Our next club race is the Macclesfield Shield 10 miles, which will take place from the Ex-Service Men’s Club in Sutton on Saturday, March 29th, starting at 1.00 p.m. The venue will be open from noon. As usual, it will be really helpful if you could let Dave Evans at dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk know if you are attending and in what capacity. This will also assist Marshall in terms of the catering.
Sailash on point duty at Walker Lane
Fifty six years ago in 1969, Suttom Macclesfield hosted the Northern 10 miles championships on an out and back course towards Langley. When the press of the day suggest the going was ‘rather stiff’ regard this as a gross understatement! I paid the price for dueling with Jake Warhurst and was hanging on for dear life in the closing stages as Ron closed. I paid the price once more that night, up and down with stomach cramps. However, it was a breakthrough performance on my part and I remember being distraught that there was no report in the Athletics Weekly. It was memorable too for our team victory, especially as the fourth counter, Don Warren was a Sutton boy, born and bred. In addition it marked Ron Wallwork’s resurgence from his 1968 disappointment at not making the Mexico Olympics.
Mine host, Eric Crompton, who trained on these Chorley roads fifty years ago
ALISON TROPHY 15 KILOMETRES, MARCH 1st, CHORLEY
DaveEvans reports and supplies the photos – a veritable and vital jack of all trades
Nigel throwing caution to the winds
Relative newcomer Nigel Shaw threw caution to the wind and jumped the field in this year’s Alison trophy 15k at Chorley. Having not raced on this course at all it was a brave decision to employ kamikaze tactics but it worked. Passing the 1 mile point in 10 mins 37 secs the leader met the first of the 3 circuits completely out of sight of his pursuers but his proficient style provided a sound platform for the ensuing helterskelter experience. Martin Payne and Tony Bell were walking neck and neck with endurance challenging innate speed.
Tony and Martin, neck and neck
As the 9 regulars completed the first lap it was clear that Nigel had seized the initiative leaving Tony and Martin fighting for the two runner up spots. This has to be one of the toughest racewalk courses on the calendar and despite the cold conditions, all completed their targeted distances.
Roy finishing the first of the three arduous circuits
Similarly Joe, worrying perhaps about City’s recent form
Results (1 Mile/3.4 miles/5.8 miles/8.2 miles/15k
Nigel Shaw 94:38(10:37/35:36/59:54/84:38)
Tony Bell 104:14(11:12/38:09/65.02/92:55)
Martin Payne 108:47(11:13/38:09/66:10/96:20)
Phil McCullagh 112:38(12:32/41:28/70:23/100:05)
Roy Gunnett 115:01(11:38/41:35/72:12/102:30)
Glyn Jones 116:21(12:14/42:28/72:35/103:39)
Joe Hardy 118:38(12:21/43:26/74:26/105:40)
Results (1 mile/3.4 miles/5.8 miles/6.8 miles
Pat nearing the close of the first circuit
Pat Evans 85:25(12:31/42:37/72:54)
Andrea Lennon 106:30(14:47/52:18/90:50)
Handicap
Nigel and Tony take a breath at the finish
Nigel Shaw 83:38
Phil McCullagh 92:38
Tony Bell 93:14
Glyn Jones 96:21
Roy Gunnett 98:01
Joe Hardy 101:38
Martin Payne 108:47
Pat Evans
Andrea Lennon
Age-graded
Glyn approaching the final turn on the circuit with pat in pursuit
Glyn Jones 80.73%
Joe Hardy 77.80%
Nigel Shaw 75.59%
Roy Gunnett 75.15%
Tony Bell 67.94%
Martin Payne 67.15%
Phil McCullagh 67.08%
An interested onlooker!!??
Many thanks to Ian Hilditch, Irene Pike, Sailash Shah, Steve Wilde and Eric Crompton for providing logistical support and general encouragement.
Post-race banter and analysis
DON’T FORGET – Adrian Edwards is organising another training session at Woodbank Park, Stockport on Sunday, March 16th. The track is available from noon till 5 o’clock. These sessions are well worth supporting.
Meanwhile on Sunday, March 2nd our very own Greg Smith was completing the Brighton Half-Marathon in 2:57:32.
