European Carnegie Racing Walking Grand Prix 2007

(Incorp, UK Challenge)

Leeds Metropolitan University

Headingley, Leeds

Saturday 7th July 2007

THEODOROUS KOUPIDIS representing Greece and Lisa Kehler of Great Britain were victorious at the European Athletics Permit Meeting in Carneige over a testing course around the picturesque Headingley Campus of Leeds Metropolitan University. The athletes faced unseasonably blustery conditions.

In the Men's 20 Kilometres the early pace was cut out by Daniel King (Great Britain), Recep Celik (Turkey) and Kazmir Verkin (Slovakia), with Theodorous Koupidis a few steps behind. The leading trio pulled away and passed the 5km point in just over 21 minutes, spot on the pace for the IAAF B standard for Osaka.

Soon after this point Celik was removed by the judges leaving King, Verkin and Koupidis to set the pace. King was the next to fall foul of the judges around the halfway point as the leader Koupidis passed 10km in just over 43 minutes, followed by Verkin and Dominic King (Great Britain).

The strong wind began to take it toll as Verkin battled the conditions in the second half, coming home in 1.31.32. Kazmir Verkin held on for second place in 1.34.02. Dominic King struggled in the last 5 kilometres, but held on for third place in a season's best of 1.35.32.

The Women's 20 Kilometres resulted in a victory for Great Britain's Lisa Kehler around the campus where she studied for her Masters Degree. Athena Papagianni of Greece, who was 6th in the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Championships, set the early pace. She has returned to form after 2 years blighted by injury and was chasing the Greek qualifying time for Osaka. She set off well up on the required pace, passing the 5km mark in 23.15. She continued to move at this pace passing the halfway mark in just under 47 minutes. However, she was soon to retire due to stomach problems. This left the way clear for Lisa Kehler to take the title in 1.46.04 ahead of Scotland's Verity Snook.

Simon Hambridge won the Junior Men’s 5 Kilometres in 25.46 ahead of his twin brother Mark Hambridge. The Junior Women's 5km resulted in a 1-2 for Ireland, with Donna Carolan taking the title in 27.01 ahead of her compatriot Sorcha Prendiville.

Peter Cup/Keswick Cup

Humberstone Park, Leicester

Tuesday 3rd July 2007

CHRISTOPHER VESTY from Humphrey Perkins School retained the Peter Cup (leading Leicestershire Under 15 Boy) ahead of two Blaby Stokes Striders, Thomas Wagg and Chris Johnson. Lauren Gimson (Leicester Grammar) won the Keswick Cup (Over 15 Girls) for the first time.

Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) held on to the Flers Cup (awarded to the leading Under 15 girl) for a second year ahead of Emma Achurch and Martha Gimson (both Blaby Stokes).
Blaby Stokes won the handsome Livingstone House team trophy.

Judges’ style awards were presented to Martha and Joshua Amiss. The judges commented positively on the good standard of race walking.

Many thanks to everyone who has supported our young athletes in another excellent season. A special “thank you” must go to all the members of Leicester Walking Club for their help in timekeeping and judging in the eight races held this year. Without their support and expertise these events would not take place.
Boys
1-Christopher Vesty-Humphrey Perkins-11:40
2-Thomas Wagg-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:34
3-Christopher Johnson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:49
4-Joshua Amiss-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:50
5-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:58
5-Callum Bloxham-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:58
7-Harry Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:21
8-Ben Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:58
Girls
1-Lauren Gimson-Leicester Grammar-11:39
2-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland-12:58
3-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics -13:25
4-Martha Gimson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:59
5-Aimee Holloway-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:09
6-Samantha Vesty-Hall Orchard, Leics-16:13
7-Eve Thompson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:16

Hewitt Race Walking Cup

Humberstone Park, Leicester

Wednesday 19th June 2007

IN the final race of the 2007 Hewitt Cup Christopher Vesty (Humphrey Perkins) took his unbeaten run to six in this long standing Leicester Walking Club series. Second placed Maks Orzal (Leicester Grammar) made a confident debut ahead of Chris Johnson (Blaby Stokes).

In this competition the individual standings are based on a handicapping system that encourages all competitors to improve their best times over the 3 race series. Christopher’s final performance enabled him to leapfrog two positions over his Blaby Stokes rivals, Harry Birch and Chris Johnson, to take the boy’s title for a record fourth time in the past 6 years.

Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) won her first Hewitt Cup race. However Emma Achurch, with another stylish walk that took nearly 20 seconds off her previous best, retained the title she won last year. Jasmine was runner-up in the final league standings with Aimee Holloway (Blaby Stokes) taking bronze. Judges’ style awards were presented to Jasmine, Emma and Maks.
Boys League
1. Christopher Vesty (Humphrey Perkins) – 11 points
2. Harry Birch(Blaby Stokes) – 14 points
3. Christopher Johnson (Blaby Stokes) – 16 points
4. Harrison Stephen (Blaby Stokes) – 18 points
= Thomas Wagg (Blaby Stokes) – 18 points
Boys
1-Christopher Vesty-Humphrey Perkins-11:38
2-Maks Orzal-Leicester Grammar-12:32
3-Christopher Johnson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:34
4-Thomas Wagg-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:53
5-Harrison Stephen-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:18
6-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:20
7-Blake Johnson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:58
8-Harry Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:02
9-Joshua Amiss-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:04
10-Adam Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:10
11-Harry Sayers-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:10
12-Callum Bloxham-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:35
13-Ben Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:44
Girls League
1. Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes) – 8 points
2. Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland)– 11 points
3, Aimee Holloway (Blaby Stokes) – 13 points
4. Eve Thompson (Blaby Stokes) – 17 points
5. Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard) – 20 points
Girls
1-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland-12:23
2-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics -13:06
3-Fiona Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics -14:14
4-Aimee Holloway-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:27
5-Samantha Vesty-Hall Orchard, Leics-16:10
6-Eve Thompson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:10

