MAJOR CHANGES TO RACE WALKING

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Thanks as ever to Dave Ainsworth for this significant news. My first reaction is lukewarm. Your thoughts appreciated.

Thanks to welshathletics.org

≡ WORLD ATHLETICS COUNCIL ≡

It’s not often that race walking draws headlines, but a major change and potentially momentous change in the walks was a highlight of the World Athletics Council meeting in Monaco:

“The World Athletics Council also approved the introduction of new official senior road distances for race walking events, in order to help put the remarkable achievements by athletes into context, make the events more relatable for fans, and encourage mass participation. The standard senior distances for race walking will therefore change from:

“● 20 km race walk to half marathon race walk (21.0975km)
“● 35 km race walk to marathon race walk (42.195km)

“These changes will be implemented starting 1 January 2026 in senior World Athletics Series events.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR) explained: “I think we’ve made the right decision today to make it more relatable to Half Marathon and Marathon.

“The fact that you’ve got you’ve got race walkers that will cover that marathon distance in just under three hours, I think sort of places it into a greater context for people watching the event. Our attempts in all our innovations is to lend a little bit more understanding and context to to our fans, and we recognize that at the major games, a large chunk of our fan base that watching that are probably may well be watching the sport for the first time, so our innovation is there’s a very clear rationale behind it. It is to try and make more understandable, more salient, more relevant these events.”

The 20 km walk has been part of the Olympic program since 1956 for men and 2000 for women and the 50 km walk was a men’s event from 1932 to Tokyo 2020, but was not held at Paris 2024. World Athletics changed the 50 km event to 35 km for men and women for the 2022 World Championships.

Now, all of these events are out and the new half marathon and marathon distances will be installed. As for the status of these new distances in the Olympic Games, Coe noted:

“I think that is a question that is best directed at the [IOC] Program Commission and the Sports Department. What we’ve said is race walk is secure in our World Championships.”

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Dick Maxwell and Xmas 10km at Simister, Saturday December 7th

Posted on November 29, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Everything is in place for a successful end to our year’s fixtures on Saturday, December 7th in Simister. The village hall with a new central heating boiler installed will be open from 11.30 a.m. and the race proper will commence at 1.00 p.m. However, in an experiment to ease problems experienced in the narrow stretch of road out and back from the usual start outside the hall, we are going to begin and end the event on either the motorway bridge or opposite the Farmer’s Arms. Obviously this will mean the course will venture further into the park before the 2.5km turn. Huge thanks to Roy Gunnett, who will be measuring in advance the possible changes.

Heading towards the turn in Heaton Park

As is usual it would be really helpful to let Dave Evans know if you are able to attend and in what capacity – see dave.evans08@hotmail.co.uk

The club always tried to hold a race near to Xmas. Indeed the now sadly defunct Yorkshire Race Walking Club held an annual Boxing Day event for many years. I’ll try to dig out the results of some past Xmas races. One difficulty is that the formidable Jim Hackwood of the Sheffield club was the Northern correspondent to the Record for years and was said to overlook from time time Lancashire results! More seriously it underlines the tragedy of losing decades of club minutes and recordings. In the meantime here are four December results from 1959, 1960, 1964 and 1966.

1959

Ron, Mike, Jack and ? in a club race of the era

1960

1964

1966

Thanks as ever to Dave Ainsworth for this BBC Sounds link to an interview on BBC Radio Leeds on Alternative Sports – Race Walking

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0k6n31f

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Memories of Charlie ‘Iron Man’ Fogg

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Small World/Big Coincidence

Roy Gunnett expresses his surprise and delight:

As you might well know I work for a few hours each week in the Oxfam shop in Formby doing valuations on stuff that has been donated – such as watches and clocks, cameras, old coins, stamp albums, old toys and old photographs.

To my surprise I noticed that someone had donated a photograph of a group of policeman at Hendon Police Training college in 1971. On the far right (as you look at it) of the picture in a track suit is Charlie Fogg. What are the chances of that? It would be a big coincidence if it was in a London based charity shop – but for it to have landed up here in Formby I find astonishing. Unfortunately I do not know who donated it as it was in a bag of other stuff.

