National Masters 20k Race Walking Championships 2008

Northampton Racecourse

Saturday 23rd August 2008

CHRIS BERWICK finished sixth to lead the Leicester Walking Club’s Men's line-up into the top team position.

The 62-year-old currently ranked 26 in the UK, clocked a time of 2hrs 1min 25secs and was supported by club-mates Mark Wall, who was eighth in 2:04.20 and the leading M50 athlete, and Rod Dunn, 10th in 2:05.29 and took the individual M55 bronze.

In the Women's race over the same distance, Leicester's Sarah Lightman finished runner-up overall in 2:31.17 and took gold in the F35 category.

The Midland 30km Championships were held in conjunction with the event, with Berwick and Wall going on to take Men's team silvers with sixth and seventh place finishes in 3:06.30 and 3:11.43 respectively. Berwick also claimed the Midland bronze.

www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

XXIX Beijing Olympic Games

Bird’s Nest National Stadium

Beijing, China

Friday 22nd August 2008

Athletics – Men’s 50km Race Walk

ALEX SCHWAZER of Italy won the men's 50 kilometres walk to deny Russia a clean sweep of the Olympic titles in Beijing.

The 23-year-old two time world medallist broke the 20-year-old Olympic record as he crossed the line in a time of 3hrs 37mins and nine seconds to take gold ahead of 20km bronze medallist Jared Tallent of Australia, who had a personal best of 3:39.27, whilst, Russian number one Denis Nizhegorodov won the bronze in 3:40.14.

Ireland's Jamie Costin finished in 44th position in a time of 4:15.16, whilst, teammate Colin Griffin was disqualified after 20km.

The race was down to five men at the 20km mark with Tallent, Schwazer, China's Li Jianbo, who was appearing in his first global championships, Nizhegorodov and France's European champion Yohann Diniz slightly adrift in fifth.

However, by the halfway Mark Diniz was losing ground all the time and was some 26sec behind the leading quartet, having lost 20sec in the last 5km - Tallent led the lead group.

Diniz, who was heavily favoured to at the very least medal, came to a virtual standstill after just over 2hrs, but having looked like calling it a day the former rave party organiser and wine expert tried to get going again.

He was still fifth at the 30km mark but his temporary stop had cost him dearly as he was now almost two minutes behind the lead group, all hopes of a medal gone. He eventually pulled out a short distance further on.

Up ahead the quartet of leaders had the medal fight to themselves - the two questions remaining was who was going to have the strength to take the gold and who was going to be the unlucky one not to medal.

The latter question was settled when Schwazer, Tallent and Nizhegorodov upped the pace and shook off Li, any thoughts of him fighting his way back into contention were dispelled by the 40km mark as he was nearly two minutes off the lead.

Schwazer bided his time and then pounced to make what he hoped was the decisive break for gold at around the 42km mark and with five kilometres to race he had a relatively comfortable 40sec lead over Tallent and Nizhegorodov.

Tallent, who had blasted the Russian 20km winner Valeriy Borchin because of his being a stablemate of several walkers who had failed dope tests, ditched Nizhegorodov shortly after the 45km mark and quickly opened up an unassailable lead over the Russian.

Schwazer was so confident that he had the gold he raised his finger to illustrate he was number one as he passed some cheering Italian fans. He was not to be proved wrong.

Full results are available on the following link: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/AT.shtml

XXIX Beijing Olympic Games

Bird’s Nest National Stadium

Beijing, China

Thursday 21st August 2008

Athletics – Women’s 20km Race Walk

JOHANNA JACKSON battled through the torrential rain in Beijing to come 22nd in the 20km walk in a new British record, on a morning where competition was suspended in the Bird’s Nest National Stadium for the first time due to the conditions.

Jackson, the 23-year-old from Middlesbrough set an impressive time of one hour 31 minutes 33 seconds in terrible conditions in the Chinese capital to finish just over five minutes behind winner Olga Kaniskina of Russia.

Kjersti Tysse Platzer of Norway claimed silver with Italy's Elisa Rigaudo collecting bronze.

After the race Jackson admitted she wasn't fazed by the bad weather and believes the experience will make her stronger for London 2012.

She said: "I was so glad when I woke up and it was pouring with rain, although I wouldn't have minded hot conditions as I may have been able to pick a few more off.

"I've got a lot more to go in my training and have a long way to go and hopefully I can challenge in four years' time.

