Record
Dominic King
Clocks 3:55:48 for 50km to go
Race Walking Walking Race second on British all-time list
October 2016
Race Walking Record – October 2016
Welsh Athletics Awards 2016 Bethan Davies was awarded the Female Endurance Athlete of the Year after an excellent season. Bethan was unbeaten in all her domestic races which included the Welsh Championships, Indoor and Outdoor British Championships and Manchester International. Although just missing out on selection for the 2016 Olympics, her times from this year put her in second place on the all-time rankings for the 3000m walk, 10k walk and 20k walk, and she is now 20 seconds clear of the second ranked athlete on the all-time indoor 3000m walk, where she holds the British record. Source: www.welshathletics.org
Ron Pickering Memorial Fund 2016 Young Athlete Awards A key highlight of the England Athletics National Volunteer Awards evening was the presentation of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund young athlete awards in the U23, U20 and U18 categories. This year’s winners were Dina Asher-Smith (U23), Callum Wilkinson (U20) and George Mills (U18).
George Mills ~ Dina Asher-Smith ~ Callum Wilkinson
Bethan pictured with Welsh Race Walking legend & Olympian Steve Barry
England Athletics 2016 National Community Volunteer Awards – Dave Sunderland Memorial Bursary The bursary set up in Dave Sunderland's memory was also presented - this aims to support development opportunities for coaches and the recipient this year is Andi Drake. Andi has an inclusive high National Championships 2017 performance training group and support team that includes school 07/08 Jan. England Athletics Indoor Sheffield and student athletes training alongside elite U20 world 10,000m walk 11/12 Feb. British Athletics Indoor Sheffield champion Callum Wilkinson and Olympian Tom Bosworth. His legendary Track Tuesday nights, at Leeds Beckett University, are a 04 Mar. England Athletics 10km (with Molly Barnet) Coventry great environment for endurance coaching. His friendship and 11/12 Mar. British Masters Indoors Lee Valley professional coaching role with Dave Sunderland helped Andi to start 22 Apr. RWA Inter-Area Match TBC (South) realising his own personal coaching goals. 29/30 Apr. BA/RWA 10km & RWA YAG Coventry 18 Jun. England Athletics U23/U20 Bedford Andi told us, “It was a lovely surprise. It’s a bit clichéd but I should 24-25 Jun. British Masters Outdoor Birmingham share this with a whole bunch of people I work with.” Two of his 25 Jun. BA/EA/RWA 20km (World Champ. Trial) Leeds athletes were present at the event; Callum Wilkinson said, “He’s a 02 Jul. British Athletics Senior Outdoor Birmingham great coach – very helpful. He’s really helped me with my move to Leeds recently.” Tom Bosworth added, “I’ve been coached by Andi 30 Jul. CAU/EA Senior Outdoor Bedford for seven years. He’s always been most welcoming and 05-06 Aug. 100 Mile Bury St Edmunds supportive. He gets on your back if you slack on training but he’s only 27 Aug. England Athletics U17/U15 Bedford looking out for you. I can’t thank him enough." 16 Sept. English Schools Bolton Source: www.englandathletics.org 01 Oct. RWA Festival of Race Walking & 50km TBC
Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016 Overseas Deutsche Meisterschaften Straßengehen (German Championships Race Walking), Andernach (Sat. 8th Oct.) Carl Dohmann won the German 50km title in a personal best 3:47:57. Behind him, 20-year-old Karl Junghannß recorded 3:52:46 on his debut over 50km. Dominic King finished fourth in a personal best and UK lead of 3:55:48 to go second on the British all-time list, securing a qualifying time for the 2017 IAAF World Championships.
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Selection Policies England Athletics and Commonwealth Games England have announced details of the athletics selection policy for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The published selection standards for the race walks are: Men’s 20km – 1:25:00 Women’s 20km - 1:37:00 Men’s 50km The policy states that with a maximum athletics team size of 75, athletes must realise gaining a selection standard does not guarantee Posn Athlete Nation Perf Notes selection. 1 Carl Dohmann GER 3:47:57 PB The full selection policy can be found at: 2 Karl Junghannß GER 3:52:46 Debut http://www.englandathletics.org/library- 3 Michelle Antonelli ITA 3:53:08 PB media/documents/England%20Athletics%202018%20Commonwealth% 4 Dominic King GBR 3:55:48 PB 20Games%20Selection%20Policy%20FINAL%20-%20Oct%202016.pdf ______5 Andrea Argusti ITA 3:56:17 Welsh Athletics in conjunction with Commonwealth Games Wales 6 Nathaniel Seiler GER 3:58:03 Debut have agreed their nomination policy for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. African Centurions 24 Hour Walk, Robben Island, Cape nd rd The published nomination standards for the race walks are: Town, South Africa (Sat. 22 to Sun 23 Oct.) The inaugural African Centurions 24 Hour Walk was held on Robben Men’s 20km A: 1:24:00 Women’s 20km A: 1:37:00 Island, Cape Town, the infamous penal colony where Nelson Mandela B: 1:26:00 B: 1:40:00 was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he spent behind bars. To date, The full nomination policy can be found at: three former inmates of the prison have gone on to become http://www.welshathletics.org/media/1067575/cwg-nomination-policy- President of South Africa: Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe and athletics_2018_final.pdf the current President Jacob Zuma. After an opening lap of 11km, the walkers completed 21 laps of 7km Race Walking Association Annual General Meeting and then a final lap of 3km to make up the required 161km (100 miles). The 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Race Walking Association is to be held on Sunday 11th December in Birmingham at Alexander Stadium, commencing at 2pm. The formal notice and agenda can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/racewalkingassociation/?fref=ts
Richard Gerrard & Janette Morgan
The first two places in the men’s race went to Manx walkers Richard Gerrard and Dave Walker ahead of South African Kersten Mosig. It was another Manx walker, Janette Morgan who took the win in the women’s race ahead of Sandra Brown (Surrey WC) and Jackie Goosen
Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016
(South Africa). Everyone achieving 100 miles within 24 hours were M75 5000m (26th Oct.) awarded African Centurion badges. Posn Athlete Nation Perf Sandra Brown has become the only person in the world to have 1 Christoph Hohne GER 32:20.71 achieved all seven Centurion badges – English, Continental, 2 Jim Seymon AUS 33:38.15 Australian, American, Malaysian, New Zealand and now African. 3 Ed Shillabeer GBR 33:42:46 Men’s 100 Mile Posn Athlete Club Perf 7 Ron Stewart GBR 40:34.20
1 Richard Gerrard (M40) Isle of Man Veterans AC 19:42:01 M80 5000m (26th Oct.) 2 David Walker (M40) Manx Harriers 20:31:29 Posn Athlete Nation Perf 3 Kersten Mosig South Africa 20:37:46 1 Norbert Will GBR 36:05.97 4 James Quirk (M40) Manx Harriers 21:36:33 5 Peter Miller (M40) Unattached 21:44:39 2 Colin Silcock-Delaney AUS 39:25.87 6 Chris Cale (M45) Manx Harriers 22:11:01 3 Ian Beaumont AUS 44:53.87
Women’s 100 Mile The women’s 5000m took place on the second day. Unsurprisingly Posn Athlete Club Perf the host nation dominated winning 14 medals (5 gold, 7 silver and 2 1 Janette Morgan (W50) Isle of Man Veterans AC 20:56:47 bronze). Highest placed Brit was Cath Duhig, who finished 5th in the 2 Sandra Brown (W65) Surrey Walking Club 22:22:14 W60 age group, achieving her aim of a top eight finish and a sub 31- 3 Jackie Goosen South Africa 23:35:19 minute clocking.