The Alison Trophy 15 kilometres club race will take place this coming Saturday, March 1st, starting at 1.00 p.m. As is usual it would be really helpful if you could let Dave Evans at dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk know if you are attending and in what capacity. The venue is the St Peter’s Church Hall, Harpers Lane, PR6 0HP.
Adrian and Roy concentrating at last month’s training session Ta to Greg for the photo
In addition Adrian Edwards is organising another training session at Woodbank Park, Stockport on Sunday, March 16th. The track is available from noon till 5 o’clock. These sessions are well worth supporting.
Dave Ainsworth has forwarded this latest news about our dear friend and life member. Ron Wallwork. It is addressed to the readers of the ‘Essex Walker’
After February’s Enfield League race at Donkey Lane, Enfield & Harringey AC Chairperson Emily McMahon presented long serving Ron Wallwork MBE with a watch and a bouquet for his wife Joan. This recognised Ron’s sterling efforts as the League’s Organiser from 2007-to-2024.
Martin Oliver founded the League in 1998, and on stepping down in 2007, Ron took over. Ron’s now passed the baton on to Tracey Wilkinson. It’s vital Enfield League support continues – as North of the Thames – its the best supported series of race walks on your fixture cards.
Incorporated in the Enfield League is an annual Moulton Open 5 Miles, in delightful Suffolk countryside at a village north east of Newmarket and the annual Enfield Open 7 miles – which this year will see it staged for a 98th time as the only traditional Open 7 still going. Our more established readers will recall “Open 7’s” once being the backbone of British winter race walking.
Also in the League Programme was a 2012 “Olympic Friendship Walk” at Donkey Lane and the adjacent King George V Playing Fields. It was a first time in many years over 100 race walkers made a result sheet – let’s face it, who wasn’t there? Racing that day included supporters from Overseas countries “in town” for the London Olympics and also team support members of competing Countries.
As a race walker Ron’s been receiving awards since the 1950s. On behalf of all readers we add our congratulations to Ron and Joan on being award recipients on this latest occasion.
Back in January I started to put together a post reflecting on the performances of club members in the Metropolitan Open 7 miles held in early January and perhaps the most prestigious of the winter series of London 7 mile events. My attempt fell by wayside but, prompted by Dave’s reference to the ‘Open 7s’ and Ron’s incredible history in our sport, you will find below results involving LWC athletes. It was quite a trek in those days. I went back in the archives to 1955 and, as you can see, I was looking too for Northern Area representatives.
1955 Albert Johnson, Sheffield UH 2nd in same time as winner George Meadows 55:07 – race only held on a show of hands, given the snow and ice
1956 Brian Hawkins 51:52 from George Coleman 52:14 with Albert down in 5th Other notables Eric Hall 4th George Chaplin 6th, Don Thompson 7th and a certain Stan Vickers 11th
1957 Stan Vickers in a record 51:32 but no Northern presence
1958 The beginning of the Vickers/Matthews era Stan 50:14 to Ken 50:36 – no Northern presence
1959 Ken Matthews 48:14 Stan Vickers 49:13 – no Northern presence
1960 Stan Vickers deadheats with Eric Hall in 51:20 – no Northern presence
1961 Ken Matthews 48:02 record from Eric Hall 51:11 – no Northern presence 21st Nihill 55:29
1962 Ken Matthews 49:51 from Arthur Thomson 52:17 – no Northern presence
1963 Paul Nihill 52;08 from Vaughan Thomas 52:49 but Ron Wallwork bursts onto the scene 4th in 53:12 and the first Northerner since Johnson to feature at the front – arctic conditions.
