We are sad to report that Eric Horwill passed away peacefully at home on Saturday 11th October 2025, aged 92, after a long illness.
Eric was a lifelong servant of British race walking, being a member and coach at Lancashire Walking Club and Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers, a committee member of the Midland Race Walking Association and a past President of the Race Walking Association. He was ever-present at fixtures – officiating, supporting and mentoring. He was the epitome of a race walking stalwart.
Eric qualified as Centurion 390 in the 1966 Leicester-to-Skegness 100-mile walk, finishing in 21:51:09. He had the unusual accolade of having the longest interval between successful attempts, completing a second 100-mile walk 31 years later at the 1997 Ware 24-hour event, passing the mark in 23:17:07 and covering 165.8 km. That performance earned him an international at the Roubaix 28 Hours, making him the oldest athlete to début as a GB international.
When required, as the senior Centurion, he chaired AGMs with quiet authority, and was widely respected for his encyclopaedic knowledge of RWA and England Athletics rules. His advice, friendship, and steady presence were a guiding force at many 100-mile events. He was known for his kindness, his clarity of thought, his owlish wisdom (and matching eyebrows), and above all his unwavering dedication to the sport and its people.
Beyond race walking, Eric worked as a teacher and was a county-standard chess player. He is survived by his wife Pam and daughter Catherine. Our heartfelt condolences go to them at this sad time. Eric will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
The humanist funeral service for Eric Horwill will be held on Monday 17th November at Stourbridge Crematorium at 12.20pm. The address is Stourbridge Crematorium, South Road, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 3RQ. Following the service, there will be a social gathering at Dudley Kingswinford RFC, Swindon Road, Wall Heath, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 0AW.