"I wasn't thinking about the time, I was thinking about position but after I got my second card (a third would have meant disqualification) I thought 'Do I keep pushing for the British record?'"
Leading Results:
1-Olga Kaniskina-RUS-1:26:31 -2-Kjersti Plätzer-NOR-1:27:07 -3-Elisa Rigaudo-ITA-1:27:12 -4-Hong Liu-CHN-1:27:17 -5-María Vasco-ESP-1:27:25 -6-Beatriz Pascual-ESP-1:27:44 -7-Olive Loughnane-IRL-1:27:45 -8-Ana Cabecinha-POR-1:27:46 -9-Athanasía Tsoumeléka-GRE-1:27:54 -10-Vera Santos-POR-1:28:14 -11-Ryta Turava-BLR-1:28:26 -12-Tatyana Sibileva-RUS-1:28:28 -13-Na Shi-CHN-1:29:08 -14-Mayumi Kawasaki-JPN-1:29:43 -15-Sabine Zimmer-GER-1:30:19 -16-Sonata Milušauskaité-LTU-1:30:26 -17-Vira Zozulya-UKR-1:30:31 -18-María José Poves-ESP-1:30:52 -19-Kristina Saltanovic-LTU-1:31:03 -20-Jane Saville-AUS-1:31:17 -21-Sylwia Korzeniowska-POL-1:31:19 -22-Johanna Jackson-GBR-1:31:33

Full results are available on the following link: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/AT.shtml

XXIX Beijing Olympic Games

Bird’s Nest National Stadium

Beijing, China

Saturday 16th August 2008

Athletics - Men's 20km Race Walk

VALERIY BORCHIN of Russia won the gold medal in the 20-kilometer walk in a time of 1 hour 19 minutes 1 second at the Beijing Olympics, upstaging the defending champion.

Jefferson Perez of Ecuador, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion, was 14 seconds back in second place as Australia's Jared Tallent secured the bronze in 1:19:42.

Defending Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti of Italy and veteran Spaniard Javier Fernandez, the silver medallist at the Athens Olympics and at the last three world championships, led a tight pack until Borchin and Perez launched a breakaway with five kilometres (3 miles) to go.

Borchin, who did not finish at the world championships last August at Osaka, Japan, moved ahead of Perez at the 18-kilometer mark and increased his lead over the final stages to take victory.

"I never expected to win this medal," said Borchin, who opened up the decisive gap over Perez with two kilometres to go.

"At the beginning, I was lagging behind. I feel my dream has come true."

Full results are available on the following link: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/AT.shtml

Wednesday 13th August 2008

AS the eyes of the sporting world are looking at Beijing and ahead to London in four-years time - the possible future stars of the 2016 Chicago or maybe Madrid Olympic Games were in action last weekend at the England U15/U17 Track & Field Championships held in difficult weather conditions at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

Maks Orzel representing the Leicester Walking Club winning a superb gold medal over the 3,000m track walk distance in a new lifetime best performance produced the highlight for Leicestershire athletes in action.

Orzel sliced almost a minute off his previous personal best clocking a time of 17mins 13.24secs.

In the Under 15 Girls 3,000m track walk, club-mate at Leicester Jasmine Nicholls claimed bronze finishing in third place in 18:27.52.

Leicester Coritanian Daley Graham, having won silver at the Sainsbury's English Schools in Gateshead early this summer in the Under-15 category Triple Jump, repeated the performance by finishing runner-up in his debut season in the event setting a new personal best of 13.31 metres.

Graham produced the leap in the second round of the competition to take the lead from the English Schools champion Jimi Tele, however, the Havering & Maysbrook athlete regained the lead in the third round with a leap of 13.49m good enough to secure victory. Graham's Leicester club-mate Armani James was sixth with 12.02m.

Reigning Under-17 Javelin champion Harry Hollis representing Corby finished eighth in the final with a best effort of 51.85m, with Peter Snyman of Bedford winning gold with a mark of 64.35m.

Full results are available on the following link: www.athletics-uk.info/englandathletics/

Loughborough University

Tuesday 22nd July 2008

THE IAAF Academy will stage an elite coaching course covering the marathon and race walking events at Loughborough University from 31st August to 7th September 2008.

Scientific aspects of the course programme will be covered by teaching staff from the university.

Technical aspects will be covered by IAAF lecturers: Renato Canova and Peter Thompson for the marathon; Sandro Damilano and José Marin for the walking events.

The course, which will be conducted in English, is the most advanced in the IAAF's five-level Coaches Education and Certification System structure and is intended for experienced coaches working with high-performance athletes or as national event coaches.