Ken Matthews 1964 in the 2 hours track race. Thanks to AW
1964 Ken Matthews 48:46 from Paul Nihill 50:16 with Ron 6th in 53:02. The AW report comments on teams from SUH and LWC
1965 John Paddick 51:20 from Maurice Fullager 53:04 with Guy Goodair 25th in 56:05
1966 Mal Tolley 50:34 from John Webb 52:05 – no Northern presence
1967 Ron 51:13 from John Webb 51:40 Mike Hatton 21st 54:48 97th Graham Abley 60:07 Alan Day 129th 62:42 Alan Hudson 159th 65:32- LWC 12th team 257 started
1968 John Webb from John Kirk 50;47 to 51;06 Julian Hopkins 32nd 56:22 Steve Crow 49th 58:26 Chris Bolton 56th 58:48 Campbell McNinch 62nd 59:12 69th Mick Entwistle – LWC 10th team
1969 Paul Nihill 50;46 from John Webb 51;16 Tony Taylor 11th 52:57 Julian Hopkins 42nd 56:12
1972 Ron Laird from Shaun Lightman 50:11 to 50;42 Tony Malone 22nd 54:42
1976 Brian Adams from Peter Marlow 49:49 to 50:50 Ron 23rd in 54:44 [West Suffolk]
1980 Mike Parker from George Nibre 48:42 to 48:45, Steve Uttley 27th 54:28 – now 11km
If I have the energy and discipline it would be interesting to look at our members’ participation and results in the Winter Open Sevens. Fingers crossed that the last surviving event, the Enfield race reaches its century.
Steven Wilde recounts his experience with wit and aplomb
Virtual 5k Time 38’14”, Bolton Road (A6), Chorley on Saturday 25th January
Weather:- cool but sunny
This was an undulating out and back route, which occasioned me to pass the Yarrow Bridge public house twice, which proved to be problematic.
On the first approach to the pub it became obvious that a large number of young adults were in attendance at, as I was later to discover, a 21st birthday party.
Many of the attendees had spilled outside into the beer garden and to use the parlance of our time, things were ‘kicking off’.
At this juncture I was subjected to a degree of verbal abuse as I walked past the pub, with no shortage of industrial language and rude words of Anglo-Saxon origin, enough to give swearing a bad name.
Some twenty minutes later, on the return leg, the fracas, or melee, had escalated, with party food now being hurled, or chucked, every which way, as I became an easy target in the crossfire.
Walking the gauntlet, I was struck with chicken legs(extra tasty), whist pies, vol-au-vents and sausage rolls, as well as a range of vegetarian options.
A dollop of jelly and custard was aimed with precision into my left ear-hole , which temporarily rendered me a trifle deaf.
Understandably, this experience knocked me off my stride, and I suspect my finishing time might have been quicker had I not received such a buffeting.
With kind regards and much poetic licence
Steven at Simister, little worse for his buffeting!!
Ken Connor 29:58 – I do most of my training in a small park close to Fiddlers Ferry power station. The photo below was taken just before Xmas, the remaining 4 cooling towers in view. My January has given limited opportunity to train due illness. nothing major thankfully. I managed 29.58 for my 5Km walk this morning. It felt surprisingly comfortable and smooth.
Tony Bell 32:14 – the plan was to racewalk Millhouses parkrun but this was cancelled due to black ice.
Tony in Sheffield
Marco Bernatski 34:18 – my question is whether you accept my yesterday’s treadmill session in a personal best of 32:12.1? It is always easier on a treadmill without the cold and windy weather. My fast training some days ago under winterly weather circumstances ended after 34:18.0 It’s up to you which time you take. Greetings from Gelsenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia. We took the road time
Greg Smith 35:34 – Got out tonight for a 5k time trial on my usual course at Bury Ground, an old industrial area near the centre of the town on the River Irwell flood plain (in fact there is a monitoring station there–see: https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/station/5026 ) It was a cold night–halfway through I had to share the road with the lorry gritting the roads in anticipation of frost. Very pleased to clock 35:34, much against the run of recent dismal performances!
Roy Gunnett 36:01 – Nigel, Greg and I did our January 5k at the Stockport track this afternoon. Nigel and Greg did faster clockings later in the month. We walked in the 4th lane all the way as this lane, whilst still covered in snow and ice, was less affected than lanes 1 to 3. Adrian did a great job in clearing lane 1 whilst the time trial was going on in lane 4, so that we could use it after the trail for training.
Pat Evans 37:26 – time was done on our park run course which isn’t really too racewalk friendly with some grassy bits and gravelly sections.
Steve Wilde 38:14 – see his eloquence above!