I shall always be grateful to Charlie for the fact that he allowed me and 2 other Enfield Walking Club members (Peter Worth and Trevor Parslow-Williams) in the early /mid 1970’s to use on a regular basis on Monday evenings the full range of splendid training facilities at the Hendon Police training centre.

I was saddened to hear about the death of Charlie a few years ago – a great character and the ‘iron man’ of UK race walking.

See the full article above at Tim’s Archives at the Victorian Race Walking website

This portrait appeared in October 1963 Race Walking Record

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Bill Jackson and AGM 5 kilometres, November 2nd

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Tony Taylor
Tony and Ken toe-to-toe

If not misty and moisty, a grey and gloomy day awaited the arrival of competitors, officials and supporters for the Bill Jackson 5 kilometres held in conjunction with the Club’s Annual General Meeting. Eleven sturdy souls toed the starting line including newcomer Alex Rowe, a marathoner of some repute.

Irene with the remarkable Eric Horwill
Roy safe in third

Fortunately, given the enforced absence of stalwarts, Dave and Pat Evans, a healthy number of supporters were available to fulfil the usual practical tasks.. Holding affairs together was the indispensable, distinguished figure of Eric Horwill, who had travelled by train from the Midlands, far from an easy journey, to be our timekeeper and recorder. Irene Pike and Christine Pearce kept him company and under manners, whilst Martin Payne and Sailash Shah, both injured, covered the twists and turns of the course. Chris Harvey and myself, something of spare parts, shouted encouragement and doled out bits of technical advice.

Greg leads from Steve and Joe approaching the turn
The duel between Ian and John continues

From the outset of the race a pattern was established. Tony Bell and Ken Connor fled the field and raced neck-to-neck or enjoyed a ding-dong battle, whichever cliche you prefer, through to the finish. By and large the rest followed in something of a procession, enlivened by two prolonged duels between, firstly Ian Hilditch and John Crahan, secondly Greg Smith and Steve Wilde. In the end Tony and Ken dead-heated for the honours, creating great excitement in the village. Such was the commotion that several drivers lost their bearings and proved to be a pain in the buttock for all competitors in the closing, narrow stages of the course – of which dilemmas more later.

Joe- a picture of concentration
Newcomer Alex sems to be enjoying himself


The race was followed by the AGM – with Greg Smith and Roy Gunnett leading the proceedings with aplomb and good humour. As ever, pithy asides were proffered by John Crahan, who recollected he had in the past competed gamely in the shot-put against the late, oft controversial Geoff Capes, twice a Commonwealth gold medallist.

I didn’t keep notes on the meeting but here are a few of the highlights.

Awards and Club representatives

Cliff Royle Silver Salver, which is awarded for the best long-distance performance by a Lancashire Walking – Roy Gunnett

A. J. Taylor Award, which goes to the best performance by a Lancashire Walking Club member. It can be objectively or subjectively ‘the best’ – Andrea Lennon

Chris Harvey was nominated to the honorary position of Club President and Ian Hilditch was appointed the club captain

News of members

The nonagenarian John Payn is alert and well, inhabiting evidently a rather small room in a Care Home, yearning to be on the road again. At some point we must pay homage to his remarkable achievements as a Masters Athlete.

Worryingly, Julian Hopkins, an outstanding member of the successful Club Team of yesteryear and a former National Coach suffered a stroke a fortnight before our meeting. He was not found for three days. Having visited him it was with some relief that I reported that he was able to converse in a typically. enthusiastic voice. It is too soon to know the extent of his recovery and the possibilities of independence. More to follow

Annual Subscriptions

There was a significant discussion about the relation between our Club subscription and the amount demanded by UK Athletics, namely £19. In addition there was an issue of 2ⁿᵈ claim members paying over the odds.. More on this in the future post. Meanwhile it was agreed that our Club subscription be increased to £25 per annum.