Interland Great Britain v Belgium v France

Tournai, Belgium

Saturday 23rd June 2007

TONI BOA representing Great Britain set a new personal best of 16mins 02.19secs to finish in fourth place in the 3,000m track walk at the Interland Masters international held in Tournai, Belgium.

Victory went to French athlete Nadine Mazuir in 14:40.30, with compatriot Sylvie Chartier second in 15:04.07 and Britain’s Diane Bradley claimed third in 15:51.18.

Full results available on the following link: www.athleticsdata.com/resultsfiles/2007/6790_Interland%20masters%202007.xls

Midland Track-Walking Championships 2007

Tamworth, Warwickshire

Saturday 2nd June 2007

LEICESTER WALKING CLUB'S Fiona McGorum and Chris Vesty won Gold medals at the Midland Track-Walking Championships held at Tamworth.

The AAA 2006 outdoor Bronze medallist Fiona McGorum won the Under-20 Women's 5km in a time of 27mins 37secs, while Chris Vesty collected the Under-15 Boys 3km title in 18:12.

Harborough's Toni Boa won Silver in the Senior Women's 5km in 28:55, and there were Bronze medals for Leicester's Jasmine Nicolls (Under-13 Girl's 2km in 12:47), Chris Berwick (Men's 10km in 56:34) and Samantha Vesty (Under-11 Girl's 1km in 8:10).

Other Leicestershire athletes in action were: Paul Hayden representing Nuneaton Harriers, 7th in the 10km in 67:11, Colin Vesty of Leicester 8th in 68:08, and in the Women's 5km Sue Rey also Leicester finished in 5th place in 34:39.

Hewitt Cup 2007 – Round 2

Humberstone Park, Leicester

Tuesday 22nd May 2007

TWENTY-FIVE competitors toed the line in the latest round of the Leicester Walking Club’s Hewitt Cup over a 2km course at Humberstone Park.

In the girls race the first three athletes had all won titles at the recent Leicestershire and Rutland AA Championships. Fiona McGorum (Countesthorpe College), the 2006 AAA Bronze medallist recorded another victory with Rachael Woolley (Coventry University) and Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) taking the other podium places.

Christopher Vesty (Humphrey Perkins) maintained his good form with another personal best. Second place went to Christopher Johnson still only Year 4 and another bright hope from Blaby Stokes.

An exciting finish to the boys league is in prospect with Christopher Johnson leading team-mate Harry Birch by a solitary point. Three-time Hewitt Cup winner, Christopher Vesty, is close behind those two.

Lisa Costelow (Stokes) registered another personal best with a well-paced walk and leads the girls table. The 2005 Champion, Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) lies in equal second place with last year’s title-holder, Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes). Judges’ style awards were presented to Toby Howgill, Sam Vesty and Gwenan Jones.
Full Results:
Boys
1-Christopher Vesty-Humphrey Perkins-11:25; 2-Christopher Johnson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-12:31; 3-Toby Howgill-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:53 ; 4-Thomas Wagg-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:06; 5-Sam Robinson-Countesthorpe College-14:17; 6-Blake Johnson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:32; 7-Callum Bloxham-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:33; 8-Harrison Stephen-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:02; 9-Harry Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:11; 10-Joshua Amiss-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:30; 11-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:48; 12-Adam Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:35; 13-Ben Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:37; 14-Harry Sayers-Blaby Stokes, Leics-18:21; 15-Joshua Thomas-Sacred Heart-20:24
Boys League
1 Christopher Johnson – 4 points; 2 Harry Birch – 5 points; 3 Christopher Vesty – 7 points
Girls
1-Fiona McGorum-Countesthorpe College-10:09; 2-Rachael Woolley-Coventry Uni-10:34; 3-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland-12:23; 4-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics -13:29; 5-Lisa Costelow-Blaby Stokes, Leics -13:57; 6-Martha Gimson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:14; 7-Gwenan Jones-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:30; 8-Aimee Holloway-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:48; 9-Eve Thompson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:42; 10-Samantha Vesty-Hall Orchard, Leics-16:51
Girls League
1 Lisa Costelow – 3 points; 2 Jasmine Nicholls – 7 points; = Emma Achurch – 7 points
Boys League
1 Christopher Johnson – 4 points; 2 Harry Birch – 5 points; 3 Christopher Vesty – 7 points

The next Hewitt Cup meetings take place on Tuesday 19th June and Tuesday 3rd July. Further details available on the following web-site: http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=13076&PageID=93567

European Cup of Race Walking 2007

Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Sunday 20th May 2007

YOHANN DINIZ of France and Belarussian Rita Turava added the European Cup Race Walking titles to the titles won in Gothenburg last summer with decisive victories over 20km at the European Cup Race Walking in Leamington.

