President’s Christmas Newsletter 2025
Wishing all Centurions, the Centurions committee members, race officials, family, friends and helpers, a Merry Christmas and a happy and hopefully prosperous New Year.
Condolences
I would like to offer my condolences to all families and friends of those Centurions who have sadly passed since my last newsletter. Please find below those Centurions who will now be sadly missed:
C576 George Eastwood (Woodford Green AC)
C367 Jim Skidmore (Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers)
C606 Jack Thomas (Woodford Green AC, Bristol RWC, and Penhow Striders AC)
C431 Paul Briggs (Yorkshire WC)**
C637 Annie Meyers Frenken. (Kimbria, Holland)
C390 Eric Horwill (Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers AC) Former President of the Centurions.**
C507 Geoff Tranter (Royal Sutton Coldfield WC)
C692 Piet Van Leur (OLAT, Holland)
C874 Sjef Koolen (OLAT< Holland)
** Paul generously left a legacy of £1000 from his estate to The Centurions, and Eric a gift of £200. Greatly appreciated.
100 Miles in 24 Hours
The high point of this year for the Centurions was in reaching the 100th 100 miles in 24 Hours milestone. What a superb sporting achievement from 1911 to 2025, a period of 114 years.
The 100th event was staged and celebrated at Lewes athletics track, in East Sussex on the weekend of 16th/17th August and included a 100 lap relay, completed by a whole host of Centurions and other walkers.
Organised jointly by Peter Selby and Surrey Walking Club and attended by entrants from Holland, Belgium, U.S.A. Hong Kong and the U.K, the event also celebrated the 125th anniversary of Surrey WC.
It was a successful event and produced 3 new Centurions: Bart De Vries C1223, Marco Van Heek C1224 and new female Centurion Loes Van Breman C1225. The winner of the event was Bart De Vries and second place went to Jonathan Hobbs, UK walker.
Venues
But as times change with fewer cubs having either the finances or people to host and organise our National 100, it falls more to the Centurions to organise, promote, stage and fund the event into the future.
To date, we have not yet found a suitable venue for our 101st event. Ideally, we are looking to find a venue which we could use year upon year in the centre of the UK
and would welcome suggestions for such a venue. It would preferably be on a circuit of up to 2 miles, be traffic free, with adequate lighting, and parking, and an electrical supply for the chip timing and other small ancillary needs associated with the provision of a feeding station, etc. In addition, any costs of hiring and use of the venue and any facilities needs to be affordable.
If such a venue can be found then it would remove the need for us to constantly find new venues for each event. It would remove the annual problem of announcing the venue with only months before its staging and allow for participants to book travel and accommodation well in advance, and bring about greater continuity and ease of organisation. We would not have to continuously re-invent the wheel!
Committee
I would also like to invite Centurions to consider joining our committee and help in shaping our future and the way forward in 2026 and beyond.
Any nominations or interested persons can contact our hardworking secretary, Chris Flint, who could then include their details in our annual A.G.M. on 31st January 2026 (Saturday), details to be forwarded nearer the date.
Once again, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New year. And, as is our tradition, please remember the toast ‘To the Centurions’ on Christmas day at 2.pm.
Yours, David Jones C987. President.
Centurions Captain’s Message 2025
It is that time of year when I send my Christmas message to all our members. This year has proved a rather mixed one. Sadly, a number of our members have died and they will be remembered, especially at the AGM. I send my condolences to all their families and friends. I wish to mention two Centurions as they had a great influence on me over my walking career. Eric Horwill C390 will be remembered for everything he did for walking as a judge, organiser and competitor. What might not be generally known was that he competed into his nineties as a county chess player representing Worcestershire. He also won a medal in the European Masters’ Indoor Championships as part of the 4×200 meters relay. He managed to consistently lift! Geoff Tranter C507 was a walker I raced many times over many distances. Geoff also made a great contribution as a voluntary charity worker assisting many local charities.
This year’s 100 was at Lewes and was again well supported by our continental friends. A walk round Lewes was organised by Peter Selby which was enjoyed by all those who joined him. For some of us the sight of Lewes hill brought back memories of racing up it as part of the 38 miles Hastings to Brighton event.