Course Concerns

Given there were some issues on the day about traffic on the Sinister course, a wider discussion ensued about the suitability of our present portfolio of venues. It was agreed we should give further thought to this question, bearing in mind the rich traditions connected to such venues as Simister, Sutton and Chorley. More to follow.

Andrea, the winner of this year’s AJ Taylor Award for the best performance of the year

HANDICAP

  1. Steve Wilde 29:01
  2. Tony Bell/Ken Connor 29:34
  3. Roy Gunnett 30:29
  4. Greg Smith 30:33
  5. Joe Hardy 31:44
  6. Ian Hilditch 32:04
  7. John Crahan 32:38
  8. Phil McCullagh 33:36
  9. Andrea Lennon 35:05
  10. Alex Rowe 35:17

AGE-GRADED

  1. Roy Gunnett 83.3%
  2. Joe Hardy 79.07%
  3. Ian Hilditch 78.48%
  4. Andrea Lennon 78.35%
  5. Tony Bell 75.50%
  6. Ken Connor 74.30%
  7. Greg Smith 72.42%
  8. Steve Wilde 71.09%
  9. John Crahan 69.35%
  10. Phil McCullagh 64.85%
  11. Alex Rowe 57.89%

Thanks to Martin Payne for the excellent photos.

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2025 FIXTURE LIST

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Tony Taylor

AGM race and meeting report plus further news to follow. For now to make them easy to find the 2025 Fixtures.

See this added date for the 100th Centurion 100 miles.

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CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING and 5 KILOMETRES RACE, NOVEMBER 2nd

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Tony Taylor

This invite plus all the appropriate papers has been sent all club members but we would like to bring the following to you attention

ANNUAL AWARDS

The following require the active participation of the membership

Two awards are decided by a vote of the membership and announced
at the meeting: (1) the A. J. Taylor Award, which goes to the best
performance by a Lancashire Walking Club member. It can be objectively
or subjectively ‘the best’; (2) the Cliff Royle Silver Salver, which is
awarded for the best long-distance performance by a Lancashire Walking
Club member.

Please name one Club member for each of these awards, giving reasons and send your proposals to either Dave Evans or Greg Smith at smithgwh@gmail.com by Tuesday 29 October 2024. Please note that this is a confidential ballot–no-one will be identified f or their nomination. But we do need your participation in this vote. You may find the Chairman’s report helpful in deciding who to nominate, as, more generally, is the Club website which contains a good record of our races:
 https://lancswalkingclub.com/

The age-graded performances posted recently at https://lancswalkingclub.com/2024/10/16/age-graded-results-for-the-2024-season/ may also be a valuable source of information.

The AGM 5 kilometres race will start at 1,00 p.m. As ever it will be really helpful if you could let Dave know if you are attending and in what capacity.

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SIXTY YEARS AGO – KEN MATTHEWS AND PAUL NIHILL BROUGHT OLYMPIC SUCCESS

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Tony Taylor

BOTH GIANTS OF OUR SPORT

At the time in 1964 I harboured no sense that Ken Matthews’ gold and Paul Nihill’s silver were to be our last medals in the walks at the Olympics. Still mucking about, not knowing if I should focus on race walking in the absence of any events for my age, I was in awe of Ken, having witnessed first hand his rhythmic elegance at the 1963 National 10 held in a rain-sodden Manchester. My hero worship intensified as he decimated the Olympic 20 kilometres field, blowing a kiss to the crowd as he finished over one and a half minutes ahead of Lindner in second and Golubnichy third. Such was my obsession that I didn’t appreciate fully Paul’s magnificent performance in the 50 kilometres, holding the legendary Abdon Pamich to less than twenty seconds in a British record. Whilst Ken retired I had the privilege of competing against Paul in the ensuing years, within which he won a European gold at 20 kilometres in 1971 and set a world record for the same distance in 1972.