W50 5000m (27th Oct.) Posn Athlete Nation Perf 1 Esmeralda Rocha de Souza BRA 28:39.67 2 Ann Staunton-Jugovic AUS 28:43.67
ITA Over 4000 athletes at these championships; unsurprisingly the 3 Manuela Lucaferro 29:32.24 biggest contingent being from the host nation Australia with 1416. 7 Maureen Noel GBR 32:05.20 The second largest is Great Britain with 282, containing just nine race W55 5000m (27th Oct.) walkers. Posn Athlete Nation Perf The men’s 5000m track walks took place on the opening day of the AUS in sunny but not overly hot conditions. 1 Pam Tindal 27:15.69 ITA The first race covered age groups 75 to 94 years and resulted in a 2 Peppina Demartis 27:27.40 clear victory for Christoph Hohne (1968 Olympic 50km champion) a 3 Carmen Garcia Frontons ESP 28:45.93 newcomer to the M75 age group ahead of Australian Jim Seymon and 10 Fiona Bishop GBR 34:38.10 Britain’s Ed Shillabeer. Norbert Will was a clear winner in the M80 13 Carrie Oliver GBR 38:23.57 age group. The M65 age group was always going to be a head to head between W60 5000m (27th Oct.) Briton Ian Richards and the stylish Mexican Jose Lopez Camarena, Posn Athlete Nation Perf especially as Australian Andrew Jamieson had moved out of the age 1 Barbara Nell RSA 27:32.00 group. The Mexican went out hard and straight into the lead ahead 2 Lynette Ventris AUS 27:51.27 of world record pace with Richards chasing hard. Although the Mexican tired Ian had to settle for silver in his fastest time for two 3 Barbara Bryant AUS 28:53.58 years and the satisfaction that he is still the world record holder. 5 Cath Duhig GBR 30:46.22
10km – The races were held on a parkland course in good conditions; clear blue skies, mild temperature and slight breeze with plenty of shade on the course. Seven of the nine British walkers raced coming away with four medals (3 silver and 1 bronze). Ian Richards had again Emmanuel Tardi to settle for M65 silver behind Mexican Jose Luis Lopez Camarena. Ed Shillabeer walked strongly to take silver in the M75 age group. Norbert Will was unable to repeat his gold of the 5000m, taking silver. Cath Duhig got in amongst the medals taking bronze in the W60 age group. Fiona Bishop was disqualified in the W55 race. W50 10km (31st Oct) Posn Athlete Nation Perf 1 Esmeralda Rocha de Souza BRA 59:27 2 Ann Staunton-Jugovic AUS 60:42 3 Karyn Tolando AUS 60:42
Ian Richards & Jose Luis Lopez Camarena 8 Maureen Noel GBR 64:11 M65 5000m (26th Oct.) st Posn Athlete Nation Perf W60 10km (31 Oct.) Posn Athlete Nation Perf 1 Jose Luis Lopez Camarena MEX 24:30.30 1 Barbara Nell RSA 57:54 2 Ian Richards GBR 24:55.00 2 Barbara Bryant AUS 59:30 3 Eric Kemsley NZL 26:53.78 3 Cath Duhig GBR 61:52 GBR 7 Peter Boszko 28:17.90
Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016
M65 10km (31st Oct.) Enfield League 5 Yacht Handicap, Lee Valley (Sat. 8th Oct.) Posn Athlete Nation Perf Because of a road closure the race this year was over a one mile 1 Jose Luis Lopez Camarena MEX 51:30 circuit, held in cool but dry conditions, reports Ron Wallwork. John Borgars who seems to being going better than ever since his history 2 Ian Richards GBR 52:27 making 100-mile debut at Redcar in August, was first to cross the 3 Eric Kemsley NZL 56:14 finishing line. 5 Peter Boszko GBR 58:12 This handicap format never fails to produce exciting racing and so it
M75 10km (31st Oct.) did again. David Crane and Penelope Cummings were the quickest Posn Athlete Nation Perf man and woman on the day, but there were personal bests by Sebastian Parris, Melanie Peddle and Joyce Crawford and it was GER 1 Christoph Hohne 65:22 pleasing to see Steve Uttley in action again. Loughton AC with four in 2 Ed Shillabeer GBR 68:14 the first dozen would have won the handicap team prize if there had 3 Alexis de Coppet SUI 70:31 been one, and Peter Cassidy deserves a mention for being the oldest walker (75) in the race who bettered the hour. M80 10km (31st Oct.) The prizes were provided and presented by Sean Pender and Thanks Posn Athlete Nation Perf to handicapper Jon May who got over half the field within a couple 1 Robert Gardiner AUS 70:33 of minutes. 2 Norbert Will GBR 76:18 Mixed 5 Mile (B) 3 Ian Beaumont AUS 89:22 Posn Athlete Club Perf 1 David Crane (M35) Surrey Walking Club 41:49 2 Jim Ball (M50) Steyning Athletic Club 43:23
Domestic 3 Sebastian Parris Ilford Athletic Club 46:39 8th South Yorkshire League, Millhouses (Fri. 7th Oct.) 4 Mark Culshaw (M50) Belgrave Harriers 46:53 Although the title was no longer in dispute… won by Kai Cundey, the 5 Penelope Cummings (W40) Aldershot Farnham & District 48:34 final South Yorkshire League race saw the possibility of any of the 6 Helen Middleton (W50) Enfield & Haringey AC 49:50 other top seven taking the minor places, reports Brian Adams. 7 Maureen Noel (W50) Belgrave Harriers 49:59 8 John Ralph (M55) Enfield & Haringey AC 50:33 Lancashire Walking Club’s Tony Bell based at Sheffield Hallam 9 Cath Duhig (W60) Ryston Runners AC 51:26 University was first to start with Simon Push starting only 33 seconds 10 Melanie Peddle (W45) Loughton Athletic Club 51:31 behind (both racing over 5km), Simon closed to 11 seconds at the 11 Gary Smith (M60) Enfield & Haringey AC 51:34 end. This close-proximity kept them both working hard and they 12 Joyce Crawford (W45) Eastern Masters AC 51:53 came home in 1st and 3rd places this was enough to move Tony up to 2nd in the series and Simon to equal 3rd (with Natalie Myers). 13 Steve Uttley (M55) Ilford Athletic Club 51:57 14 John Borgars (M70) Loughton Athletic Club 52:06 These two were split in the closing stages by Owen Bradshaw whose 15 John Taylor (M50) Loughton Athletic Club 52:30 10.43 has only been bettered by national champion Alex Macheath 16 Dan Maskell (M65) Surrey Walking Club 52:46 (Camb. Hs.) last season. Five personal bests from nine walkers: Owen, 17 Angela Martin (W50) Surrey Walking Club 55:38 Simon, Toby, Jake and Imogen. 