Eschewing her regular tactic of dominating from the start - such as in the IAAF challenge series and last year's World Cup - title holder Ryta Turava of Belarus played a waiting game to win the women's 20km at Leamington.

Making it a race of two halves, she held back before pulling out a 21 second margin after 10km to win in 1:27:52.

She has dominated in Europe over the last two years - making the other leading women walkers look pedestrian by applying her superior pace from the start but today she sat on the shoulder on European silver medallist Olga Kaniskina of Russia, only reaching 5km sheltered in a pack of roughly 20 athletes.

The difference was the present of the young Russians - with 22 year old Kanishkina having achieved a nine second faster personal best than Turava's at her home championships last year, perhaps causing Turava to pay her extra respect.

Turava, with a best in Sesto this year of 1:27:10 had almost a two-minute advantage on Kanishkina on this year's form, however.

"Turava's a modest person - and modest about her achievements", described Elena Ginko of her compatriot afterwards.

Elena Ginko's previous best performance this year is a respectable 1:31:55 and was disqualified in the Coppa Sesto San Giovanni on 1 May, but she was also in the leading pack looking to back up Turava

As the pace wound up at 10km, with a 22:15 5km split, the front pack was still made up of 14 of Europe's top walkers but Turava was simply holding fire, and a 21:28 5km split to 15km both resulted in her gaining a one second margin over Kanishkina, who held a ten second advantage over Ginko - surprisingly in a medal position.

The race was on. While Turava remained comfortable Kanishkina's facial expression became pained as she struggled in to remain in contact with the Belarus champion. A superb 20:58 last 5km by Turava couldn't be matched by the Russian, and with 12 placed Sniazhana Yurchana backing up her and Ginko, Belarus claimed a the team award over Russia and Spain.

"We always planned for a medal not thinking it would be first commented Ginko of her surprise team win'.

The 50km showed that supreme speed endurance, and lessons learned from experience, will outmatch plain endurance as Russia's Vladimir Kanaykin claimed a last gasp win in the Men's 50km walk at the 7th European Cup in Leamington.

Kanaykin, right, who holds the world best for the 35km walk, won the 2002 World Junior Championships and took the silver medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships, but had yet to translate that promise in senior international competition, despite several faltering attempts.

This year the Mordovian walker has worked on his technique and applied his supreme pace at the right time this time to win in a time of 3:40:57. Having held back his natural inclination to push the pace, staying in the second group early on, he produced a decisive turn of speed in the late stages of the race, timing it right to only taking the lead in the 46th kilometre.

"For me the race started at 40km and I felt good," said Kanaykin, after finishing the race with a flourish.

Pointing to a frightening future for his rivals he suggested the twenty two year old added, "I feel I can definitely improve".

For Nymark, a time of just one second outside his personal best in the World Cup last year was a perfect execution of his plan to steadily increase the pace but he suffered from an usually slow beginning for the World Class field.

The Norwegian was determined not to repeat his experience last summer in Gothenburg where he lost out on a medal after leading for most of the European Championships 50km.

"I should have been able to go below 3:40:00, but not off such a slow initial pace." said a rueful Trond Nymark.

Still, it was by far the highest quality 50km race, with twenty-five race walkers finishing under 4 hours with a winning time more than five and a half minutes inside the UK all-comers record set 22 years ago by Hartwig Gauder in the 1985 IAAF World Race Walking Cup in St. John's, Isle of Man.

On a crisp, bright and early start, European championship bronze medallist Yuri Andronov of Russia took on the pace heading a four strong Russian team with Trond Nymark on his shoulder on lap one - out a 23:11 first 5km.

Nymark, right, made his first move at 9km, and he upped the 5km to 22:38 to ahead of a group including Denis Langlois of France, Marco De Luca of Italy and a trio of Russians Oleg Kistkin, the 2005 European Cup winner Alexey Voyevodin and European Championship bronze medallist Yuri Andropov.

Vladimir Kanaykin moved up to just behind the leaders after hanging back in a second group including Jesus Garcia and Santiago Perez of Spain.

Reaching half way together with the all four Russians now back together Nymark made another move, producing a 5km split 21 seconds faster than the Russians, which extended to a lead of 34 seconds by 35km.

The decisive moment of the race came with 3 hours on the clock as Kanaykin made his bid. Putting in a staggering 20:59 5km split, well inside world record pace.

Knowing he was being caught, Nymark, attempted to respond from the front, but simply did not have that kid of raw speed to draw upon.

The experienced Voyevodin, who had shepherded his team mates early in the race, led that charge a from a minute behind by 45km, with his Oleg Kistkin, with no 50km so far recorded, in his shadow.

Kanaykin raced passed as Nymark tried to respond. "At Gothenburg last year I showed I have the strength at a steady pace but just can't match that type of maximum speed' admitted Nymark. I has nothing more to give'.

At 48km Nymark lost 10 seconds in one lap after being passed, and by the end Kanaykin had time to grab a Russian flag as he celebrated a 34 second victory.

The final podium position was gained by 24-year-old Kistkin, who out-sprinted Voyevodin in the final straight.

The previous champion will have been satisfied in a victory in the team race - Russia finishing all four walkers in the top five, while Spain (Jesús Ángel García 6th place, Santiago Pérez 7th and Francisco José Pinardo 10th) were second and France (Eddy Riva 11th, David Boulanger 12th and Denis Langlois 20th ) also made the podium.

