FRONT COVER: Kirdyapkin races through the Brandenburg Gate on his way to becoming 50k World Champion. PHOTO: by Jeff Salvage ALSO: Scott Davis makes a huge breakthrough in Switzerland. Editorial People all over the world love race walking. It started here, and now reaches into every continent. I often find myself in contact with people in far-off exotic locations. I’ve just recently returned from racing in Switzerland and France. Faces become familiar from race to race abroad, and people eventually introduce themselves and over time become friends. Many readers have told me how they have made long- term friends at overseas events. Several people at the Swiss event turned up six days later at the French event 500 miles away, and supported each other just because they had that one common link. Race Walking is treated slightly differently within each country, but walkers have a huge respect for each other whether they are Olympians or just fitness walkers. UK walkers race abroad in many countries each year, and welcome overseas walkers to events here. This magazine is now sent to readers in twenty different countries, and growing... People queuing behind me at the post office each month really hate me, as I have so many international magazines to send, one-by-one! On my holiday I found the source of the River Danube and ceremoniously set one of my old trainers floating down it. An hour later, the other one was set floating down the River Rhine. (Please don’t litter!) You can’t just throw away something that has brought you so much enjoyment! Am I crazy? Aren’t all race walkers... Magazine info Race Walking Record (founded 1941) is the international magazine for the sport of walking and walking events, published each and every month. Issue: 796 - September 2009. Subscriptions: UK £30, International £40, PDF by email £20. Advertisements: Full page £40, Half page £20. Club advertisements: Full page £20, Half page £10. Editor: John Constandinou, 60 Claverdon Drive, Birmingham B43 5HP. Website: www.racewalkingrecord.net Contributors: John Constandinou, Jeff Salvage, Phil Howell, Andi Drake, Dave Ainsworth, Peter Marlow, Rob Elliott, Eric Horwill, Karen Davies, Mark Culshaw. Please post all news, results, announcements, letters, photos and articles to me or email them to [email protected] 8 - Features / Berlin Report Contents 11 - Technique: Hands 13 - Drugs: / Results and Reports 2 - Editorial/Magazine info 18 - UK Challenge 3 - News 25 - 200 Club / Letters 5 - Announcements 27 - Fixtures He took a massive nine minutes off News his PB to take second place in a time of 4:20:21, moving him up to 44th on 2016 Olympics – its Rio, Brazil! the UK all-time list. In a surprise decision, the International Scott expects to further improve his Olympic Committee has awarded the times, as during the race he 2016 Olympic Games to Brazil. recorded faster splits for every consecutive 10k. He was also Chicago, USA had cautious in the early stages due to been the favourite potential stomach problems. leading up to decision day, with A time of under 4:20 would have Tokyo, and Madrid seen him qualify for previous also in the running. Commonwealth Games. The time is President Obama also seen as the cut-off for of the USA competitors participating in the personally made Olympics and World Championships. the case for his country and home town, but President MP’s and Walking Lula of Brazil also appeared and won through on the day. The USA has had MP Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) last the Games many times, whilst this will month pointed out how low his be the first time the Games reach South expenses were. But the MP with the America. lowest expenses out of all 646 of them is apparently a member of The race walks are likely to be held at Surrey Walking Club - Philip the beautiful setting of the Copacabana, Hollobone MP (Kettering). Philip where the race walks of the Pan- appears on the all-time list of American Games were also recently appearances at the Blackheath 9K held. races. He is also mentioned in SWC's Centenary Handbook, which The decision is also seen as boosting came out a few years ago. the chances of South Africa receiving the Games in 2020, as Africa also has Dunwoody Doesn’t not yet hosted them. Richard Dunwoody was the second Scott Davis Impresses in Switzerland celebrity to leave the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, when his The Swiss National 50k took place in dancing didn’t impress the judges. Yverdon along the shores of Lake Neuchatel, and five-time National 50k After successfully recreating Captain Champion Scott Davis flew out with his Barclays 1000 miles in 1000 hours coach Dave Kates to make his walk, Richard Dunwoody was asked breakthrough performance. to appear on the show, and was seen as a popular choice after being Walking Judges Education