18 Malcolm Martin (M60) Surrey Walking Club 55:40 Posn Athlete Club Perf Dist. 19 Michael Harran (M75) Surrey Walking Club 55:59 1 Tony Bell (M50) Lancashire Walking Club 31:08 5km 20 Sean Pender (M60) Enfield & Haringey AC 56:02 2 Owen Bradshaw (U13B) Westfield School 10:43 2km 21 Jo Miles (W60) Hillingdon Athletic Club 57:06 3 Simon Pugh (M55) Rotherham Harriers 30:46 5km 22 Geraldine Legon (W55) Bexley Athletic Club 59:15 4 Toby Chaplin (U13B) Mylnhurst School 13:14 2km 23 David Hoben (M60) Surrey Walking Club 59:28 5 Kai Cundey (U13B) C if Sheffield & Dearne 18:05 3km 24 David Delaney (M70) Surrey Walking Club 59:36 6 Jake Borrill (U13B) Bradway School 6:26 1km 25 Peter Cassidy (M70) Loughton Athletic Club 59:46 7 Imogen Walker (U11G) Greenhill School 7.12 1km 26 Sue Clements (W60) Cambridge & Coleridge AC 61:36 8 Lara MacColl (U15G) C of Sheffield & Dearne 19:10 3km 27 Francoise Fernandez (W65) Loughton Athletic Club 62:01 9 Luca Cundey (U11B) Intake Primary School 12:39 2km 28 Jon May (M60) Enfield & Haringey AC 64:05 Albert Rigby Shield 10k, Sutton Macclesfield (Sat. 8th Oct.) 29 David Ainsworth (M65) Ilford Athletic Club 73:15 30 Micheal Barnbrook (M70) Ilford Athletic Club 73:15 Glyn Jones and Stuart Edgar, who travelled up from the Midlands, Shaun Lightman (M75) Surrey Walking Club DNF gained first and second positions in the race, reports Roy Gunnett. John Crahan won the handicap race and was awarded the Albert 2 Miles (B) Rigby Shield. Posn Athlete Club Perf Mixed 10km (B) 1 George Wilkinson (U15B) Enfield & Haringey AC 20:26 Posn Athlete Club Perf 2 Patrick McAllister (U20M) London Heathside 20:38 1 Glyn Jones (M70) Coventry Godiva Harriers 65:30 Yorkshire Winter League 1, Beverley (Sun. 9th Oct.) 2 Stuart Edgar (M45) Dudley & Stourbridge Hs 65:33 At a quiz, which the organiser attended some years ago, reports Alan 3 John Crahan (M65) Lancashire Walking Club 66:21 Brooks, a question was ‘What town on the east coast goes under a 4 Joe Hardy (M70) Lancashire Walking Club 67:22 girls’ name?’ I remember it because some enterprising competitor 5 Pat Evans (W65) Lancashire Walking Club 67:29 said ‘Mablethorpe’! The answer, of course was Beverley, and there 6 Dave Crompton (M50) Lancashire Walking Club 67:58 we were, or a few of us anyway, on a course provided by Mike 7 Irene Pike (W65) Lancashire Walking Club 71:01 Nicholson. 8 Steve Sergeant (M65) Lancashire Walking Club 71:34 Of the six who turned out, one was a newcomer, and one a returnee. 9 Roy Gunnett (M65) Lancashire Walking Club 71:53 Obviously, we need more than that to make the series viable, and 10 John Payn (M80) Lancashire Walking Club 79:49 one hopes that attendance at WL2 in York will show improvement. 11 Ian Hilditch (M75) Lancashire Walking Club 79:50
12 Ian Vaughan (M60) Lancashire Walking Club 81:36 Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016
10km (B) 7 Ann Wheeler (W60) Leicester Walking Club 66:37 Posn Athlete Club Perf 8 George Smolinski (M60) Leicester Walking Club 66:43 1 A Thacker Yorkshire Race Walking Club 66:22 9 John Constandinou (M40) Birchfield Harriers 68:21 2 Russ Jackson (M70) Yorkshire Race Walking Club 66:25 10 Hardeep Minhas (M55) Nuneaton Harriers 69:28 3 Mark Byrne (M55) Redcar Race Walking Club 68:59 11 David Fall (M70) Birchfield Harriers 74:20 4 Les Holmes (M45) Redcar Race Walking Club 72:09 12 Kate Sergent (W60) Stratford-on-Avon AC 74:20 5 Dave Jones (M65) Redcar Race Walking Club 73:31 Manx Harriers 1-Hour Challenge, Douglas (Sun. 9th Oct.) 6 Keith French (M75) Yorkshire Race Walking Club 82:49 Brilliant turnout of 62 walkers in total reports Bridget Kaneen. Many th Midland Winter League 1, Stourport (Sun. 9 Oct.) thanks to Irene and Michael George of sponsors The Welbeck for A slight downward participation in numbers on the start line as their sponsorship and feeding everyone at the finish and thanks also compared to the previous year for the first Midland Area Winter to race officials and everyone who turned out to help or support. Well League Series of meetings held on the cycle circuit of Stourport done to all participants. Sports Club, reports Glyn Jones. Hopefully numbers will increase for the second meeting to be held on Sunday 30th October 2016 at Alexander Stadium, Perry Barr, Birmingham, Mixed 5km (B) Posn Athlete Club Perf 1 Mark Williams (M50) Tamworth athletic Club 25:34 2 Lisa Kehler (W45) Wolverhampton & Bilston 25:56 3 Ben Allen (U17M) Leicester Walking Club 26:10 4 Grazina Narviliene (W40) Lithuania 28:01 5 Carolyn Dyall (W35) Nuneaton Harriers 28:46 6 Colin Turner (M70) Nuneaton Harriers 28:55 7 Colin Vesty (M50) Leicester Walking Club 29:01 8 Steve Arnold (M50) Nuneaton Harriers 29:05 9 Jordan Price (U17M) Brecon Athletic Club 29:32 Mixed 1 Hour Road (B) 10 Ann Wheeler (W60) Leicester Walking Club 29:40 Posn Athlete Club Dist. 11 Daniel McKerlich (U17M) Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club 29:54 1 Adam Cowin (U23M) Manx Harriers 12.427 12 Julie Bellfield (W45) Halesowen Athletic Club 30:15 2 Gianni Epifani (M45) Manx Harriers 11.444 13 John Constandinou (M40) Birchfield Harriers 31:27 3 Erika Kelly Northern Athletic Club 11.361 14 Stuart Edgar (M45) Dudley & Stourbridge Hs 32:02 4 Dale Farquhar (M35) Manx Harriers 11.108 15 Matthew Phipps (U20M) Neath Harriers 32:14 5 Jock Waddington (M50) Manx Harriers 10.568 16 Laura Matkin (W40) Nuneaton Harriers 32:22 6 Hannah Hunter Manx Harriers 10.533 17 Hardeep Mindas (M55) Leicester Walking Club 32:33 7 James Quirk (M40) Manx Harriers 9.982 18 Lynn Bellfield (W50) Halesowen Athletic Club 32:39 8 Connor Gilberts (U20M) Unattached 9.901 19 Sarah Trundley (W40) Nuneaton Harriers 33:05 9 Dave Mackey (M45) Manx Harriers 9.814 20 Amy Phipps (U20W) Neath Harriers 33:12 10 Andy Green (M60) Manx Harriers 9.780 21 Wendy Kane (W45) Notts Athletic Club 34:45 11 Jayne Farquhar (W45) Manx Harriers 9.581 22 Sarah Lightman (W45) Leicester Walking Cub 35:05 12 Dick Callin (M55) Manx Harriers 9.385 23 David Fall (M70) Birchfield Harriers 35:23 13 Richard Leigh (M45) Unattached 9.355 24 Karen Davies (W55) Birchfield Harriers 35:54 14 Stuart Gibson (M45) Unattached 9.332 25 Terry Morris (M70) Nuneaton Harriers 36:36 15 Stephanie Quayle (W50) Unattached 9.313 Under 15 Girls 3km (B) 16 Ed Walter (M40) Manx Harriers 9.066 Posn Athlete Club Perf 17 Kathryn Clough (W40) Isle of Man Veterans AC 9.051 1 Katie Haynes Dudley & Stourbridge Hs 22:19 18 Colin Crennell (M50) Unattached 9.000 2 Anya Korpal Birchfield Harriers 23:43 19 Simon Cox (M65) Road Runners 8.984 20 Alice Bellando (U17W) Manx Harriers 8.968 Under 15 Boys 3km (B) Posn Athlete Club Perf 21 Louise Hollings (W35) Isle of Man Veterans AC 8.945 1 Daniel Gilbert Brecon Athletic Club 20:47 22 Sharon Cain (W45) Western Athletic Club 8.935 23 Peter Miller (M40) Unattached 8.896 Under 13 Girls 2km (B) 24 Colin Moore (M55) Isle of Man Veterans AC 8.690 Posn Athlete Club Perf 25 Voirrey Cian (W50) Northern Athletic Club 8.597 1 Elizabeth Pap Nuneaton Harriers 13:38 26 Andy Baxendale (M45) Isle