John Crahan 39:30 – Sun kissed Cleveleys had all the flood barriers in place today except for the large exit to the High Street. Inspired by this, my 5k which finished on the promenade was indifferent.I started off slowly and slowed down. I broke 40 mins as I did 39min30 sec .
Phillip McCullagh 39:54
Alex Rowe 42:32 – this was at the Fleetwood parkrun last Saturday 25th.
Guy Goodair 55:47 – I did a 5km today – a pathetic 55.47! In my defence lm suffering piriformis syndrome in my left buttock but I’m afraid that I’m showing down badly
Sailash Shah 55:05
HANDICAP TIMES
1.Nigel Shaw 29:47 2. Ken Connor 29:48 3. Greg Smith 30:39 4. Marco Bernatzki 31:18 5. Alex Rowe 31:32 6. Steve Wilde 31:34 7. Tony Bell 31:54 8. Pat Evans 32:51 9. Roy Gunnett 33:06 10. John Crahan 33:35 11. Guy Goodair 35:07 12. Phil McCullagh 36:14 13. Sailash Shah 50:40
Turning around the triangular island for the first time
The first live race of the new year at our most regular venue brought together 12 stalwarts in what could be described as cool conditions, thankfully not accompanied by snow or rain. A welcome back to Adrian Edwards who is returning to training after a short break and it was he who lead the field of 9 aspirants across the first stretch of 5k. Heaton Park , where we have our “out” post , was very busy with the Manchester cross country league plying their trade and over running the paths and park roads.
Nigel in pursuit of Tony BellSo too, Phil chasing Roy Gunnett
Despite this our flag bearers managed to avoid any collisions and as they passed the timekeeper 15 minutes later it was Adrian in first place(31 01), Tony Bell a close second(31 02)and Nigel Shaw only 6 seconds adrift. This is where Adrian finished his day’s racing leaving Tony and Nigel to fight out the winner’s spot. The remaining 6 competitors were not too far adrift from each other with Roy Gunnett setting sail for home tailed by Phil McCullagh. In their wake Greg, Pat and Steve were securing their positions with Joe Hardy valiantly hanging on despite a muscle injury.
Greg, 16 kilometres and a few photos in the bank!!Joe somewhat hampered by injury
With the new start giving the officials a long sight of the finishers it was going to be a bit nip and tuck but Tony seized the initiative and used his inate speed to draw the sting out of Nigel’s challenge. At the finish there was only 14 seconds in it for the top two with Roy seizing a solid third . On a cold day the gaps are usually quite large but all survived with no safety issues.
RESULTS 10k
1. Tony Bell 62:30(31 02) 2. Nigel Shaw 62:44(31 08) 3. Roy Gunnett 74:28(36:41) 4. Phil McCullagh 74:49(37:30) 5. Greg Smith 77:53(37:34) After a 6k warm up ! 6. Joe Hardy 83:20(40:28)
Pat sets the best age-graded clocking
5k
1. Adrian Edwards 31:01 2. Pat Evans 37:48 3. Steve Wilde 38:18
Handicap
Tony Bell receives the Sam Shoebottom Trophy
1.Tony Bell 62:15 2. Phil McCullagh 62:34 3. Nigel Shaw 62:44 4. Greg Smith 64:38 5. Roy Gunnett 66:13 6. Joe Hardy 69:35 7. Adrian Edwards 8. Pat Evans 9. Steve WildeAngel
Andrea and Joe, clearly amused!
Age-graded
Pat Evans 78:09%
Roy Gunnett 76:07%
Tony Bell 74.43%
Nigel Shaw 74:19%
Adrian Edwards 73:38%
Joe Hardy 72:42%
Greg Smith 67:79%
Phil McCullagh 66:34
Steven Wilde 64:00%
Sailash, dresssed for his marshalling endeavours
My thanks to Sailash for manning the park turnaround and Chris Harvey for photos and deputy timekeeping . Andrea Lennon provided verbal support having had to withdraw from the race whilst recovering from a medical procedure. Thanks to Pat for the refreshments
The next race at Chorley in March should see an improvement in the race numbers.
