Archive for year: 2025
Paul Briggs C431
We are sad to report that Paul Briggs passed away at the age of 80.
Representing Yorkshire Race Walking Club, Paul embraced distance races like the London-to-Brighton walk, where he achieved a notable sub-10-hour finish. He qualified as a Centurion in the 1969 Leicester 24-hour track race, passing 100 miles in 22:24:50 and continuing on to 101 miles and 888 yards. He was in fact the 430th qualifier, but was passed in the 24-hour race by Paul Sargent and a minor mix up resulted in P. Sargent being awarded No. 430 and P. Briggs No. 431. The error was not noticed until 1997.
His second 100 mile completion was in the 1974 Leicester-to-Skegness 1oo miles. Competing without an attendant, Paul faced challenging conditions, battling the cold in the Lincolnshire countryside during the night. However, his Centurion perseverence, and the kind gift of tracksuit bottoms by Dave Ainsworth C540, saw him recover from the cold and finish in 23:14:03.
He is remembered for his unmistakable “foreign legion” headwear and, above all, his kindly and gentle soul.
2025 Winchelsea
Winchelsea, an historic Cinque Port and one of the best preserved medieval planned towns in the country was the location for the Centurion’s early summer social walk. Situated on the south coast between Hastings and Rye, the town was founded in the late thirteenth century as a port by King Edward I, replacing Old Winchelsea which was swept away by storms and the rising sea.
Starting at the Queens Head Public House on the edge of town, the early part of the walk followed well marked paths through fields, railway crossings and lanes through the countryside into Winchelsea. An ancient stone cherub was spotted dumped in a skip. It would be a crime for this to end up in landfill, but it was too heavy for the boot of a car. Kim was to resolve this dilemma later by speaking to a local church warden who was going to retrieve said cherub with the help of a friend.
Good deed done it was time for coffee, and a visit to the church of St Thomas. Famed as the final resting place of comic Spike Milligan. The church is one of the finest in Sussex, planned to cathedral proportions. The ravages of the Hundred Year War has left part of the outer building in ruins but the present church has remarkable stained glass windows design in the early twentieth century by Douglas Strachan.
Our walk continued, leaving the town and passing ‘New Gate’, at one time, the only way in to Winchelsea by land, providing a defence against invading forces, finally arriving at the Charles Palmer Winery. There, samples were enthusiastically consumed and further bottles purchased. The adjacent Wickham Manor dating from the sixteenth century was used as the film set of Mr Holmes (2015), and as Lord Snowdon’s family home on the Crown (Netflix, 2019).
A short walk led back to the pub, where good food and ale was served as a pleasant conclusion to our day.
Thanks to Kim Howard C1020 for leading the walk, and those attending.
Photo by Brian Boggenpoel
Jack Thomas C606
John ‘Jack’ Thomas passed away on 17th May a month after his 90th birthday.
Born in South Wales, Jack began his race walking journey in the mid-1950s on a bumpy grass track that doubled as a rugby pitch. He later moved to Newport Harriers, a prominent club of its time. Upon taking up a teaching position in Essex, Jack joined the strong walking squad of Woodford Green AC. Jack specialised in shorter distances and twice won the Welsh 3,000 Metres Championship, in 1973 and 1976.
In 1977, Jack returned to his native Wales for a senior teaching post and joined Bristol RWC. He claimed Centurion No. 606 in the Bristol 100-mile race with a time of 21:57.19, becoming the last Bristol RWC Centurion before the club disbanded. Jack had never walked beyond 20 miles in training or competition before that race, nor shown any particular interest in long events but modestly commented that he just kept on going.
The Centurions and race walking in general remained important to Jack and he made many contributions: as Welsh Athletics Honorary Walks Secretary, as a Chief Judge at Centurions events, as an athletics historian with contributions in Welsh Athletics and RWA centenary handbooks, as a founding member of Penhow Striders and as an enthusiastic and encouraging supporter of all.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his family, to whom we extend our heartfelt condolences. The funeral service will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church Chepstow, NP16 5JE, on Wednesday 18th June at 11.30am. The family invites friends to celebrate Jack’s life and share stories over light refreshments at the Old Barn Inn, Magor Road, Newport, NP18 2EB.
Jim Skidmore C367
Jim Skidmore passed away in April, aged 90.
Jim qualified as Centurion 367 in the colours of Dudley & Stourbridge AC in the 1964 Leicester to Skegness 100 miles in 23:02:55 – a race which was accurately measured at 100 miles, 350 yards. He was also a respected and experienced timekeeper.