A shining human interest story out of many in an epic event followed further back. The Irishman Jamie Costin, finished in 15th place in a new personal best time of 3:53:30 to complete his recovery from a serious car injury sustained in Athens, one week prior to the 2004 Olympic Games.

Report by the EAA.
Full results are available on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/files/leamington_results1.xls

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Friday 18th May 2007

FOR the first time in a major championship, spectators will have the luxury of watching all of the race walking, all of the time.

The homely and very English Victoria Park in Leamington Spa might not boast the fastest circuit – but thanks to a mere 1km loop visible throughout – it should be the most user-friendly for the seventh European Cup of Race Walking which will be held this Sunday 20th May. Thanks to changes in course restrictions, the race is a break from the traditional 2km lap that demanded that walkers disappear down long roads only to reappear some time later.

If the experiment works, Leamington will be the model for exciting shorter circuits with the possibility of fans lined the whole length. Fortunately for the races themselves, only one event looks a foregone conclusion.
Women’s 20km

It will be a major surprise if Ryta Turava doesn’t sweep all in front of her in the women’s 20km.

The World Cup titleholder and European champion won the prestigious Sesto San Giovanni IAAF Race Walking Challenge title in March only two seconds outside the 1:27:10 she set in Gothenburg last year.

The Belarussian triumphed in Italy by 31 seconds, and such is her dominance of the event she could have the distinction of being close to lapping the entire field in Leamington if circumstances are right. The race for places should be tighter.

Italian Elisa Rigaudo, the European Cup bronze medallist in 2005, is one of the few to have tasted victory on the park course when she won the Grand Prix event here nearly a year ago, while Germany’s Melanie Seeger and Sabine Zimmer have shown early 2007 form. The silver medallist two years ago, Susan Feitor of Portugal, is also entered.

As usual the Russians will have a strong team, and newcomer Alena Nartova might be the outsider to force a way on to the podium. For all that, look no further than Italy or Russia for the team title.
Men’s 20km

It depends on who you are with regards to the men’s 20km. The organisers would have liked double European champion Francisco Javier Fernandez, the 2006 World Cup winner to attack his own Leamington course record. But the nearest the Spaniard will get to the Midlands town is courtesy of sending coach and legendary walker Robert Korzeniowski, who has taken up his invitation to attend.
However, it opens up the way for a fascinating race with any one of seven walkers realistically able to lay a claim to the title.

The man in form is Erik Tysse. The Norwegian will be very disappointed if he doesn’t drastically improve his eighth place at the last Cup final in Miskolc in Hungary two years ago.

Tysse notched a sparkling 1:21:38 to win Sesto San Giovanni, although Russians, Viktor Burayev and 20-year-old Valeriy Borchin, have already recorded sub 80-minute times at their country’s winter championships in February.

Two previous winners in Leamington will also be treading on heels at the front. European champion Yohan Diniz won in the park just prior to his surprise European 50km triumph in Gothenburg last year, and Irishman Robbie Heffernan was back to his best when he took 11th at the super-fast IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Shenzen, China, in March.

German Andre Hohne is in good form, and if Ivan Brugnetti is in the mood, the Italian Olympic champion has more than enough to ask questions of those around him. Juan Manuel Molina of Spain the silver medallist in 2005 is also entered.

Team-wise Russia should be top the podium – dependent on how the judges call it, but Korzeniowski should enjoy the legacy of his fabulous career by watching a solid Polish team collect a medal of some colour.
Men’s 50km

Like the men’s 20km race, the 50km is also missing the number one favourite. Alex Schwazer came within 17 seconds of breaking Australian Nathan Deakes’ World record in February, which itself was only two months old. The Italian notched a head-turning 3:36:04, but the effort took its toll and leaves the way clear for Aleksey Voyevodin to win back-to-back European Cup titles.

The consistent Russian has mostly played second fiddle to Korzeniowski in his career - but he still one of only two men on the Leamington list to have broken the magical 3:40:00 mark.

The other is former World champion Jesus Angel Garcia of Spain, who took European silver last summer. In an endurance event where form goes out of the window as fatigue and mental doubt kick in, 36-year-old Garcia’s awkward style inevitably sees him fighting to the front when it matters.

Vladimir Kanaykin’s best marks should have seen the Russian with more to show for his efforts. But the dreaded judge’s red disc has largely been the difference between a major win and another disappointment. Should he survive scrutiny, the 22-year-old who was runner-up two year's ago will almost certainly be in the shake-up for a medal.

However, the most likely challenger to Voyovedin is Trond Nymark. The Norwegian led for a long while in the European Championships only to despair as three faster finishers, including Diniz and Garcia, swept by.

Should Nymark get his pace judgment right this time, he will get some consolation for his demise in the rain at Gothenburg. The two junior races also pack the day’s programme, with the inevitable charge led by Russian teams in both events.

Preview by the IAAF.

UK Athletics – Press Release

Thursday 10th May 2007

UK ATHLETICS announced today that race walkers are to have their own UK Challenge this summer.

The five events in which they can score points for performances are:
CAU UK Inter-Counties 10km Championships
Coventry on 17th March
UK and Race Walking Association 20km Championships
Coventry on 14th April
CAU UK Inter-Counties 3km Championships
Bedford Stadium on 28th May
EAA Grand Prix 20km
Leeds on 7th July
Norwich Union World Trials 5km
Sportcity, Manchester on 28th-29th July

The events that have already taken place will be scored retrospectively. Winners of all races, both men and women, will receive adidas trainers and bottles of Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne.

