35925 CMI Parish Walk 2009:31470 PW08 Prog
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June 20-21 Bride (52.5 miles) Jurby (45.5 miles) Andreas (55.5 miles) Ballaugh (42 miles) Maughold (67 miles) Kirk Michael Lezayre (39 miles) (61.5 miles) Lonan German (76.5 miles) (32.5 miles) Patrick START (30.5 miles) Marown (4.5 miles) FINISH Onchan (83 miles) Braddan (2 miles) Arbory (17 miles) Rushen Santon (19 miles) (11.5 miles) Malew (15 miles) 85 MILES 17 PARISHES 24 HOURS WWW.PARISHWALK.COM A walk through 20 years 2009 celebrates Clerical Medical’s 20th year of sponsorship of the Parish Walk and it has become an established, annual sporting event on the Isle of Man. In many ways this event is unique, involving an 85 mile race-walk around the 17 parishes of the island, within 24 hours. What started as a five year commitment for an outlay of a mere £500 has grown in stature and popularity, attracting walkers from all over the UK and abroad. In 1990 there were only 155 starters but in 2009 there will around 1,700 participants. All at Clerical Medical are delighted with this long and successful association and the company is fully committed to the community of the Isle of Man. PARISH WALK A Welcome from the Race Director Welcome to the 2009 Clerical Medical Parish Walk. The Parish Walk provides a unique challenge to all the entrants and it has captured the imagination of the Manx folk over the years. This year the race has attracted an all-time record entry of 1620. Ahead lies a test of stamina and endurance over 85 miles and 17 Parish Churches all which must be passed before returning to Douglas Promenade within the 24 hour time limit. Last year we had a new name on the trophy, Jock Waddington who won a thrilling race in a time of 15.44.43. This year he wears the number one vest. All the entrants who have previously finished the Parish Walk are seeded 1 to 181. The committee would like to extend its thanks to Clerical Medical who are sponsoring the event for the 20th time. Their unwavering support for the Parish Walk since 1990 has allowed the race to grow into the mass participation event that we now know. There are not many event sponsors as loyal as Clerical Medical and we hope that we continue the relationship with them well into the future. Our thanks are also extended to Manx Telecom who in conjunction with Sportident UK are sponsoring the electronic timing and results service. Manx Telecom are also providing a text service to nominated support crew members with race information. Colebournʼs are providing the technology for the information screens at the finish. The committee is grateful to Murray Lambden for maintaining our website www.parishwalk.com and to our feed station sponsors Barclays Private Bank, 3FM, Shoprite, MannVend, Robinsons, HSBC, Paragon, Hospice and Wooden Spoon. We are also grateful to the Department of Tourism & Leisure for their support and to the Civil Defence and the Police for their help. I would like to thank the organising committee of Liz Corran, Karen Kneale, Allan Callow, Kevin Walmsley, Martin Lambden, Winston Liu, Tracy Cook, Debbie Surgeon and Geoff Walmsley who have freely given of their time and efforts over the past six months. Finally a big thank you to all the marshals, checkers-in, ambulance crews, police specials and all the people who year after year turn out in the dead of night to help with the Parish Walk. To all competitors, please read and observe the rules carefully and obey the instructions of the marshals. Please note that there are certain time limits for passing some of the churches. Once you have completed your walk please ensure that your timing chip is handed in to the officials. Thank you and good walking. Raymond Cox - Race Director. Page 1 ADVICE FOR SUPPORT DRIVERS 1. Display your numbers clearly on the front and rear window screen. 2. Do not stop on the “No Stopping Zones” which are: • On the Peel Road from Braddan Bridge to Marown. • On the A26 St Marks Road between the Braaid Roundabout and the turn off for the Cleaynagh Road. • On the Castletown Road from the junction with the Cleaynagh Road to the junction with the Oatlands Road. • On the Castletown Road from the junction with the Old Castletown Road to the junction with the Orrisdale Road. • On the St Marks to Ballasalla Road from the junction with the Orrisdale Road to Ballasalla. Assistance to race walkers along these areas is forbidden and failure to adhere to this regulation may lead to time penalties and disqualification of the walker. There will be feed stations provided along the early part of the course. 3. The following roads will be closed for all traffic: • The Cleaynagh Road. • Old School Road, Rushen • The Orrisdale Road • Derby Road, Peel. Please find an alternative route. 