of Man Veterans AC 8.571 2 Caitlin Casey Birchfield Harriers 14:19 27 Jana Kelly (W45) Northern Athletic Club 8.563 3 Molly McKerlich Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club 14:33 28 Maura Kelly (W45) Northern Athletic Club 8.558 Under 11 Girls 1km (B) 29 Richard Sille (M40) Manx Fell Runners 8.483 Posn Athlete Club Perf 30 Sarah Nash (W40) Manx Tri Club 8.480 1 Katie Collis Birchfield Harriers 8:50 31 Norbert Will (M80) Northern Ireland Masters 8.286 Mixed 10km (B) 32 Maureen Cox (W65) Road Runners 8.242 Posn Athlete Club Perf 33 May Hooper (W45) Unattached 8.219 1 Dwane Butterly (M50) Leicester Walking Club 54:14 34 Dawn Caley (W40) Unattached 8.139 2 Peter Boszko (M65) Birchfield Harriers 59:19 35 Ann-Marie Clucas (W35) Manx Harriers 8.131 3 Graham Chapman (M60) Headington Road Runners 59:52 36 Enid Watson (W65) Isle of Man Veterans AC 8.046 4 Colin Vesty (M50) Leicester Walking Club 62:19 37 Leanne Bates (W35) Unattached 7.817 5 Chris Berwick (M70) Leicester Walking Club 65:17 38 Julie Barlow Unattached 7.817 6 Paul Hawkins (M60) Stratford-on-Avon AC 66:09 39 Emma Campbell (W40) Northern Athletic Club 7.727 Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016
40 Peter Shimmin (M55) Unattached 7.653 Trialling the lap of 600 metres for the first time, Stuart had the 41 Jonathan Crossley (M50) Unattached 7.586 company of brother Jason for two laps as they crossed the line in 42 Rachael Cook (W45) Unattached 7.514 6:39, after an opening 3:19. Jason pulled out of the race at this point 43 Dot Watterson (W55) Unattached 7.363 with reoccurring injury, whilst Stuart increased his speed over the 44 Ayren Kelly Unattached 6.936 next three laps with 3:19, 3:14 and a closing lap of 2:57 for a final 45 Sarah Goldsmith (W70) Isle of Man Veterans AC 6.899 time of 16.08. 46 Debbie James (W45) Unattached 6.710 Second home was Kevin Le Noury in 20:14 followed by Marie 47 Lynn Ryan (W55) Unattached 6.710 Macdonald and Donna Allan in 20:45 and 20:48 respectively. In the 48 Dee Dentith (W35) Unattached 6.607 shorter walk over 1.5 kilometres on a 750 metres lap, Stuart recorded 49 Christine Kelly (W40) Unattached 6.602 8:05, with Rob Elliott in 8:22 taking second place. Fastest of the 50 Karen Blackstock (W55) Unattached 6.531 women was Donna Allan 11:06 ahead of Kay Coulson in 11:12. 51 Felicity Burton (W40) Unattached 6.531 Mixed 3km (B) 52 Fiona Shaw (W45) Northern Athletic Club 6.294 Posn Athlete Club Perf 53 Carolanne Hanley Unattached 5.622 1 Stuart Le Noury Sarnia Walking Club 16:08 Mixed Half Hour Road (B) 2 Kevin Le Noury (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 20:14 Posn Athlete Club Dist. 3 Marie Macdonald (W40) Sarnia Walking Club 20:45 =1 Hannah Miller (W40) Unattached 4.263 4 Donna Allen (W40) Sarnia Walking Club 20:48 =1 Sean Miller (U15B) Unattached 4.263 5 Peter Beckerleg (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 21:23 =3 Chris Morris (M65) Unattached 4.065 6 Mick Le Sauvage (M75) Sarnia Walking Club 21:29 =3 John Morris (M65) Unattached 4.065 7 Kay Coulson (W45) Sarnia Walking Club 21:37 5 Mary Tait (M40) Manx Harriers 3.754 8 Olga Le Noury (W35) Sarnia Walking Club 22:11 9 Dave Dorey (M65) Sarnia Walking Club 23:31 Mixed 1 Mile Road (B) Posn Athlete Club Dist. 10 Jayne Le Noury (W55) Sarnia Walking Club 23:35 1 Daniel Lawrie Unattached 13:05 Jason Le Noury Sarnia Walking Club DNF 2 Sophie Lawrie Unattached 13:47 Mixed 1.5km (B) 3 Charlie Mackintosh Unattached 15:37 Posn Athlete Club Perf 4 Noah Sykes Unattached 21:13 1 Stuart Le Noury Sarnia Walking Club 8:08 2 Rob Elliott (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 8:22 Sarnia Walking Club Bob Wright Handicap Series Race Two th 3 Kevin Le Noury (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 10:21 10 Kilometres Road Walk, (Sun. 16 Oct.) 4 Peter Beckerleg (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 10:27 Newcomer Donna Allan, with only a handful of races behind her 5 Mick Le Sauvage (M75) Sarnia Walking Club 10:50 scored an emphatic victory in the second race of the Bob Wright 6 Donna Allan (W40) Sarnia Walking Club 11:06 Handicap Series, reports Rob Elliott. Set off with this year’s Sarnia 7 Kay Coulson (W45) Sarnia Walking Club 11:12 Walking Club Champion Olga Le Noury, after finishing close together 8 Jayne Le Noury (W55) Sarnia Walking Club 11:25 in the first race, Donna pulled away mid race and looking easy crossed 9 Dave Dory (M65) Sarnia Walking Club 12:26 the line in an actual time of 66 minutes 35 seconds for a new Olga Le Noury (W35) Sarnia Walking Club DNF Guernsey age best time. Midland Winter League 2, Birmingham (Sun. 30th Oct.) Almost five minutes behind, Olga held on for second place with only Only a very slight increase in entries for the 2nd Midland Winter half a minute separating positions 2 to 5, as she led in Peter League Series but this has to be encouraging, reports Glyn Jones. Beckerleg, Kevin Le Noury and Mick Le Sauvage. Dwayne Butterly of Leicester W.C. continued to show his form and An off form Phil Lockwood finished 6th with Stuart Le Noury, with the authority in the 10km and by a clear margin in the scratch race. fastest time of the day, finishing well down on expected time having run two races over 5km the day before. In the 5km, Emma Achurch turned out for her club (Leicester W.C.) and her consistent form proved a success in coming home first but Young Ellis Lockwood walked two laps of the course for 1250 metres closely followed for the majority of the race by Lisa Kehler of Wolv. & in an under U11’s development walk, recording a time of 9:36, 25 Bilston A.C. seconds faster than his effort two weeks ago. It was good to see Lisa turning out for the Winter League Series and Mixed 10km (B) hopefully in future races but her medical profession will no doubt Posn Athlete Club Watch Actual have a relevance and reduce her appearance in races. 1 Donna Allan (W40) Sarnia Walking Club 72:35 66:35 2 Olga Le Noury (W35) Sarnia Walking Club 77:23 71:23 In the Younger Age Group distances, this again was a disappointing 3 Peter Beckerleg (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 77:34 70:34 low turnout. 