The top 10 men and top 10 women in the points scoring tables after the five qualifying events will be invited to race over 3km at the UK Challenge Final at Crystal Palace on 28th August. The most outstanding male and female walker during the series will each receive an adidas kit package.

UK Athletics Competition Manager Paul Aldridge said: “The UK has a rich history in race walking. The UKA Event Management Group is working hard to pave the way for a bright future. This addition to the track and field competition already announced is a logical extension bearing in mind that the primary aim of the UK Challenge is to improve standards in all events on the way to London 2012.”

Hewitt Race Walking Cup

Humberstone Park, Leicester

Wednesday 25th April 2007

OVER half the competitors beat their best times in the first round of Leicester Walking Club's Hewitt Cup thanks to almost perfect conditions.

Over a 2km course at Humberstone Park, Fiona McGorum (Countesthorpe College) stretched her winning run to 16 races since 2001.

The promising Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) was runner-up while Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes) was third.

Christopher Vesty (Humphrey Perkins) won the boys' race.

Debutant Sam Robinson (Countesthorpe College) took second place ahead of Christopher Johnson (Blaby Stokes).

In this competition, the individual standings are based on a handicapping system, and Lisa Costelow and Harry Birch of Blaby Stokes are leading.
Full Results:
Boys
1 C Vesty (Humphrey Perkins) 12.00; 2 S Robinson (Countesthorpe College) 12.56; 3 C Johnson (Blaby Stokes) 13.37; 4 T Wagg (Blaby Stokes) 14.00; 5 B Johnson (Blaby Stokes) 14.47; 6 H Birch (Blaby Stokes) 15.16; 7 F Jeffs (Blaby Stokes) 15.41; 8 H Stephen (Blaby Stokes) 15.46; 9 J Amiss (Blaby Stokes) 16.40; 10 A Timson (Blaby Stokes) 17.27; 11 B Timson (Blaby Stokes) 17.32; 12 H Sayers (Blaby Stokes) 18.24.
Girls
1 F McGorum (Countesthorpe College) 10.06; 2 J Nicholls (Leysland) 12.55; 3 E Achurch (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 13.25; 4 L Costelow (Blaby Stokes) 14.26; 5 M Gimson (Blaby Stokes) 14.54; 6 G Jones (Blaby Stokes) 15.26; A Holloway (Blaby Stokes) 15.28; 8 F Brown (Blaby Stokes) 15.34; 9 E Thompson (Blaby Stokes) 15.40; 10 S Vesty Hall (Orchard, Leics) 16.34.

Sunday 29th April 2007

MEMBERS of the British Race Walking Team for this month's European Cup were striding out in Leamington Spa's Victoria Park over the weekend.

The Team Members were briefed by local organising committee member Mike Smith, who explained how Victoria Park will be transformed into a 'World class stage' for 300 of Europe's top endurance athletes, when they visit on May 20th.

Many of the World's top Race Walkers will be pushing for individual medals and team medals, as well as qualifying times for Osaka (IAAF World Championships 2007) and Beijing (Olympics 2008), and it is expected over the flat course at Leamington that several National Records will be broken.

Thousand's of spectators are expected to visit the park over the weekend of May 19th and 20th to take part in and watch the spectacle unfold.

Pictured above from left to right are: Dan King, Becky Mersh, Johanna Jackson and Ben Wears.

Friday 27th April 2007

JOINT title sponsors NP Aerospace have offered financial assistance to ensure the Local Organising Committee Marketing Team can move forward with the production of a one-hour highlights package of the European Cup Race Walking for Sky Sports.

NP Aerospace Managing Director, Roger Medwell, who has been working very closely with the European Cup organising committee and local Athletics Club Coventry Godiva, believes gaining prime exposure on the Sky Sports package will ensure greater awareness of Race Walking and Athletics in the region.

This is of key importance in the years ahead of the London Olympics, bearing in mind that Coventry has produced fifteen Olympic Athletes over the years, including 3 Race Walkers (John Edginton, Ian Richards and Andy Penn).

The Sky Sports package that will be shown on 8 occasions to a potential audience of 10 million viewers in the UK and Ireland, will give many local companies the chance to take advantage of this marketing opportunity, and also have interest for many TV Companies across Europe.

The highlights of the event will be shown on Sky Sports Xtra on Saturday 2nd June at 7.00pm. The full TV schedule is available on the following link: www.european-athletics.org/files/leamington_tv_schedule.pdf

Jeff Ford National Young-Age Group and Open Championships

Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield

Saturday 21st April 2007

LEICESTER Walking Club's Lauren Gimson secured a Bronze medal at the Jeff Ford National Young-Age Group and Open Championships held at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium.

Competing in the Under-17 Women's 5km race, Gimson crossed the line in a time of 31mins 12secs.

Team mate Jasmine Nicols, competing in the Under-13 Girls 2km claimed fifth place in 13:22, while Christopher Vesty also finished fifth in 18:45 in the Boys Under-15 3km event.

In the open races Rachael Woolley won Silver in the Senior Women's 5km in a time of 29:30, with Sue Rey finishing 9th in 35:04.

Rey then went on to compete over the 10km distance where she won a Bronze medal in 1:12.22.

Mark Wall also collected Bronze in the Men's 5km in 29:30.