Although, during the 100, we had a couple of technical problems it seemed a success. A new innovation was introduced this year: a 100 lap relay where teams of any number could walk any number of laps as many times as they liked. The first team to complete the distance was a woman’s team of two from Tonbridge AC. Teams also competed from The Centurions, Surrey WC, Steyning AC, Lewes AC and a Dutch Team. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.
As an athletic organisation we must face the reality that costs are constantly increasing and we need to budget carefully. Organising a 100 miles race has financial implications and we must consider how in future we do it. We need to consider all possibilities including whether or not it is an annual event. It is only since 1946 that it has taken place annually. Between 1902 and 1937 there were only 14 races. I am not advocating anything, just that all possibilities must be considered. I should state that this is a personal view
Unfortunately, neither Chris Flint nor I were able to travel to the Dutch CVN annual reunion and social meeting this year as both of us had hospital visits that restricted our ability to drive. We are both extremely sorry to our continental Centurions that we were unable to attend their meeting.
In conclusion, may I wish everyone a healthy, happy and successful 2026. Keep fit and keep walking. Remember, it is the best method for all-round fitness. Also, do remember to traditionally toast The Centurions at 2pm on Christmas Day.
A very merry Christmas to everyone, and to our Dutch members I say: Fijne Kersten een gelukkig nieuwjaar. (I hope this is correct!)
Roger Michell C724 & CC107
Captain
Hon. Secretary’s Report – Chris Flint C849
2025 will be forever remembered as the year the Centurions achieved a remarkable milestone in its long history, the holding of the 100th 100 miles in 24 Hours qualifying race held at the Lewes AC track in Sussex. It should be recognised as a triumph that a relatively small organisation has maintained a desire to organise and attract participants to take on this formidable distance. The committee take on the responsibility for holding the 100 hours events and often join with clubs whose resources are invaluable to ensure the multitude of tasks are spread evenly. The event at Lewes is a case in point when Surrey WC hosted the race and the Centurions assisted in the organisation, with Steyning AC making a significant financial contribution.
To mark the 100th anniversary a 100 lap competition was held as an aside to the main event. It turned out to be a major attraction with clubs entering teams and individuals participating.
The 100 miles attracted 39 entries with 35 actually starting, and a third of the competitors were Dutch and Belgian. The number of GB participants made the prospect of new UK Centurion qualifiers a distinct possibility. Jonathan Hobbs C1212 took the lead from the gun and looked comfortable and determined, and attention was drawn to Bart de Vries of RWV, the Rotterdam based club, who looked strong and led a tracking group of half a dozen experienced walkers. As the race progressed it was clear that many competitors had neither the stamina nor speed to reach the target and handed in their notice. Of the 9 who completed the full distance all but 2 were Dutch or Belgian athletes. Jonathan Hobbs C1212 and Andrew Titley C1038 were the successful UK walkers, and all finishers are congratulated. It is a great achievement.
But the high drop out rate raises concern that those who aspire to qualify as a Centurion have not received the advice and guidance that the Centurions should be offering. Also, that we should provide competitive races at intermediate distances throughout the year to give aspirants a clearer idea of the preparation needed, and advise on diet, footwear, night time walking, speed, build up stamina, and the mental attitude needed. To do this all Centurions need to be involved, not just the committee. Do ask yourself if you could spend some of your time to assist the committee.
Centurions continue to be active in races and on the international stage 3 of our members took part in the EMU 6 day race at Balatonfured in Hungary between 4th-9th September. The XIV annual race attracted 37 runners (12 women and 25 men) who represented 17 countries at the start line. The race is held on an attractive campsite by Lake Balaton. The course is 898.2 meters. This year’s finishers saw Sandra Brown complete 509.291km in 20th position[1st W75], 21st Richard Brown 479.651km, and 27th Kathy Crilley 354.382 km [2nd W75]. Team results 7th GBR W1- Sandra Brown & Kathy Crilley 8th GBR M2- Richard Brown & David Hoben (non-Centurion). Well done.
The next AGM will be held on Saturday 31st January 2026 at 11 am by Zoom. The link will be circulated nearer the date. Again, its your opportunity to raise issues about the administration of the Centurions, to nominate yourself as a committee member, and to have a social talk with fellow Centurions, Do join in.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and an active walking year in 2026.
Chris Flint C849
Hon. Secretary
