1993 Battersea Park London (200 km/ 24 Hours)

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This 200 km / 24 hour race was the first time a 24 hour race had been held in Great Britain other than on the track. The 4 km circuit started and finished at the bandstand for ease of recording as this was essentially a 200 km race. Regrettably for those who decided only to do 100 miles, the race finish was at a lonely caravan more than half a mile away from the main centre of activity.

105 walkers started the race, the second largest number in any British ultra distance race.

58 completed the 24 hours, however the first 3 were not required to be on their feet for the full 24 hours, having already reached 200 km. 25 became new Centurions but only 10 of them continued beyond the 100 mile mark. The first new Centurion and also first at 100 miles and overall winner was Alexsey Radionov, who became only the second Russian walker to join our ranks since George Lind C24 in 1908. His 200 km time of 22 hours 4 minutes 39 seconds was more than 50 minutes better than the runner up, Richard Brown C760. One might have thought that Richard would be the first British walker at 100 miles, but as his target was the full 200 km distance he was beaten to the 100 by just over a minute, by Chris Berwick of Leicester who stopped at the 100 mile mark. The whole event was a tremendous success and thought to be one of the best races ever seen in Great Britain, so much so there have been calls for it to be repeated.

1993 Battersea Park London (200 km/ 24 Hours)   Race Programme

1980 Leicester (Congerstone) 100 miles

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98 walkers started the race, a new record for a Leicester race. The race started from the town centre and proceeded west for 13 miles to join a 10½ mile circuit just outside the village of Congerstone. After 7 laps of this circuit the walkers retraced their steps back to the start.

64 were successful in this event.

The winner for a record breaking sixth time in his career was Dave Boxall C464 by just under 20 minutes from the first of 28 new Centurions, Tony Collins C688 of Birmingham. The time gap and even the result might have been different but for the fact that Tony went off course during the night, costing him about 8 minutes. Freddie Baker C266 completed his 10th 100 and there were 4 new Dutch Centurions, bringing their total up to 125, 17½% of the registered members.

1980 Leicester (Congerstone) 100 miles – Results

 

1976 Leicester to Skegness

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In 1976 the Centurions once again attempted to arouse more interest by holding a meeting prior to the Imber Court race in January, unfortunately the result was similar to the previous year.  There was some discontent from the captain Hew Neilson C145, when a resolution was passed to reimburse him with the costs of producing and posting his excellent Christmas letter.  He said it was his contribution to the society he held so dear and refused the offer of payment.

In May, Charlie Megnin C288 organised and promoted a 24 hour track race at Woodford Green. 23 started and a ding dong battle, reminiscent of the 1960 race, was fought out between Colin Young C317 and Derek Harrison C466, the result being a win for Harrison with 131 miles 336 yards, only 9 yards better than Colin Young’s performance in the 1960 race, for third on the all time British list. Young finished just over 2 miles behind.  Harrison’s times at 150 and 200 km were submitted and ratified as British records, even though they were slower times than Neilson would have put up in the 1960 race where times were not taken at these distances.  15 completed 100 miles, 8 of them for the first time, with 6 of the 15 going on to complete the 24 hours.  Hew Neilson C145 and Paul Sargent C430 also completed the 24 hours but failed to reach the 100 mile mark.  In this race Eddie McNeir C375, at the age of 75, completed his 10th 100 to become only the 4th Centurion to reach double figures, but more remarkable is the fact that his first completion was achieved at the age of 65.

 

1976 Leicester to Skegness – Results

1976 Woodford Green Track 100 miles

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Charlie Megnin C288 organised and promoted the 1976 24 hour track race at Woodford Green.

23 started and a ding dong battle, reminiscent of the 1960 race, was fought out between Colin Young C317 and Derek Harrison C466, the result being a win for Harrison with 131 miles 336 yards, only 9 yards better than Colin Young’s performance in the 1960 race, for third on the all time British list. Young finished just over 2 miles behind.

Harrison’s times at 150 and 200 km were submitted and ratified as British records, even though they were slower times than Neilson would have put up in the 1960 race where times were not taken at these distances.

15 completed 100 miles, 8 of them for the first time, with 6 of the 15 going on to complete the 24 hours.

Hew Neilson C145 and Paul Sargent C430 also completed the 24 hours but failed to reach the 100 mile mark.

In this race Eddie McNeir C375, at the age of 75, completed his 10th 100 to become only the 4th Centurion to reach double figures, but more remarkable is the fact that his first completion was achieved at the age of 65.

Woodford Green 24 Hour Track Race Results

1975 Ewhurst 100

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This, the second edition of the Ewhurst 100, promoted by Surrey Walking Club attracted 94 starters, a record field.

The winner in just under 18 hours, for the fourth year in succession, was Dave Boxall C464. The number of finishers was a record too, 56, with 36 of them from overseas. Of the 29 new Centurions the Dutch added 17 to their tally.

1975 Ewhurst 100 Entrants

1975 Ewhurst 100 Results

1974 Leicester to Skegness

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The 1974 Leicester to Skegness race well attracted 64 starters. 40 finished with 21 of them becoming new Centurions.

The early and long time leader was a German walker who eventually fell foul of the judges, many at the time thought justifiably, and thus became only the second walker to be disqualified in a 100 mile race.

This left the way clear for Peter Markham the leader of a strong squad of Leicester walkers, however he was soon overhauled by Dave Boxall C464 who went on to complete a hat-trick of victories in successive years.

The Leicester Walking Club finished 7 of their walkers for a new club record in 100 mile racing, in fact they had 2 teams on the result sheet.

The race also saw another new country added to the ever growing list when F. Weissenböck of Austria joined the ranks of the Centurions. Some might say that two new countries were added when Richard Vlotman, a South African born British national qualified, but the first South African and also British national citizen was A.H. Ch. St. Norman C50 who qualified in 1912.

1974 Leicester to Skegness Race Results