OLYMPIC 20 KILOMETRES

Many thanks to omarchador.blogspot.com
Ken on the podium. Thanks to the DailyPost.uk

OLYMPIC 50 KILOMETRES

. A cold and rainy Tokyo day Thanks to alamy.com
Paul on the podium. Ta to alechtron.com
Don Thompson finished 10th and Ray Middleton 13th

The above film shows how close Paul was to Pamich at the finish

Abdon Pamich in 1964. Thanks to Stefano Malaspina

Dave Ainsworth sends this lovely anecdote as we remember Paul’s remarkable feat.

This story has been covered in Essex Walker before – that being an occasion when an Ilford AC Club vest crossed the finishing line to gain an Olympic silver medal. The race started in terribly cold conditions. Paul Nihill was wearing his GB representative vest.  On the start line, he was very cold. Several British athletes came to give our 3 British walkers (Paul, Don Thompson & Ray Middleton) a cheer – one being Ilford AC’s 2nd Olympian Fergus Murray (now aged 82) who was in Tokyo to compete at 10,000 metres.  Fergus was wearing a quarter sleeve Ilford AC vest.  Paul Nihill asked Fergus if he could have his Ilford AC vest – which was given.  He whipped off his GB vest, put on an Ilford AC vest – then replaced his GB vest on top of Ilford’s vest. 

And John Paddick, who was there in Tokyo and the last survivor of the walks team adds:

Following being second to Abdon Pamich I understand that Paul had a pet bird called Abdon. He kept telling it how Abdon would be defeated next time.

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AGE-GRADED RESULTS FOR THE 2024 SEASON

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Tony Taylor

For your delectation and interest find below the age-graded results for all our races except the One Hour event. Whilst I did estimated times for the Dave Crompton 7 miles and Macclesfield 10 miles as the Masters Calculator is based on kilometres only, I was not convinced by my effort to do the same for the One Hour event. Hence it does not appear.

For each of the races, to give a full picture, I have provided the link to the complete scratch and handicap results.

Encouraged here by Sailash, Andrea’s best age-graded effort was a remarkable 89.7%

AGM 5 KILOMETRES – SIMISTER, NOVEMBER

A Murky Day in Simister: the Club AGM 5 Kilometres
  1. Tony Taylor 93.24%
  2. Andrea Lennon  82.45%
  3. Roy Gunnett 82.09%
  4. Ken Connor 81.13%
  5. Joe Hardy 78.70%
  6. Pat Evans 77.92%
  7. Ian Hilditch 77.08%
  8. John Crahan 75.80%
  9. Adrian Edwards 73.86%
  10. Dan Maskell 72.83%
  11. Martin Payne 72.10%
  12. Greg Smith 71.39%
  13. Tony Bell 71.32%
  14. Nigel Shaw 70.56%
  15. Phil McCullagh 68.46%
  16. Steven Wilde 63.39%
  17. Sailash Shah 61.29%

VIRTUAL DECEMBER 5 KILOMETRES

Best Wishes for 2024 and December’s Virtual 5km results
  1. Tony Taylor 89.64%
  2. Andrea Lennon 83.90%
  3. Pat Evans 77.78%
  4. Joe Hardy 77.61%
  5. John Crahan 76.68%
  6. Ken Connor 76.16%
  7. Nigel Shaw  72.95%
  8. Greg Smith 70.92%
  9. Martin Payne 70.78%
  10. Tony Bell 68.67%
  11. Stephen Walker 64.43%
  12. Steven Wilde 62.89%
  13. Phil McCullagh 62.40%
Joe was solid all year with a best of 78,54%

VIRTUAL JANUARY 5 KILOMETRES

CLUB JANUARY VIRTUAL 5KMS AND SAD NEWS FROM THE CENTURIONS
  1. Tony Taylor 92.38%
  2. John Crahan 79.56%
  3. Pat Evans 79.10%
  4. Roy Gunnett 77.68%
  5. Greg Smith 74.37%
  6. Nigel Shaw 72.02%
  7. Tony Bell 69.37%
  8. Ken Connor 68.02%
  9. Martin Payne 67.78%
  10. Stephen Walker 67.13%
  11. Steven Wilde 65.15%