4. The following roads are open to race traffic only, for parking and assisting race walkers: • Glen Darragh Road. • The Oatlands Road. • The Old Castletown Road. • The Ballasalla to Ballabeg Road. • Church Road, Rushen. • The Sloc Road. • The Dalby Road. 5. A new traffic flow system is in place at Rushen Church. Please follow the signs for “Parking” if you want to go to the Church. Otherwise follow the “Through Traffic” signs to conintue up the sloc by passing the Church. 6. Stop only where you can park SAFELY. Be aware of road junctions and dangerous bends. 7. Do not attempt to drive alongside walkers. 8. Be aware of the safety of other walkers & road users. 9. Do not leave litter or discard waste food. Take home all your litter or use litter bins. 10. Switch on hazard lights when parked on the road. 11. You must wear bright or reflective clothing, especially at night. Reflective bibs are on sale at the check-in. 12. Do not make excessive noise in residential areas during the night. Page 2 Parish Walk History The Parish walk is now approaching its fiftieth year in the current format, and despite having seen many changes to minor aspects, it remains essentially the same event. Over the years numbers have increased dramatically both in entries and finishers, times have reduced, electronic timing and computers have replaced the old hand written records, and road and traffic planning have increased. One factor though is beyond our control, and 2008 proved that Mother Nature will always have the last word. A record entry was to face the harshest weather conditions recorded for a June day for many, many years, and it is a tribute to the hardiness of the competitors that anybody lasted the distance. Clerical Medical celebrates 20 years as the main sponsor of the event, a collaboration that has enabled the race to grow in stature and professionalism, and the introduction of Sportidentʼs timing system, sponsored by Manx Telecom, has alleviated the major headache of trying to process and input huge amounts of data accurately and quickly. The sheer physical demands of entering over a thousand race numbers and times for each of the early churches was becoming the stumbling block on which the race could have floundered. The earliest use of a computer was courtesy of the Buchan School, when results were phoned in and input on site, then Skanco Systems wrote a programme for use on the laptop they provided. This programme was updated by Dave Willis, and until 2006 was the results service, meaning long tiring hours for the results team, which occasionally led to mistakes. The list of multiple finishers is now becoming so long that I will only mention one, David Callister, who has now completed the event for 25 consecutive years. It has been suggested that he dare not break the sequence, as this yearʼs walk is next yearʼs training! Each year the committee tries to find ways of improving walker and traffic flow, and we would ask that if you are walking, or supporting the event, you follow the instructions and directions given to you. These are there for the benefit of everyone! We all rely on the goodwill of the general public, so please donʼt give them cause to complain. Good luck to all competitors, but remember that to claim to have “done the Parish” you have to reach that line on Douglas Promenade. A more detailed history of this great event can be found in Dermott OʼTooleʼs publication, “A Walk through Time”. Martin Lambden Page 3 The National Sports Centre Welcomes the Parish Walk Providing facilities for all your Training needs. Around the corner from Quarterbridge Pub NATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE Peel Road • Café – offering features great choice & • Mixed sauna, value Quarterbridge steam and spa Quarterbridge Rd • FREE Parking sessions DOUGLAS To Airport Peel Road To Castletown • Leisure pool • Ideal wet NSC with flumes & weather refuge Sea Terminal For further information contact NSC reception Tel: 688588 Equipment Supplied by: Civil Defence Website: Murray Lambden The Manx Harriers would like to thank the Police, The N.S.C., the Vicars and Church Wardens, the British Red Cross, St. Johns Ambulance and all who have helped to make this event possible. Awards List 2009 Overall Winner: I.O.M. Parish Walk Cup presented by: Manx A.A.C. Best Lady Finisher: 15th Anniversary Trophy presented by Clerical Medical Best Finish by Local Newcomer: Millennium Shield presented by Ray Hughes Most Improved Performance: MSM Trophy presented by Craig Hodgson PRESENTATION Most Improved Performance Lady: CMI 15th Anniversary Trophy 7.00 p.m. U21 Mens Winner to Peel: Parish Walk Junior Trophy at Villa Marina, Douglas presented by Murray Lambden U21 Ladies winner to Peel: John Quilliam Cup ON presented in memory of John Quilliam TUESDAY 23rd JUNE Overall Team Winner: Boundary Harriers Cup presented by Boundary Harriers A.C.