4 Kevin Le Noury (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 77:42 70:42 Mixed 5km (B) 5 Mick Le Sauvage (M70) Sarnia Walking Club 77:52 73:22 Posn Athlete Club Perf 6 Phil Lockwood (M40) Sarnia Walking Club 69:39 67:39 1 Emma Achurch (U20W) Leicester Walking Club 24:55 7 Stuart Le Noury Sarnia Walking Club 82:44 57:44 2 Lisa Kehler (W45) Wolv. & Bilson Athletic Club 25:42 Development 1250m (B) 3 Mark Williams (M50) Tamworth Athletic Club 26:21 Posn Athlete Club Perf 4 Ben Allen (U17M) Leicester Walking Club 27:46 1 Ellis Lockwood (U11B) Sarnia Walking Club 9:36 5 Grazina Narviliene (W40) Lithuania 27:51 6 Jordan Price (U20M) Breacon Athletic Club 27:56 Sarnia Walking Club 3km & 1.5km Road Walks 7 Colin Turner (M70) Nuneaton Harriers 28:45 rd Cambridge Park, Guernsey (Sun. 23 Oct.) 8 Colin Vesty (M50) Leicester Walking Club 29:00 Stuart Le Noury scored two easy wins in the Sarnia Walking Club 9 Carolyn Dyall (W35) Nuneaton Harriers 29:12 events held on new courses at Cambridge Park, reports Rob Elliott. 10 Steve Arnold (M50) Nuneaton Harriers 29:24 Facing leaves and acorns on the ground, freshly fallen from the windy 11 Ann Wheeler (W60) Leicester Walking Club 29:36 conditions the night before, 11 walkers started the longer walk. 12 Daniel McKerlich (U20M) Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club 29:36 13 Julie Bellfield (W45) Halesowen Athletic Club 29:52 Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016
14 Roger Michell (M65) Surrey Walking Club 30:39 Rob Elliott in 8:19. The walk of the day was by Donna Allan who is still 15 Laura Achurch (U17W) Leicester Walking Club 31:33 getting used to the event after only a handful of races, recording a 16 Sarah Trundley (W40) Nuneaton Harriers 31:43 swift 8:46 for third place. 17 Stuart Edgar (M45) Dudley & Stourbridge Hs 31:46 Mixed 3km (B) 18 Wendy Kane (W45) Notts Athletic Club 31:49 Posn Athlete Club Perf 19 Lynn Bellfield (W50) Halesowen Athletic Club 31:53 1 Peter Beckerleg (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 19:52 20 John Constandinou (M40) Birchfield Harriers 32:03 2 Mick Le Sauvage (M75) Sarnia Walking Club 20:08 21 David Fall (M70) Nuneaton Harriers 35:24 3 Kay Coulson (W45) Sarnia Walking Club 20:32 22 Laura Matkin (W40) Nuneaton Harriers 35:24 4 Jayne Le Noury (W55) Sarnia Walking Club 21:07 23 Peter Cassidy (M75) Loughton Athletic Club 35:35 5 Dave Dorey (M65) Sarnia Walking Club 22:05 24 Karen Davies (W55) Birchfield Harriers 35:37 Mixed 1.5km (B) 25 Terry Morris (M70) Nuneaton Harriers 36:12 Posn Athlete Club Perf 26 Steve Whelan (M55) Headington Road Runners 37:32 1 Stuart Le Noury Sarnia Walking Club 7:16 27 Lee Corkill Leicester Walking Club 38:39 2 Rob Elliott (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 8:19 28 Patrick Walsh Leicester Walking Club 39:32 3 Donna Allen (W40) Sarnia Walking Club 8:46 Under 15 Girls 3km (B) 4 Olga Le Noury (W35) Sarnia Walking Club 9:17 Posn Athlete Club Perf 5 Kevin Le Noury (M55) Sarnia Walking Club 9:36 1 Katie Haynes Dudley & Stourbridge Hs 22:48 Team Result (After handicap times added in) 2 Anya Korpal Birchfield Harriers 23:18 Posn Athlete Athlete Perf Under 15 Boys 3km (B) 1 Mick Le Sauvage Olga Le Noury 41:21 Posn Athlete Club Perf 2 Kay Coulson Donna Allen 41:49 1 Daniel Gilbert Brecon Athletic Club 20:06 3 Jayne Le Noury Kevin Le Noury 41:52 Under 13 Girls 2km (B) 4 Peter Beckerleg Rob Elliott 42:13 Posn Athlete Club Perf 5 Dave Dory Stuart Le Noury 43:11 1 Caitlin Casey Birchfield Harriers 13:33 Up and Running Winter Walking League 2 Molly McKerlich Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club 14:27 NSC Roadway, Douglas, Isle of Man (Sun. 30th Oct.) 3 Abigail Lysek Dudley & Stourbridge Hs 15:08 Great turnout of 77 walkers resulting in some excellent Elizabeth Pap Nuneaton Harriers DQ performances, reports Bridget Kaneen. Many thanks to everyone Under 11 Girls 1km (B) who worked very hard in timing, recording, judging and keeping Posn Athlete Club Perf everyone fed and watered. 1 Katie Collis Birchfield Harriers 7.32 Under 11 Boys 1km (B) Posn Athlete Club Perf 1 Louis Phillips Nuneaton Harriers 7:05 Mixed 10km (B) Posn Athlete Club Perf 1 Dwane Butterly (M50) Leicester Walking Club 54:16 2 Graham Chapman (M60) Headington Road Runners 59:18 3 Colin Vesty (M50) Leicester Walking Club 61:29 4 Chris Berwick (M70) Leicester Walking Club 63:26 5 Paul Hawkins (M60) Stratford-on-Avon AC 63:50 6 George Smolinski (M60) Leicester Walking Club 65:07 7 Ann Wheeler (W60) Leicester Walking Club 67:23 8 John Constandinou (M40) Birchfield Harriers 68:23 9 David Fall (M70) Birchfield Harriers 73:43 Gianni Epifani (24) – Erika Kelly (26) – Dale Farquhar – Hannah Hunter 10 Julian Barnett (M50) Birchfield Harriers 79:16 Mixed 10km 11 Patrick Walsh Leicester Walking Club 79:32 Posn Athlete Club Perf. Sarnia Walking Club Peter Kendal Pairs Trophy 1 Gianni Epifani (M45) Manx Harriers 50:07 2 Dale Farquhar (M35) Manx Harriers 52:15 Les Amarreurs, Vale, Guernsey (Sun. 23rd Oct.) 3 Erika Kelly Northern Athletic Club 52:30 The annual Peter Kendal team trophy was a decided by a close race 4 Hannah Hunter Manx Harriers 54:29 between the first three teams with only 31 seconds separating them 5 Marie Jackson (W55) Manx Harriers 58:24 once the handicap times had been added on, reports Rob Elliott. 6 Tony Mackintosh (M40) Isle of Man Veterans AC 59:02 The novelty race is between teams of two walkers, drawn together 7 Chris Cale (M45) Manx Harriers 59:49 from a fast group of walkers and a slower group, walking together for 8 Dave Mackey (M45) Manx Harriers 1:00:50 the first 1.5km lap, before the faster walkers can race at their own 9 Tony Edwards (M50) Unattached 1:01:16 pace for the next lap with team mates continuing at their pace. 10 Stewart Jones (M45) Manx Harriers 1:02:01 Teams are started on handicap from the slower walkers 3 kilometres 11 Jayne Farquhar (W45) Manx Harriers 1:02:31 predicted times, with the faster walkers’ handicap added on at the 12 Ray Beattie (M55) Manx Harriers 1:03:14 end after their 1.5km effort. Sounds complicated but it works. 13 Dick Callin (M55) Unattached 1:03:46 Mick Le Sauvage and Olga Le Noury emerged as winners from Kay 14 Richard Leigh (M45) Unattached 1:03:53 Coulson and Donna Allan by 28 seconds, with Jayne and Kevin Le 15 Ian Callister (M60) Manx Harriers 1:04:35 Noury a few seconds back in third place. 16 Brian Wade (M50) Manx Harriers 1:04:39 In the 1.5km race after walkers had stayed with their team mates for 17 Karen Lawrie (W40) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:05:10 the first lap, Stuart Le Noury finished in 7:16. Second quickest was 18 Stephanie Quayle (W50) Unattached 1:05:10 Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016