Colin Vesty was fifth in the Men's 10km in 1:02.17, while Hinckley's Paul Hayden, who competes for Nuneaton, finished 7th in 1:03.04 and Leicester's Peter Stapleford was 10th in 1:08.04.

Thursday 19th April 2007

UK ATHLETICS has announced a team of five athletes for the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to compete at the European Race Walking Cup in Leamington Spa on Sunday 20th May.

In recent years, Leamington Spa has successfully hosted European Athletics Association Race Walk Grand Prix events, but this will be the first time the race organisers have hosted the European Cup.

Team leader Andrew Drake says it is an opportunity for some team members to continue their development towards this summer's major championships and beyond.

Included in the quintet is Johanna Jackson, (Redcar Race Walking Club) (pictured above), who won the Women's 20k at last weekend's UKA/RWA Championships at University of Warwick in Coventry with a time of 1:38.34, 26 seconds inside the UKA selection guidelines for the European U23 Championships that take place in Debrecen, Hungary, on 15th-18th July.

Norwich Union GB & NI team mates Ben Wears (Redcar Race Walking Club) and Rebecca Mersh (City of Sheffield) also tasted victory at the weekend, picking up Gold in the Junior Men's and Women's 10k events respectively.

Wears has already bettered the selection guideline of 46:00.00 for July's IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, with a clocking of 44:16.00 in March. Mersh meanwhile will be aiming towards the European U20 Championships selection guideline of 48:45.00

The team is completed by Seniors Daniel King (Colchester Harriers) and former Commonwealth Silver medallist Lisa Kehler (Wolverhampton and Bilston), both of whom will race over the 20k distance.

UKA National Coach for Race Walking Andrew Drake said: "This team is all about athletes who can develop towards achieving at the highest level. As a minimum, they should all be looking at producing a season's best and some can realistically target personal bests.

"The challenge for our race walkers is to qualify for this summer's championships, perform well and then push on to become athletes capable of success at Olympic level."
Team:
Men:
20k
Daniel King (Colchester Harriers)
Women:
20k
Johanna Jackson (Redcar Race Walking Club)
Lisa Kehler (Wolverhampton & Bilston)
Junior Men:
10k
Ben Wears (Redcar Race Walking Club)
Junior Women:
10k
Rebecca Mersh (City of Sheffield)
Team Management:
Team Leader - Andrew Drake
Team Coach - Verity Snook

Further details are available on the official event web-site at: www.walk-leamington2007.org/

Loughborough University

Thursday 19th April 2007

A Fitness in Running and Walking course is being staged at Loughborough University on Saturday 28th April.

The course is perfect for those leading Fitness and Endurance based activities covering many of the issues faced by those participants from fun runner to serious endurance athlete.

For more information please contact Alan Richardson at England Athletics – Tel: 07825 302921 or email: arichardson@englandathletics.org

Saturday 14th April 2007

SPAIN took both the Men's and Women's 20km titles at the 75th edition of the European Athletics Race Walking Permit Meeting in Podebrady, Czech Republic.

In temperatures rising above 25 degrees, former European Junior Bronze medalist Beatriz Pascual, took the Women's 20km in 1:32.57, while her Spanish team mate, Luis Manuel Corchete, did likewise in the Men's event in new personal best of 1:23.56. Pascal's time doubled as a new course record, beating the previous one of 1:33.16, set by Barbora Dibelkova from last year.

In winning the title, Pascual convincingly beat this year's Spanish champion, Maria Jose Poves, who took second in 1:33.59 and Monica Svensson from Sweden took third in 1:35.27. Local number one, Barbora Dibelkova, who finished fifth at the last World Championships in Helsinki, and who only gave birth to a son in January took 10th place in 1:43.14, and is sure to improve as the season progresses.

In the team rankings, unsurprisingly, Spain won ahead of Lithuania and Italy. In the Men's 20km, the 22-year-old Corchete, made light of the difficult conditions, setting an impressive personal best by nearly a minute. Already, sixth at this year's Spanish championships in 1:24.41, Corchete, has now put himself in a pole position for selection on the Spanish team for the European Cup Race Walking in Royal Leamington Spa next month.

The 22-year-old new comer, Daniele Paris, from Italy, was a surprise runner-up, clocking career best figures of 1:24.35, ahead of the more favoured Slovakian Matej Toth, in third, in 1:25.10.

In the team contest, Italy took the honours ahead of Spain In total, 146 walkers from 15 countries took part, in what was a very successful competition.

Meanwhile at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Rio Maior, Portugal, there was a double success for Europe when Belarussian Ryta Turava, and Italian Ivano Brugnetti, (pictured above) were the best race walkers over the 20km distance at the 16th edition of the ‘Grande Premio Internacional en Marcha Atletica', the third leg of the 2007 IAAF Race Walking Challenge.

Brugnetti, the 2004 Olympic 20km champion, who had a low key opening to his 2007 Challenge campaign with a 1:24.26 clocking for a distant 26th place in Shenzhen, China on 24th March, took the victory today almost half minute ahead of another 30-year-old, Australian Luke Adams, who had been fifth in China (1:20.30). For the winner, who became a father a month ago, he is once again "focussed on his sporting goals."

"After two years without great results this performance today gives me more motivation to think about Osaka (World Championships, 25th Aug to 2nd Sept. But, first, I will compete in Italy, in Sesto San Giovanni on 1st May," confirmed the Italian. Norwegian, Erik Tysse, took third in 1:20.56.