Everything is in place for the much awaited first club race of 2025, the Sam Shoebottom 10 kilometres. As usual it will take place from the Lady Wilton Hall, Simister, Manchester M25 2SB, starting at 1.00 p.m. As always it will be helpful if you can let Dave know if you are able to attend and in what capacity at dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk.
Meanwhile I await your January Virtual 5 km times with bated breath. As things stand only a trickle of submissions have been received.
CLOCKINGS FOR THE JANUARY VIRTUAL 5 KILOMETRES TO BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 31st. ANECDOTES AND PHOTOS ONCE AGAIN WELCOMED.
If you need inspiration, see below photos taken by Greg Smith on January 12th at Woodbank Park before a %k effort on the track
Adrian and Roy clearing a path!!
Brave souls indeed!
Interestingly Nigel Shaw in submitting his latest clocking talked about the dilemma of finding an effective balance between stride length and cadence. By chance I found this piece by Julian Hopkins in a 1979 Athletics Weekly.
Back in 1960 club members were a keen lot, turning out for three races in January, the first on the day after New Year’s Day! Of those involved perhaps only Ron Wallwork and Chris Bolton are still with us
Seven years later the stalwarts of the club competed on New Year’s Eve in a walk/run race against Bolton United Harriers. All I remember is being sick twice or thrice on the downhill back. Complaints, that Mick Entwistle was an under-age drinker and should be disqualified, fell on stony ground.
Where the thirst was quenched!
Report uncovered by Ron Wallwork. Chris Bolton comments that all competitors got a prize. He won a pair of shoe laces!
CLOCKINGS FOR THE JANUARY VIRTUAL 5 KILOMETRES TO BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 31st. ANECDOTES AND PHOTOS ONCE AGAIN WELCOMED.
It’s difficult in a world stalked by evil to think clearly about our athletic and race walking hopes and aspirations. Nevertheless let me wish all the club’s members and our wider readership the very best for the coming year. In the traditional turn of phrase, let ‘peace and goodwill’ abound. It’s much needed. Hopefully Marilyn Taylor’s watercolour, a ‘Winter Landscape’ conveys a sense of how beautiful the world can be. In fact it’s actually an image of a path along which I regularly trained back in the day, certainly fifty years ago.
CLOCKINGS FOR THE JANUARY VIRTUAL 5 KILOMETRES TO BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 31st. ANECDOTES AND PHOTOS ONCE AGAIN WELCOMED.
It seemed a nice idea to open with a flashback to fifty years ago. In his first race walking column of 1955 the legendary Alf McSweeney, the very first editor of the Race Walking Record in 1941, gave his thoughts on the possibility of fast times in a forthcoming National 10 miles championships to be held in Southport, “the fashionable Lancashire seaside resort”.
This excerpt is taken from the remarkable treasure trove, that is the Athletics Weekly Archive at https://athleticsweekly.com/aw-archive-membership/. For a measly £3.99 a month you gain access to copies of AW going back to 1945. Treat yourself!
In fact the National at Southport was shrouded in controversy with Lo Allen and Dick Holland of Sheffield being disqualified whilst in the leading places. Nevertheless with Roland Hardy and Albert Johnson at the helm, Sheffield still won the team title. Alf McSweeney’s report contains a closing gem of a paragraph.
LWC positions: 15. Terry Hardie 82:29; 39. Dick Smith 85:49; 46 T.N.Daly 87:13; 79 John Grocott 91:35; 80 T.W.Mills 91:53; 81 J.Percival 92:10; 88 Frank O’Neill 92:55; 95 Sid Smith 95:21; 98 Vic Murray 96:47; 100 Dick Ditchfield 97:13; 111 Fred Pearce 101:58; 112 Cliff Royle 102:40; Sam Shoebottom 104:38; 118 H. Frith 106:52
JOHN PAYN
Dave Evans reports:
John is residing in a care home in Adlington, Chorley and just recently Steven Wilde has visited to check on his well-being . It seems he is in good heart although his former race-walking life is a memory. It seems John has endeavoured to use a wheeled version of a zimmer style contraption to race up and down some of the corridors, much to the disdain of the care home staff. The spirit of competition has not left the Payn household and it’s very comforting to realise that our centurion has retained his ability to set new goals. We don’t know just how constraining the care home environment is and when you were once the oldest person to gain centurion status the urge to pursue any target must be foremost in your mind. We all wish John the very best and grateful thanks to Steven for checking in with John before Christmas. Merry Christmas to John and all of our club members and guest visitors.
