Lancashire Walking Club : Health The First Wealth

Guy Goodair, his dear friend, forwarded this moving tribute to George Barras. an outstanding race walker, fell runner and athlete.

George Barras ( 2 May 1932 – 6 Jun 2024)

It is with a heavy heart I announce the death of my greatest ever mate, George Barras, who
died of a stroke aged 92. George was an all-round sportsman, playing for his county at table tennis and football for his local Guiseley club.

He briefly walked for Yorks WC before joining Wakefield Harriers in June 1961.

He was a member of Wakefield’s winning teams in the following races – the Manchester to Blackpool 1965,1968,1969, the Bradford Walk 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, the Isle of Man TT walk, 1966, 1967, the Gomersal 15 1969,1969, and York 20km 1967, 1968. He became a Centurion (361) in the 1964 Leicester to Skegness race. He won the Isle of Man TT Walk in 1966 and the Manchester to Blackpool 51.75 miles in 1969. His personal best times were 10 miles 77m 57s. 20km 101m 11s, 20 ml 2h 49m 7s 50km 4h 41m 58s

He retired from race walking in 1969 and for a few years did LDWA events in the North of
England, Then in 1984 he completed the 42 peaks challenge of the Bob Graham Round,
being the first person to complete the Centurion/BGR double (I believe that Boyd & Lillian
Millen are the only other ones.) He began doing fell races, often winning the Vets 0/50
category in such races as the Ennerdale , Coniston . Rivington Pike, Tour of Pendle, and Thieveley Pike. In 1985 He tied with Bill Gauld with 230 pts for a championship win.

One of his last races was the Everest Marathon (from Everest Base Camp through the Khumbu Glacier down to the finish in Namche Bazaar.

I’ve lost a great friend. Rest in Peace, George, united with your beloved Ann at last.

Guy’s tribute is supplemented by this piece from the Essex Race Walker, courtesy of our friend, Dave Ainsworth. Its very appearance exemplifies the deep comradeship felt by walkers across the years and across the country.

Not one with Essex connections as far as we know, but well known by our more senior readers. George Barras joined the Centurions after completing a “point-to-point” distance between Leicester and Skegness – a great event with so many happy memories from a 1958 commencement to its 1978 end. In 1964 George became Centurion 361 in a time of 22:28.18 – walking with fellow Wakefield Harrier Martyn Cartwright for 85 miles, before Martyn felt a bit “wobbly” so could no longer match George’s pace. Martyn became Centurion 363 in 22:36.15. Martyn came south to Amersham and joined Chiltern Harriers. An octogenarian, he retired from race walking at the start of Covid, but nowadays assists as a marshal. Martyn organised – and raced in – an annual Pednor 5 Miles, held near Chesham. Like many sporting events, this race vanished from fixtures’ lists at “lockdown” and hasn’t returned. Alas it probably won’t.

Wakefield Harriers had a strong and successful Walking Section, with members who relished challenges at longer distances. George did the “big ones” and broke the tape in the 1966 Isle of Man TT (37 & 3/4 miles) in 6:01.03. Together with 3rd placed Guy Goodair & Ken Bingley in 8th, clocking 6:09.15 & 6:52.13 respectively – Wakefield Harriers were team winners. Interesting to note recent RWA President Eric Horwill earned the 2nd handicap prize. George led the field home in the 1969 Manchester-to-Blackpool event – a race in excess of 50 miles – with 8:13.35 on the stopwatch. Club colleague Guy Goodair recorded 3 wins (’64/65/73) in this event, held from 1908-to-2008 (with 2 intervals). George had a brief spell with Yorkshire Walking Club before making his name with Wakefield. In earlier times he played table tennis for Yorkshire and Non-League football at a high level with Guiseley FC.

After a 1969 race walking retirement he was active with the Long Distance Walking Association. In 1984 he completed the “Bob Graham Round” (66 miles’ circuit of the 42 highest Lake District peak within 24 hours) which saw him become a member of an exclusive Bob Graham Round 24 Hour Club. George was 1 of 3 Centurions to achieve entry, along with Kendal AC duo C907 Lillian & C930 Boyd Millen. Their Bob Graham Club membership numbers are 315, 169 and 14 respectively. Why stop there as one of his last races was the annual Everest Marathon (World’s highest marathon) from an Everest base camp through Khumbu glacier down to a finish at Namche bazaar. George was 92 when he bowed out – and we extend our condolences to his family. DA. Note : Much information was sent by C327 Guy Goodair, who described George as his greatest ever teammate. Guy’s contribution is acknowledged and also praised by Centurions’ Secretary Chris Flint.

I did not know him but know of him. Another great character gone. Richard Cole (Centurions Hon. Treasurer)
I remember his great performances from the early 60s. Wonderful tribute from the great Guy Goodair, one of the Foundation Stones of Northern Area Race Walking in yesteryear. May George Rest in Peace. With sincere condolences. Bill and Kath Sutherland
A splendid tribute to an impressive career. Thanks for sharing. All best Sandra Brown
A wonderful insight to an amazing race walker and athlete who completed so many classic races and LDWA routes. Lesser mortals like me flinch at the sheer effort involved. His generation was a tough one, and on behalf of Centurions we send our condolences on the passing of George. Chris Flint

As for those up North, who knew George we are getting thin on the ground. I hope some memories may follow. As for myself I remember rushing around with sponges, feeding on the Blackpool. All the more so as I was on the pavements when George won in 1969. As was often the case we remembered each other well from our tussle in the 1968 Northern 10 miles championship. I was but a young upstart, who never climbed to George’s heights.

Tony Taylor