In the Women's race, local star Susana Feitor was in front in the first few laps, but Ryta Turava, the European champion and World Cup titleholder, who won in Rio Maior two years ago, eventually took control, winning in 1:28.01, the world season's lead.

In second place was Kjersti Platzer, who had won the opening leg of the Challenge in Naucalpan, Mexico on 10th March (1:32.30) ahead of Germany's defending champion Melanie Seeger in 1:29.32.

Germany's Sabine Zimmer, 26, was 4th (1:30.12), ahead of Italian Elisa Rigaudo, a former overall Challenge winner (1:30.42), and Australia's Olympic Bronze medallist, Jane Saville (1:30.52). Susana Feitor was only 7th finishing in 1:31.18.

2007 Midland Race-Walking Championships & Age-Groups

Abbey Park, Leicester

Saturday 24th March 2007

JILL EVE made a superb winning debut over the 20km distance as the Leicester Walking Club collected four team titles at the Midland Race-Walking Championships & Age Groups held at Abbey Park.

Eve representing the host team crossed the line first in the Women's race in a time of 2hrs 15mins 05secs to take the title.

She finished nearly seven minutes ahead of Harborough's Mairie MacClean (2:22.03) and with the support of team mates Sarah Lightman, third in 2:23.02 and Sue Rey, fourth in 2:26.33 the Leicester squad won the team prize with a total of 293pts.

The Men's team equalled their performance as Chris Berwick led them home finishing runner-up to Tamworth's Mark Williams in 1:54.27.

The Leicester team was completed by Peter Stapleford, 7th in 2:17.49, Martin Oldfield, 8th in 2:24.10 as they won the title with a tally of 283pts.

The Hinckley based Nuneaton Harrier Paul Hayden was sixth in 2:17.45.

Leicester's AAA Bronze medallist Fiona McGorum and Lauren Gimson won the Under-20 and Under-17 Women's races over 5k in 27:32 and 29:47 respectively, and teamed up to win the combined team prize.

Their performances alongside Jasmine Nichols finishing runner-up in 13:19 in the Under-13 Girls 2k, Leicester collected the overall female age-group team prize.

Samantha Vesty from the Hall Orchard School won the Under-11 Girl's race crossing the line in 7mins 44secs.

IAAF Race Walking Challenge

Shenzhen, China

Sunday 25th March 2007

AREA record-holder Yu Chaohong won the men’s 50km at the Shenzhen leg of the IAAF World Race Walking Challenge. In a race dominated by Chinese athletes, the 30-year-old Yu clocked 3:49:27, the second-fastest time in the world so far this year.

The Silver medal went to Yu's countryman Sun Chao, and the lone non-Chinese athlete entered in the race, Jesus Angel Garcia of Spain, 37, the European Silver medallist, took Bronze.

The temperature, which ranged from 21 to 26 degrees Celsius, combined with high humidity and intermittently sunny skies made today's endurance race an usually tough challenge for the athletes.

Yu Chaohong, the fourth-place finisher in the 2004 Athens Olympics, began the day in a lead pack of five Chinese walkers and looked strong throughout the first half of the race. He led the rest of the way, though he was challenged in the race's later stages by Han Yucheng. Han had stayed in the lead group for the entire race but began to struggle in the race's final laps, finishing seventh.

"It was hard work for me to finish this race," said Gold medallist Yu Chaohong who was the 2004 World Cup runner-up. "I thought today would be cooler than yesterday but I misjudged the weather, and I took the wrong strategy at the start of the race, to walk very fast in the first half. When the sun came out, the thick air felt like a pot of steam around me, so finishing was tough. But I did my best. The medal makes me happy but I am not content with the time. I could have done better."

Yu Chaohong asserted that his ultimate goal is to compete in next year's Beijing Olympics and to attempt to win the medal that eluded him in Athens.

"Every Chinese athlete wants to get a medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in our country. Now what I need to do is exert myself and do my best in every competition and every day in training."

Sun Chao left the racecourse visibly exhausted after crossing the finish line and was not able to speak with the media.

Garcia, the 1993 IAAF World champion, made the most of his Shenzhen appearance. The veteran crossed the finish line looking fresh and clearly enjoyed his time in southern China.

"The first time I came to China to compete was in the World Cup in 1995," Garcia said to the media afterwards. "From then on, I felt China was a friendly and comfortable place to compete. Today's cheers and applause during the race made me feel as though I was in a familiar old place."

Garcia said that he had not yet decided whether to participate in the May leg of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Italy – where he would be able to face off again against today's winner Yu Chaohong, who will be there – or to focus all of his attention on preparing for the World Championship.

"The World Championship is the more important race to me," Garcia said. "I hope to do better in that race than I did today. At the same time, I really hope that I can take part in the 2008 Olympics and to do my best to get a medal."