AGE-GRADED – ALISON TROPHY 15 KILOMETRES, MARCH

Phil calls on all-comers to take his trophy away in 2025!
  1. Roy Gunnett 75.73%
  2. Martin Payne 71.35%
  3. .John Crahan 68.27%
  4. Phil McCullagh 64.98%

AGE-GRADED – MACCLESFIELD SHIELD 10 MILES, APRIL

Windswept Sutton sees Nigel defying the conditions
  1. Andrea Lennon 82.27%
  2. Ian Hilditch 77.45%
  3. Joe Hardy 73.47%
  4. Roy Gunnett 73.18%
  5. Nigel Shaw 68.78%
  6. Martin Payne 68.40%
  7. Steven Wilde 64.28%
  8. Phil McCullagh 61.51%

AGE-GRADED – DAVE CROMPTON MEMORIAL 7 MILES, MAY

A Sunny Chorley greets the field for the Dave Crompton Memorial Trophy plus notice of the Bury 10 kilometres track, June 1st
  1. Pat Evans 78.62%
  2. Ian Hilditch 78.51%
  3. Joe Hardy 74.68%
  4. Roy Gunnett 73.99%
  5. Nigel Shaw 69.12%
  6. Adrian Edwards 69.14%
  7. Ken Connor 68.77%
  8. Steven Wilde 65.67%

AGE-GRADED – DICK AND ZENA SMITH 10 and 5 KILOMETRES TRACK, JUNE

Glyn Jones leads Tony Bell on his way to an outstanding 89.55% result
Young Blood at Bury livens up the scene

10 kilometres

  1. Roy Gunnett 83.11%
  2. Ian Hilditch 78.82%
  3. Joe Hardy 77.32%
  4. John Crahan 71.65%
  5. Tony Bell 70.07%
  6. Phil McCullagh 64.73%

8 kilometres

  1. Pat Evans 79.06%

5 kilometres

  1. Glyn Jones 89.55%
  2. Andrea Lennon 87.42%

AGE-GRADED – FRED PEARCE RELAY, 5 KILOMETRES LEGS, JULY

Close Finishes in the Fred Pearce Relay
  1. Pat Evans 77.58%
  2. Glyn Jones 77.37%
  3. Roy Gunnett 76.42%
  4. Joe Hardy 75.14%
  5. Ian Hilditch 74.18%
  6. Dave Evans 73.35%
  7. Martin Payne 68.98%
  8. Tony Bell 68.88%
  9. Nigel Shaw 68.77%
  10. Greg Smith 66.79%
  11. John Crahan 66.77%
  12. Phil McCullagh 66.17%
  13. Adrian Edwards 64.73%
  14. Steven Wilde 62.96%
  15. Sailash Shah 60.20%
  16. Martin Fisher 56.39%
    Produced by Greg Smith, 21 July 2024. V2 amended 23 July 2014

AGE-GRADED – GOODWIN TROPHY 10 KILOMETRES, AUGUST

Phil McCullagh takes the Goodwin Cup 100 years after Reg Goodwin’s Olympic silver in Paris
  1. Glyn Jones 81.97%
  2. Roy Gunnett 77.32%
  3. Joe Hardy 76.54%
  4. Steven Wilde 70.79%
  5. Ian Hilditch 69.98%
  6. Phil McCullagh 67.03%

AGE-GRADED – ALBERT RIGBY TROPHY 10 KILOMETRES, OCTOBER

Pat Evans’ consistency culminated in an excellent 81.16% score
Albert Rigby Trophy result plus news of forthcoming coaching and training sessions
  1. Pat Evans 81.16%
  2. Joe Hardy 78.54%
  3. Ian Hilditch 77.63%
  4. Roy Gunnett 75.47%
  5. Nigel Shaw 72.31%
  6. Tony Bell 68.54%
Ian Hilditch maintaining efforts as good as 78.82%
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Albert Rigby Trophy result plus news of forthcoming coaching and training sessions

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Tony Taylor
As ever a beautiful setting

Dave Evans as ever reports:

The sun shone brightly and the spirit of Albert Rigby, former stalwart of the Lancashire Walking club , enveloped the field and added yet another successful edition of this challenge.

