Brian Saunders C468
Brian qualified at the 1971 Ewhurst 100 in 20.02.13. Although he came in third at Rouen and qualified for Paris to Colmar he declined.
Archive for month: February, 2022
John M. Price C214
John passed away early in 2021. A member of Birmingham Walking Club, he qualified in the 103½ mile 1953 Birmingham to London. He completed 100 miles in 22.14.12, and the total distance in 23.10.27.
John was an author. In 1980 he composed “Memories of Bagnall And His Flora” featuring the life and works of naturalist James Eustace Bagnall for the Natural History Society, and in 2002 “Stratford-upon-Avon, A Flora & Fauna” was published in paperback.
John Dowling C331
John, a member of Sheffield United A.C., qualified at the 1962 Leicester to Skegness in 22:09:27.
Over the period 1962 – 1944 John completed 9 Centurion aces in the UK. He accomplished his best time of 18:34:38 at the 1974 Leicester to Skegness.
Ray Platt C939
Battersea Park 100 miles 1995 23.33.41
Ray, better known as a runner, was lured into race walking by his colleagues at Southend A.C. Completing two GB Centurions made quite an impression and provided inspiration for his poems.
Ray was a proud Centurion and wrote two poems about what that achievement meant to him. They were published in Essex Walker (February and March 2005).
Originally a market trader, Ray had his own window cleaning business in later years. Unfortunately a fall from his ladder led to his a period of ill health and eventual demise.
T. Damen C 932
At the 2022 AGM Frans Leijtens C949 informed the meeting that T. Damen, a member of Attila (Holland) was known as a funny, agreeable gentleman who was always making jokes and having a laugh. His career in long distance race walking was brief. He completed one GB Centurion and Roubaix in the same year; Damen qualified at the 1995 Battersea Park 100 miles in 22.59.59.
Damen passed away May 2021.
Derek Appleton C 888
Derek, a member of Folkestone A.C., passed away on 3rd August 2021 following a short illness. He qualified at the 1991 Ewhurst 100 miles in 23.37.26.
Derek was featured on the front cover of Race Walking Record (Issue 686, December 1999) because he had been awarded the “Cyril Evans Cup”, an annual award for long distance walker of the year awarded to the walker who covered the most miles in a series of 8 long distance Open races.
He was a loyal supporter to Don Thompson C631, 50K medallist in the 1960 Rome Olympics.