. After realising that technique is the key aspect of the event I , along with Pat, decided to hunt down a club where we could learn and develop our “poor” walking style into something more “professional”.  The Lancashire Walking club seemed to fit the bill and before too long we were heel toeing with the leading aspirants of the time. Dick Maxwell was the club administrator with Ronnie Marsden supported as judges by Albert Rigby and Derek, the pieman !

Being a new boy I did not understand the strategy employed by the club savants. You are lulled into a sense of security and given a lot of encouragement by the older walkers not realising that all of this was to prepare you for the Manchester to Blackpool ! I’ve done 4 or 5 including one around Stanley Park in Blackpool and reflect on these with some pride and pain.

Dave hits the Lytham promenade – not far to go! Sadly he missed the final Saturday postal collection.

Having managed to cope with my first venture into long distance walking it was inevitable that I would be tempted to join the illustrious list of Lancashire Walking club centurions. I was finally convinced I should give it a go after John Payn became the oldest ever debutante at 67. In 2003 I completed my one and only 100 in a steady 23 hours 40 mins and as they say that’s history.

Since my entry into the world of race walking I have been surprised by the times I’ve done given I am not very flexible . A sub 50 for 10k and a 5k time just under 24. Fred Pearce acted as a mentor in the latter years of my racing career but I finally concluded that walking with a questionable technique was not for me so helping him with the Admin side became my main function. My running is still my main activity and despite advancing years ran 43 16 for 10k when I was 69 and clocked a 21 09 for the parkrun shortly after reaching 70.

I really appreciate the camaraderie in our club and look forward to meeting up each time even if just to hear more of Sailash’s ideas about racing on the M6 or around the coast of Great Britain. A latter day Leonardo da Vinci ! Despite our ages the sense of achievement and brotherhood keeps us together and we all hold dear the club motto of Health the First Wealth. Fond memories of Fred, Dave Crompton and Dick Maxwell, three of our heroes.

DAVE EVANS

Thanks to Dave for setting us off down Memory Lane. We’ve already got more waiting in the wings so please don’t be shy about coming forward with your memories.

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