Pat and Joe almost inseparable through the race with Joe taking the Albert Rigby trophy

Although the number of competitors was relatively small through prior engagements and family issues the 7 keen aspirants toed the starting line with 3 out and back sections to negotiate. Like most road events nowadays traffic can be a problem but most of the course can be walked on pavements . Glyn Jones volunteered to man the turnaround junction and fellow Midlander Eric Horwill took the role of chief timekeeper.

Sailash, a distinguished marshal on the course
The early leaders, Tony and Nigel
It’s always a pleasure to see Surrey’s Dave Hoben at our races

Bets were laid(hypothetically) as to who would lead the field to the end of the first circuit and as the first two individuals entered the home straight it was Tony Bell closely followed by Nigel Shaw. No money was won or lost! Roy Gunnett appeared at number 3 employing his fluid technique but maybe suffering a bit from his recent long distance efforts.

Fresh from hos 50 k exploits, Roy looking relaxed
Ian getting stuck in

At the end of the second circuit both Tony and Nigel were side by side but it looked as though the latter was waiting to go for broke judging by his arm carriage. Roy kept his bronze claiming place with Joe Hardy and Pat Evans vying for fourth, 5 seconds between the latter two.

Literally neck and neck – great image

The third and final circuit saw the most major changes with Nigel going for broke between miles 4 and 5 and putting some fast work in to this section and bringing him home by nearly 3 minutes. Roy, Joe and Pat walked very well with only 56 seconds covering all three.

Nigel pulling away on his way to victory – watched by a certain marshal


Results

A bottle of bubbly for Nigel
  1. Nigel Shaw [M60] 65:00(21:44,44:17)
  2. Tony Bell [M60] 67:52(21:43,44:16)
  3. Roy Gunnett [M75] 75:04(24:05,48:58)
  4. Joe Hardy [M80] 75:35(25:04,50:18)
  5. Pat Evans [W70] 76:00(25:11,50:23)
  6. Dave Hoben [M70] 78:38(25:07,51:23)
  7. Ian Hilditch [M80] 80:28(26:13,53:12

5.5 kms Greg Smith [M70] 49:47.

Handicap

Whilst Pat is on the plonk too!
  1. Joe Hardy 63:50
  2. Pat Evans 64:00
  3. Nigel Shaw 65:00
  4. Tony Bell 65:07
  5. Dave Hoben 66:08
  6. Ian Hilditch 68:43
  7. Roy Gunnett 69:04

Age-Graded

  1. Pat Evans 81.16%
  2. Joe Hardy 78.54%
  3. Ian Hilditch 77.63%
  4. Roy Gunnett 75.47%
  5. Nigel Shaw 72.31%
  6. Tony Bell 68.54%

As ever but not taken for granted, thanks to Greg Smith for the excellent images.

Adrian Edwards informs us of future coaching and training possibilities at Woodbank Park, Stockport

We’ve booked in 3 sessions; Sunday October 20th, Sunday November 24th, and Sunday 12th January.

On 24th November I’m hoping to do a 5 kilometres race walk time trial starting at 1pm; although the track will be available from 12 until 5 as usual.

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ALBERT RIGBY TROPHY, OCTOBER 5th

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Tony Taylor

Roy Gunnett informs that our great friend, Marshall has confirmed all is in place to hold the Albert Rigby 10 kilometres race on Saturday 0ctober 5th from the Sutton Ex Servicemen’s Club, Hollin Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield SK11 0HL. The event will start at 1.00 a.m.

As many of you will know Marshall and Kath always put on an excellent post-race buffet. Thus if possible, let Dave at dave.evans80@hotmail.co.uk know by midweek if you are attending and in what capacity. This will help enormously the organisation of the event and the task of gauging how many butties, pies and cakes to prepare. Mouth-watering, Thanks for your cooperation.

Great photo by Greg of the landmark left turn featured in most of the Sutton races over the years.

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