At the conclusion of today's race, Men's and Women's youth 1km races were held at Shenzhen Stadium. The Shenzhen race organizers also offered a forum on the development of international race walking as part of this two-day event.
Leading Results:
Men 50km
1 Yu Chaohong (CHN) 03:49:27; 2 Sun Chao (CHN) 03:50:46; 3 Jesus Angel Garcia (ESP) 03:52:54; 4 Xing Shucai (CHN) 03:54:19; 5 Cui Zhide (CHN) 03:54:42; 6 Zhao Jianguo (CHN) 03:59:00; 7 Han Yucheng (CHN) 04:03:53;

European Athletics Permit Race Walking Meeting

Dudince, Slovakia

Saturday 24th March 2007

IRELAND'S Colin Griffin won his first ever 50 km Walk in stunning fashion, at the European Athletics Permit Race Walking Meeting, the "26th Dudinska Patdesiatka" in the Slovakian Spa City of Dudince. His time was 3:51:32, was well below both the Osaka and Beijing A standard of 4 hours.

Griffin, who is the eldest son of the former Athletics Ireland President, Padraig Griffin and former Irish international Cross Country runner Patricia, also had the bonus of setting a new Irish record, eclipsing the previous one held by Jamie Costin of 3:53:58, set in 2003. Ironically, Costin was on hand to witness the loss of his record, as he finished 4th at 20 km later during the day.

"I m very happy it went so well. My main aim was to achieve a time of under four hours, so I m surprised with the final result. I knew I had a good shape, but in such weather you never know" a delighted Griffin said afterwards.

In second placed, behind the Irishman was Milos Batovsky from Slovakia, who won the Slovakian title and earned his selection for the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, missing his own best by 4 seconds with 3:54:10 while in third was Donatas Skarnulis from Lithuania who finished with a new best of 3:54:23.

As the event incorporated the national championships of the neighbouring countries, the Hungarian Champion was Zoltan Czukor who placed 6th and the Czech Champion Milos Holusa took 10th.

Britain's Scott Davies took nearly 10 minutes from his PB in recording 4.35.04 for 15th place.

Altogether, 45 walkers from 15 countries took part in tough cold and windy conditions with occasional rain.

In the Women's 20km, Slovakian record holder Zuzana Malikova took gold in 1:32:19, to take her 4th national title, but missed her own national record by 5 seconds and Rafal Augustyn of Poland won the men's 20 km with a time 1:23:07.
Leading Results:
Men 50km
1 Colin Griffin,IRL 3:51:32 NR; 2 Milos Batovsky,SVK (Slovakian Champion) 3:54:10; 3 Donatas Skarnulis,LTU 3:54:23 PB; 4 Chris Erickson,AUS 4:04:10; 5 Dusan Majdan,SVK 4:07:43; 17 Scott Davis GBR 4:35:04 PB
Men 20km
1 Rafal Augustyn POL 1:23:07 SB; 2 Maik Berger GER 1:24:01 SB; 3 Predrag Filipovic SRB 1:24:18 SB; 4 Jamie Costin IRL 1:24:53 SB; 5 Carsten Schmidt GER 1:25:09 SB
Women 20km
1 Zuzana Malikova,SVK 1:32:19; 2 Katarzyna Kwoka,POL 1:35:49; 3 Agnieszka Dygacz,POL 1:36:54; 4 Paulina Buziak,POL 1:37:17; 5 Lucie Pelantova,CZE 1:38:06
Junior Men 10km
1 Tavtyvdas Zekas,LTU 44:42; 2 Pawel Krawczyk,POL 44:53; 3 Balazs Darabos,HUN 45:58; 4 Krisztián Varga HUN .89 46:11 PB; 5 Balázs Havasi HUN 22.2.89 47:31 PB; 9 Simon Hambridge GBR 18.2.89 49:10 PB
Junior Women 10km
1 Federico Ferraro, ITA 50:20; 2 Anita Meszaros,HUN 50:55; 3 Barbora Strnadova,SVK 51:24; 4 Cecilia Kardos HUN 30.5.88 51:27 PB; 5 Mária Czaková SVK 2.10.88 52:02 SB

2007 European Masters Indoor Championships

Helsinki, Finland

March 22nd - 25th

TONI BOA secured a fine race-walking double medal success for the Great Britain team at the 2007 European Masters Indoor Championships held at the Liikuntamylly Sport Hall in Myllypuro, Helsinki, Finland.

Boa, the 45-year-old from Harborough AC, the 2007 British Masters 3,000m indoor champion, crossed the line in a time of 28mins 52secs to take the Silver in the 5km road-walk finishing runner-up to Poland’s Janina Luniewska who claimed Gold in 27:02, Gerda Frosch of Germany was third in 31:41.

In the W45 3,000m track event Boa finished in third place to collect a well-deserved Bronze medal finishing in a time of 16:15.33 in the race that was again won by the powerful Janina Luniewska of Poland in 16:10.14, Veronique Cochereau representing France won the Silver medal with a mark of 16:19.49.
Leading Results:
W45 5km Road Race Walk
1 J Luniewska (POL) 27:02; 2 T Boa (GBR) 28:52; 3 G Frosch (GER) 31:41; 4 D Saulite (LAT) 32:02; 5 R Muller (GER) 33:00; 6 G Seifert (GER) 33:11; 7 M Rasanen (FIN) 36:02
W45 3,000m Track Walk
1 J Luniewska (POL) 16:10.14; 2 V Cochereau (FRA) 16:15.33; 3 T Boa (GBR) 16:19.49; 4 D Saulite (LAT) 19:11.30; 5 G Frosch (GER) 20:19.91; 6 G Seifert (GER) 21:50.71; 7 M Rasanen (FIN) 22:39.37; R Muller (GER) DQ

Full results are available on the following link:
www.evaci2007.com/Default.aspx?tabid=3044