19 Kathryn Clough (W40) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:05:28 Roland Hardy 1926-2016 20 Darrin Oldam (M50) Unattached 1:05:32 When we reported the death of double Olympian Roland Hardy in 21 Stuart Gibson (M45) Unattached 1:05:35 the last edition of the Race Walking Record we lost an unwitting but 22 Sharon Cain (W45) Western Athletic Club 1:06:04 key player in one of the most unsavoury pieces of racewalking history 23 Louise Hollings (W35) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:06:08 which occurred when controversy over race walking style came to a 24 Nicola Raven (W50) Manx Harriers 1:06:29 crisis in the 1950s and virtually ended international track walking. 25 Trevor Newton (M55) Manx Harriers 1:07:03 It started with the 1950 European Championships in Brussels. Britain 26 Colin Crennell (M50) Unattached 1:08:05 had two Sheffield walkers, Roland Hardy and Laurence Allen, whose 27 Colin Moore (M55) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:08:29 performances in Britain (Hardy had won the A.A.A 2 and 7 miles in 28 Richard Sille (M40) Manx Fell Runners 1:08:39 outstanding times and Allen was the RWA 10 and 20-mile champion) 29 David Anderson (M45) Unattached 1:09:40 made them strong prospects for medals. 30 Mick Holgate (M70) Manx Harriers 1:10:02 This they confirmed by establishing such a lead in the European 31 Tony Arzt (M50) Manx Harriers 1:10:15 Championship 10,000m walk that it seemed they would not be 32 Antony Kelsey (M40) Unattached 1:10:20 caught. However, an old campaigner by the name of Fritz Schwab 33 Steve Parker (M50) Unattached 1:10:25 (the son of Switzerland’s Arthur Schwab, who won the 50km silver 34 Andy Baxendale (M40) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:10:25 medal in 1936), raised what might charitably be termed a dashing 35 Nick Wallinger (M45) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:10:39 finish and reached the line first in a time of 46:01. 36 Richard Wild (M45) Northern Athletic Club 1:10:49 37 Michelle Turner (W40) Northern Athletic Club 1:10:50 When it was announced that the result had been referred to the Jury of Appeal, justice seemed about to be done. Yet to general 38 James Moore Unattached 1:11:13 amazement, Schwab's victory was confirmed, and Hardy and Allen 39 Janna Kelly (W45) Northern Athletic Club 1:11:14 were disqualified! The British team manager, Jack Crump, described 40 Maura Kelly (W45) Northern Athletic Club 1:11:18 it as 'the most atrociously unfair occurrence which I have ever known 41 Gordon Corran (M65) Manx Harriers 1:11:28 in more than twenty years of first-class athletics'. In the protracted 42 Angela Robinson (W45) Unattached 1:12:14 debate that followed, it was argued that the human eye was 43 Mike Crompton (M40) Unattached 1:12:39 incapable of telling whether an 8mph walker was 'lifting'. Films and 44 Gordon Erskine (M70) Unattached 1:12:42 photographs were studied minutely; even Bobby Bridge from pre- 45 Voirrey Cain (W50) Northern Athletic Club 1:13:16 World War I days had his reputation dented by the evidence. 46 Pauline Clague (W45) Unattached 1:13:20 To their credit, Hardy and Allen bounced back and continued to walk 47 Angela Corkish (W70) Isle of Man Veterans AC 1:13:28 superbly in England and, more importantly, continued to satisfy the 48 Rob Clynes (M40) Unattached 1:13:31 tough English judges. Hardy reduced the A.A.A 2 miles best to 13:27.8 49 May Hooper (W45) Unattached 1:14:02 and the 7 miles to 50:05.6 and both walkers were duly selected to 50 Emma Hall (W40) Unattached 1:14:09 compete in the 10,000m walk at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. 51 Karen Mercer(W35) Unattached 1:14:49 In fact, they went into the race as co-favourites. 52 Lisa Tummon Unattached 1:17:16 53 Jonathan Crossley (W50) Unattached 1:18:44 Two heats were used to decide who of the 23 entrants would make 54 Lianne Bates (W35) Unattached 1:20:29 the Olympic final. Bruno Junks of U.S.S.R, who was the fastest qualifier, won the first heat in 45:05, five seconds ahead of John 55 Julie Barlow (W35) Unattached 1:20:29 Mikaelsson, the defending champion. His Swedish compatriot Verner Mixed 5km Hardmo still held the World Record at 42:39.6 but had now retired. Posn Athlete Club Perf. 1 Stephen Waddington (U17M) Manx Harriers 30:14 2 Enid Watson (W65) Isle of Man Veterans AC 35:41 3 Maeve Jones (W35) Unattached 35:50 4 Sarah Nash (W40) Manx Tri 35:54 5 Dot Watterson (W55) Unattached 38:26 6 Louise Cowell Unattached 39:24 7 Sarah Goldsmith (W70) Isle of Man Veterans AC 42:19 8 Dee Dentith (W35) Unattached 45:12 9 Maureen Oates (W70) Unattached 45:43 10 Christine Kelly (W50) Unattached 45:48 11 Steve Taylor (M55) Unattached 45:48 13 Fiona Shaw (W45) Northern Athletic Club 48:27 14 Jacquie Dawson (W40) Unattached 54:14 15 Ealish Baxter Unattached 54:14 16 Sarah Moore (W40) Unattached 54:14 2km Posn Athlete Club Perf. Roland Hardy leads the first of the two 1952 Olympic 10,000m walk heats from 1 Abbie Edwards (U1G) Unattached 15:01 Australian Don Keane and Bruno Junk of Russia. Eventual gold medallist John Mikaelsson of Sweden is fifth in this picture. Mixed 1km Coleman of GBR won the second heat in a slower 46:12. But Hardy Posn Athlete Club Perf. and Allen again incurred the displeasure of the judges, with Hardy 1 Olivia Corran (U11G) Manx Harriers 7:08 one of three walkers disqualified in the first heat and Allen one of two 2 Daniel Lawrie (U11B Unattached 7:11 walkers disqualified in the second heat. The final saw the 38-year-old 3 Sophie Lawrie (U9G) Unattached 8:00 Mikaelsson win by over 100 yards in a new Olympic record time of 4 Olivia Bates (U9G) Unattached 8:00 45:02.8 in impeccably fair style. But the final is better remembered 5 Joshua Corran (6 years old) Unattached 8:25 for the tussle to decide the minor medals. Schwab, chasing second 6 Harrison Sille (3 years old) Unattached 12:49 place, produced another of his fleet-footed finishes, travelling at such
Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016 speed that the Chief Judge had to run hard beside him to observe his is Derbyshire's only representative in the British team for the Olympic style. Junk manfully met the challenge, and the pair sprinted to a Games at Melbourne later this year." photo-finish which palpably showed both men running. Yet there was In the event (no pun intended) Roland finished a commendable no disqualification. (As an aside, Junk’s gold medal was the first ever eighth in the 20km walk in the Melbourne heat - which was a Russian Olympic walking medal and marked the start of the Eastern completely different experience from his first Olympic Games four European domination which has continued to the present day.) years earlier when he represented Great Britain in the Helsinki The judges, who had disqualified seven men in the heats and final, 10,000m. Sadly, on that occasion he was disqualified for "˜lifting' were made to look foolish. Jack Crump, writing in the Official British when well-placed and in with a chance of a medal finish. Olympic Association Report for the 1952 Olympic Games, was Nevertheless, he remains Derbyshire's only double Olympian and scathing. Once again, this race proved by far the most unsatisfactory thus occupies a unique place in our sporting history. of all the Olympic athletic events. Including the Chief Judge, G. In the fifties Roland was a familiar sight pounding the roads around Oberweger of Italy, there were nine judges, each from a different the Whittington area and as a schoolboy I well remember joining country. The standard of judging and the basis on which decisions others who ran alongside him and cheered him on as his familiar were made to caution or disqualify competitors were made, was figure strode swiftly down Sheffield Road in hot pursuit of his neither consistent nor impartial, and in both the heats and the final brother's pace-making bicycle. even the most knowledgeable of followers of walking found it He epitomised the Corinthian spirit of the true dedicated amateur bewildering to appreciate what was happening. and he was my boyhood sporting hero. So, fifty years on, it was with The controversies that resulted from this incident ridden event led a feeling of immense privilege and genuine pleasure that I recently Olympic officials to drop the 10,000m walk from the program and met up with the man at his Newbold home. replace it with a 20km contest in 1956. I was warmly and politely welcomed by a cheerful and amazingly Roland Hardy - Famous Derbyshire People athletic-looking young man of seventy-five whose familiar bright blue The following biography was written by Derbyshire author Tom eyes, boyish grin, and dapper appearance belied his advanced age. Bates. When I remarked on this and asked him the secret of his youthful Over 50 years since his greatest triumph it is perhaps appropriate to good looks, this self-effacing gentleman revealed that he didn't drink, pay tribute to one of Chesterfield's greatest ever sportsmen, the had never smoked - and that since he was a boy, has exercised for famous Olympian athlete and local living legend, Roland Hardy. twenty minutes every night before he gets into bed - a routine that It was over fifty years ago - on May 31st 1952 at London's White City he still strictly follows. "Oh, and plenty of fresh air - and lots of Stadium that Roland Hardy broke a world record by an amazing nine walking!" he added, with a twinkle in his eye. seconds! I learned that he also plays Crown Green bowls twice a week, and Incredibly the world record that he broke was his own - set on August represents his local club, where he is regarded as quite an excellent 4th the previous year at the same venue when as a 22-year-old he player. I also learned that he was born on June 11th 1926 at 42 became British Champion by winning the 7 Miles Walk and in the Carlisle Street, Sheepbridge and later attended Mary Swanwick process beating Harry Churcher's world record by...yes. a full - nine School at Old Whittington where he excelled at woodwork and seconds! represented the school at both football and cricket. Of course, in those early days of television, outside broadcasts were He left school during the war years and worked at the Wagon Repairs almost unheard of and champion sportsmen, especially of the Depot at Sheepbridge, and whilst playing centre-half in the local amateur variety, were largely anonymous. In fact, it was not until football league with Newbold Y.C. his sporting prowess was noted by Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile barrier in 1954 that the soccer manager Teddy Davison, who promptly signed him for nation became gradually switched-on to outside broadcast athletics Sheffield United. Eighteen months later National Service put paid to - though it was another decade before viewers were able to watch his burgeoning soccer career and Roland served in the Royal Artillery International Athletics events like European Championships and the for two years, first in Northern Ireland and later at Royston in Olympic Games with any degree of regularity. These days all major Hertfordshire, on the Searchlight Battery. athletics events are beamed via satellite to television sets in homes After his demobilisation, he became a fitter at the Summit Works on all over the world, and in the lucrative commercial television market Whittington Moor and took up walking on the recommendation of sports sponsorship is big business. Champion athletes are household Ernest Clay who invited him to train with Sheffield United Harriers. names; our sporting heroes are honoured by wealth and celebrity. His first competitive race was the 1949 Sheffield Star Walk - which he We live in an age when our champions are fully professional, most won, setting a new record and beating the old (1947) record by 53 with their own professional entourage of physiotherapists, trainers, seconds! dieticians and a whole host of technical products designed to aid A sporting phenomenon named Roland Hardy had arrived, and his fitness and thus enhance performance. The sporting stakes and rise up the ranks was meteoric. He was peerless, winning races and rewards have never been so high. breaking records wherever he went and within eighteen months of Things were very different fifty years ago during that austere period his Star Walk triumph he was representing Great Britain at the just after the second-world war when ration books still ruled and European Championships in Brussels. In March 1951, he won the petrol was purchased by coupons young sportsman Roland Hardy, National Road Walking Championships 10 Miles race in Surrey third eldest of a family of eight children, had to train himself - aided clipping 83 seconds off the previous record, and later in the year at by his brother Walter on a bicycle - buy his own kit, pay his own the tender young age of twenty-two, became British Champion at the expenses, and exist on