partnered with Lilia Kopylova. Certification, RWJECS, Level II course from 9th to 13th September. He told the judges that he “spent the first two weeks learning to walk” but Altogether, thirty five officials took made no excuses for looking a bit stiff, part in what was a combined despite having completed his epic 42 RWJECS Level II course and day continuous walk just eight weeks European Athletics Race Walking before Judges Evaluation Seminar. The joint activity served to refresh Race walker is a National Hero existing Area Race Walk Judges, who attended just the last two days After winning 100 consecutive races, of evaluation, as well as developing race walker Rudolph Mitchell of Guyana new RWJECS Level II judges for was honoured at a special appreciation Europe. ceremony by his country. A special motor cavalcade then paraded him to a The course and seminar was second ceremony to honour him. Major conducted by the European Athletics Guyanan VIP’s were in attendance. Association, EAA, and hosted by Leeds Metropolitan University and Guyana is a UK Athletics. Leeds was identified as small country in an ideal venue since it has recently South America, been recognised as the ‘UK National where English is Race Walking Centre’ - a joint the official partnership between Leeds Met and language. UK Athletics to develop a national Rudolph has and international centre of race been gaining walking excellence. international media exposure for his exploits, often The attending judges had the races barefoot, and has gained fans in opportunity to learn from informative countries as far away as France. and enjoyable sessions with two of the IAAF’s most experienced judges: Rudolph will be race walking in Peter Marlow (GBR), chair of the Barbados in December, and hopes to EAA Race Walking Committee, and qualify for London 2012. Luis Saladie (ESP). Both lecturers are members of the IAAF Race Major Gathering of International Walking Committee and shared their Walking Judges in the UK considerable European and International knowledge and Race Walking judges representing experience with the new and existing twenty two Member Federations of the judges. European Athletic Association assembled at the Carnegie campus of During the course, the race walking Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, judges also undertook some UK, to take part in an IAAF Race sessions delivered by the faculty of Leeds Met. Most memorably, Brian while Olive Dobson (Cardiff) and Hanley de-mystified the science of Catherine Telling (Bromsgrove & biomechanics to illustrate how research Redditch A.C.) undergoing the can help both the judging and coaching exams in the hope of being added to of Race Walking. the level 2 panel. The judges have now completed their respective course and evaluations and will be shortly informed of their results by the EAA. In addition to Marlow, who was the Chief Judge at the past two Olympic Games, Britain currently has two serving members of the IAAF recognised Race Walking judges Panel in Steve Taylor (Manx Harriers) and Judges being judged at Leeds Noel Carmody (Cambridge Harriers) Announcements BMAF Dinner Dance Open Days at Leeds Met Wortley Hall, Sheffield 28th November Racewalkers thinking of studying at Leeds Met University are invited to A new social event has been organised attend one of their Open Day by British Masters Athletics, after being Festivals. discussed for several years. There will be a posh dinner and disco. Partners, There's a packed programme of etc are invited. Accommodation is events, with students and staff on available for 90 although the maximum hand throughout the day to answer for the actual dinner dance is 105. any questions you may have. In addition to subject talks and campus The cost of the Dinner Dance including tours, there's also the opportunity to the disco is £27 per person, and the visit accommodation. accommodation is £42.00 sharing per person B&B and £54.00 single Dates: occupancy in a double/twin room in all Saturday 24th and rooms. First come first served, either by Sunday 25th October 2009. email or text. You will need to pay in full before the 24th October for either Andi Drake will be available to talk to Dance or Dance and Accommodation. prospective students on these dates - please advise him if you’re Phil Bell. [email protected] planning on attending. Text or Phone: 07957861351 Well Hung Fabian Society, and among those on board the coach was former walker Ilford's Micky Sutton has appeared in of many clubs – John Perkins. The society and portrait photographer tour was fully booked, with a waiting Rankin's latest exhibition at London's list. An eye-catching blue and yellow Truman Brewery during August. Olympic Delivery Authority coach awaited the group. All boarding the The exhibition was titled "Rankin Live" coach had to provide identification.