John, quite properly number 001, in one of his last races a few years ago at Culgaith, pacing the young lady and her dog
John Crahan adds the following anecdote:
I have many fond memories of John ,including walking with him on the old Macclesfield course. He stopped with me for 2 laps before explaining he had not been well and wanted to walk with someone who could carry him to the finish. He left me on the last lap at the Garden Centre and beat me by nearly four minutes With sincere best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all members and friends
It strikes me that we are long overdue a post celebrating John’s achievements as a Veteran and a Master’s competitor. I’ll put my mind to it.
JULIAN HOPKINS
Julian, a former National coach, is still in the Aintree University Hospital following his dramatic stroke in late October. His progress is uneven but his spirits bolstered by the large number of supportive messages from across the race walking world. Only a week ago he was visited by Roger Mills, the 1974 European 20 kilometres bronze medallist. On this occasion Roger’s presence certainly energised Julian and they enjoyed an animated trip down memory lane. In fact a photo of Roger, who often won the poll for the stylist of the year, adorned the cover of Julian’s outstanding 1976 book, ‘Race Walking’.
Here’s hoping that the New Year sees Julian back on his feet, talking ten to the dozen as his wont and present at one of our club races. We send him our very best wishes.
With Dave and Pat Evans trapped by high winds in the Lakes. Roy Gunnett and Greg Smith took the helm and, against the odds, managed to ensure that the Dick Maxwell and Xmas race went ahead as planned. You will note there are no live photos of the race itself. Circumstances did not allow.
Roy takes up the story.
Dick Maxwell 10k at Simister Saturday 7th December
As a result of Storm Darragh peaking at the same time as the race …..numbers were somewhat down on normal for the Dick Maxwell 10k.
The new start – not the most exciting image we’ve ever posted
A revised course was used for the first time for this race. The revision was made to improve the safety of the course by replacing the normal start, which is a pinch point for traffic, with one 294 metres further down the road where the road is wider.
The turnaround point in the park at the 2.5k mark was extended by the same 294 metres to cater for this.
Final confirmation of these measurements was made ahead of the race by Greg and Roy.
The new 2.5 km turn in Heaton Park see the yellow paint splodge. It must have been so tempting to turn around the triangle with the tree in the middle!!!
Six walkers toed the line for the start.
Right from the gun Nigel Shaw, in fine style, went into the lead.
By the end of the first 5k lap Nigel extended his lead to 4 minutes and went through in 31:44, followed by Roy Gunnett in 35:53, Phil McCullagh and Steven Wilde together in 37:10, Joe Hardy in 38:18 and Greg Smith in 39:54.
Greg pulled out at this stage.
In the second half Nigel continued to pull away and won by over 10 mins in an excellent 63:00.
Roy in second place was nearly beaten by a very fast finishing Steve.
Weatherwise it was a race of two halves …..for the first half the weather was not too bad, but for the second half Storm Darragh really hit with heavy rain and very strong gusty winds.
A huge thankyou, (especially in the atrocious conditions) must be made to the officials who made the race possible, namely Chris Harvey (Starter/finisher and timekeeper) and Sailash Shah (marshall at the turnround).
Roy reads the results and thanks all, who turned out, on and off the road
Following the race everyone was glad to get into the warm and dry hall (made even warmer by the new central heating boiler).
Who is missing?
Tea, mince pies and Christmas cake were extremely welcome.
And again, who is missing?
All the walkers came away with a prize, courtesy to the generosity of Chris.
Nigel Shaw pleased with his first place
The general consensus was the new course was a success and it will be used in future. It was suggested that to improve safety even further we should use some high visibility road signs denoting that a race is in progress. Roy said he would look into purchasing these on behalf of the club.
Lancashire Walking Club : Health The First Wealth 