a spartan diet controlled by the government White City Stadium with victory in the 7 Miles Walk and in the ration book. When he won, there were no television pictures to bring process, broke the 5 Miles world-record! news of his triumphant world-record breaking exploits or to hail him The following year he did it again - and brought the first ever county as the new British Champion - his magnificent achievement however, title home to the newly formed Derbyshire AAA. did manage to make page ten of the local (Derbyshire Times) As a sports columnist of the day noted, Roland Hardy duly won the newspaper! British Games 7 Miles Walk, and not content with just winning the Four years later, on August 17th 1956 he finally made the front page event he smashed four of his own records; he broke the British all- when the headline proclaimed " Roland Hardy Selected for Olympic comers, National, and English native records and knocked 9 seconds Team " it went on, " Roland Hardy of Sheffield Road, Whittington off his own World 5 Miles record. Moor, who earlier this year smashed two more road-walking records, Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected] Race Walking Record – October 2016 The rest, as they say, is history - and the stuff of legend; two Olympic A Cordial Invitation to the Games and a string of representative honours followed, and though Roland has " never been one for keeping records ", he recalls being made a Life Member of Sheffield United Harriers and that he continued walking competitively - " and for fun " - until he was in his is extened to Competitors, Officials and Supporters forties.
Lee Valley Athletic Centre, 62 Meridian Way, Picketts Lock, N9 OAS
Saturday 12th November will be the 90th edition of this classic race and a warm invitation to attend this year’s event is extended to anyone who over the years has taken part in it, in whatever capacity. Re-union reception after the race.
The Race details: 90th Enfield Open Seven Miles incorporating VAC & London Business Houses Championships
Saturday 12th November 2016 at 1pm Half a century ago he married local lass Annie Mosley and has a daughter, Denise, who has since produced four grandchildren. (Shorter distances available)
Roland worked at the Summit Works for 30 years - duly receiving his Entry FREE and taken on the day gold watch after 25 of them - until he was made redundant when the works closed in the early 1970's. He has lived at Winchester Road, Prizes/Awards Newbold since it was built in the 1950's. First Five Individual (Women/Men) First 4 Teams (mixed 4 to score) I was interested to know what had motivated and driven him? - and what did he regard as the high point of his career, his most cherished 4 Spot Prizes memory? Bob Clark Young Walker Award That boyish grin lit up his face; " Well, meeting the Queen was the Lol Dordoy Prize high point, I suppose, I was presented to Her Majesty by Lord 2016 Winners Burleigh, along with the rest of the British Olympic Team in 1953 " he Emma Achurch 59:29 & Callum Wilkimnson 47:28 said, he mused a moment, and then " but what I remember best of all, and cherish most is the Star Walk, coming over the hill at Memento to all who take part Sheffield Lane Top in sight of the finish and suddenly - a sea of faces, hundreds and hundreds of people cheering - and my mother and Contact Ron Wallwork at [email protected] or 01638 751869 father and all the family waiting at the finishing line outside the Star To confirm your acceptance of the invite offices and waving me towards the line ". His face beamed as he re- lived the moment, before adding wistfully, " I was ever so pleased because they were there to see me and I made them feel so proud ". That remark also revealed the answer to my question about motivation and drive. I learned that his family, and particularly his parents were his motivation. "Of course, I wanted to win - no athlete likes to be beaten, explained Roland, but I never wanted anything out of it, not for myself anyway. He added, I never wanted any fame or November glory, I just wanted to win for my family, - and besides, there were Sat 5th B L.T. Norton 10km Walk Leicester some good prizes to be won, canteens of cutlery and such - and times Sun 6th B Alex Potton 7 Mile Addington were hard. Sat 12th B 90th Enfield Open 7 Mile Lee Valley I began to understand the true nature of real sportsmanship and Sun 13th B Sarnia WC 3000m Track Handicap Footes Lane sporting endeavour, especially when I asked if I could see the many Sat 19th B Steyning AC Open 10km Steyning medals and trophies, certificates, British Representative Caps etc., Sun 20th B Midland Winter League #3 Coventry that Roland had won over the years, and the almost inevitable scrap- B Yorkshire Winter League York book full of news cutting and photographs - but he had very little to B Sarnia WC 10k/5k Road Walks Vale show me. He managed to find just one medal - from the Melbourne Sat 26th B Hillingdon Open 10k/Enfield League Hillingdon Olympic Games of 1956, and a couple of old photographs; typical of Sun 27th B Sarnia Handicap 2km Pleinmont this extremely personable and modest man, he had given the rest ? Manx Harriers Winter League 10km Andreas away to members of his family, including his four grandchildren, each December of whom he adores and who, no doubt, are justifiably proud of their Sat 3rd B Dick Maxwell Memorial 10km Simister legendary grandfather. B Surrey Walking Club Christmas Cup 5km Tonbridge th I thanked him for showing them to me and for being such a gracious Sun 4 B Fortune Cup 10km Leicester th host and then I left, satisfied that I had learned enough during my Sun 11 B Sarnia Walking Club Hill Climb Le Val des Terres visit to write a special tribute to a local living legend, a man I had long Sat 17th B Alf Palmer Memorial Races Horsham since respected and admired, and my lasting impression of Roland Sun 18th ? Up and Running Winter League ? Hardy is of a somewhat shy, modest and retiring 78-year-old widower B Sarnia Walking Club Road 3 Mile Rocquaine who in every way proved to be the true sporting gentleman that I had B Yorkshire Winter League 10km Kirby Fleetham always believed him to be. Sat 26th B Brighton Boxing Day Walks Preston Park References: http://www.vrwc.org.au/newsletters/heelandtoe-2016-num51.pdf http://www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk/roland-hardy-famous-derbyshire-people-c2499.html
Editor: Noel Carmody – Email: [email protected]