Surrey Walking Club Christmas 5k'
10th December 2011

 

Official Results

David Sutcliffe 37.10 1st MV75 - of two

Founded in 1899, based at Addington, East Croydon, SWC are one of few specialist racewalking clubs  surviving from the 'Captain Barclay' era of pedestrianism. Their promotions include a 100 mile event, held in 2011 round a tarmac circuit within the bounds of Lingfield Racecourse. Of the 83 starters,  33 finished. The winner, a Dutchman took 19h 04m, with runner-up Sandra Brown of Surrey Walking club taking 20h 18m.

All racewalkers achieving a time of under 24 hours for a 100 mile event in the UK earn membership of the much esteemed 'Brotherhood of Centurians', founded in 1911, now numbering over 1000, and holding their anniversary dinner last year in the House of Commons. The Harriers cluster of 'multi-marathon' and 'ultra-distance' runners would have no difficulty in adapting to this challenge.
 
At a more modest level the SURREY 5k, being the only racewalk this weekend between Leicester and the Channel Islands, attracted a 'large' field of 32 starters, virtually all of vet status and mostly very quick. Just as running 5k is a mad scramble when you are much happier at 10m or the 'Half', walking at speed is hard to master. There is also another hazard - whilst 'unbroken contact' with the ground is the golden rule, I have now learned that a walker can be disqualified under a 'bent knee' rule, under which the 'moving leg' must be straight at the knee at the point where it speeds past the 'stationary leg'. Not being a contortionist I have no idea how you know if you are within the rules! Despite these constraints, an enjoyable outing with the usual welcoming hospitality of the walking fraternity.
 
As the 'racewalkuk' website, linked to the above race heading shows, racewalking has the benefit of a comprehensive record of all results with age-graded scores for all accredited UK races, as well as a profile of all active racewalkers - not unlike the Harriers 'Runners Pages' which are themselves unique in the world of club running.
 
NEXT WALKING EVENT?
 
The novelty of competing indoors has long been an appealing one. BMAF, the UK veterans body, hold their indoor championships on 20th March at the Lee Valley Centre in NE London, and their programme includes a 3k walk. This meeting is held annually and is of course open to all athletes aged over 35, the requirement being to first register with BMAF through first becoming a member of Eastern Vets as your second claim club. The longest running event is 3k, achieved by running 15 times round the 'boards', banked up on the sharp bends I am told (?).

David

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