Interested coaches from European Athletics Member Federations may sign up by the deadline of 10th August 2008.

Course fees and accommodation costs will be covered by the IAAF. Participants will be responsible for their own travel to/from the course.

For further information, including prerequisite qualifications for the course, please see www.iaafacademy.com or contact Stephane Merlino at stephane.merlino@iaaf.org

Tuesday 24th June 2008

CHRISTOPHER VESTY from Rawlins School added to his burgeoning collection of awards when he won the Keswick Cup as leading Leicestershire Over 15 Boy’s event. In the Peter Cup race for Under 15 Boys, Fergus Jeffs completed a great season with a victory over his two great Blaby Stokes Striders rivals, Rory Chandler and Dominic Bishop.

The handsome Livingstone House cup has been competed over for more than fifty years and the Stokes squad became only the third boys team in its long, distinguished history to take a hat-trick of wins in the team section.

Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) held on to Flers Cup (awarded to the leading Under 15 girl) for a third year ahead of Emma Achurch and Gwenan Jones (both Blaby Stokes).

Judges’ style awards were presented to Sophie Naylor and Harry Birch. The judges commented positively on the good standard of race walking.

Many thanks to everyone who has supported the 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.
Leading Results:
Boys
1-Christopher Vesty-Rawlins College-10:19
2-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:08
3-Rory Chandler-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:12
4-Dominic Bishop-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:18
5-Harry Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:13
Girls
1-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland-11:37
2-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics -12:19
3-Gwenan Jones-Blaby Stokes, Leics -14:06
4-Samantha Vesty-Hall Orchard, Leics-15:32
5-Ellie Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:42
6-Sophie Naylor-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:12

Saturday 28th June 2008

GREAT race walking conditions over the 2km course at Humberstone Park resulted in nine personal best performances being broken at the final round of the 2008 Hewitt Race Walking Cup Series held on Tuesday 17th June.

As the individual standings are based on a handicapping system which encourages all competitors to try to improve their best times during this 3 race Hewitt Race Walking Cup series these performances produced the closest of finishes in its history.

Fiona McGorum (University of Wales, Cardiff) took her record in the girl’s event to eighteen victories. Using this race as part of a training walk, she encouraged Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland), Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes) and Gwenan Jones (Blaby Stokes) to carve chunks off their personal bests.

However, it was Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard) who had another enormous personal best that catapulted her to the top of the girl’s league a solitary point ahead of Jones and Stokes team-mate, Kezia Brown.

The boys league was another close ”walked” affair. Fergus Jeffs improved by almost 45 seconds to take top boy’s handicap spot on the night. But it was Christopher Vesty (Rawlins College), registering another personal best with a well-paced walk, that took the title for an unprecedented fifth time. With brother and sister topping the final tables for the first time another record was set in this long established Leicester Walking club series.
Leading Results:
Boys
1 Christopher Vesty-Rawlins College-10:25
2 Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:53
3 Dominic Bishop-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:55
4 Harry Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:20
Boys League
1 Christopher Vesty (Rawlins) – 4 points
2 Fergus Jeffs (Blaby Stokes) – 6 points
3 Dominic Bishop (Blaby Stokes) – 10 points
Girls
1 Fiona McGorum-University of Wales Institute Cardiff-11:10
2 Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland High School-11:11
3 Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics -11:40
4 Gwenan Jones-Blaby Stokes, Leics-13:54
5 Fiona Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics -14:21
6 Nikita Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:56
7 Laura Jo Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:19
8 Samantha Vesty-Hall Orchard, Leics-15:23
9 Kezia Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:13
10 Ellie Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:02
Girls League
1 Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard) – 10 points
2 Kezia Brown (Blaby Stokes) – 11 points
= Gwenan Jones – 11 points
4 Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes) – 12 points
= Laura Jo Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes) – 12 points

http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=13076&admin=1

Sunday 15th June 2008

BRITAIN'S Jo Jackson stormed to victory at the 8th Royal Leamington Spa Grand Prix of Race Walking, EAA Permit Meeting. She took the lead from the gun as she dominated the race to come home in her 2nd fastest ever time of 1.32.40 to become the first home winner of the Leamington Grand Prix.

She passed 5km in 23.27 and went through the halfway point in 46.26. She pulled well clear of 2nd place finisher Despina Zapounisdou of Greece in the second half. Jackson commented after the race that “She was happy to have had another good 20km performance ahead of Beijing.” Zapounisdou held on to book her place on the plane to Beijing in 1.33.23 ahead of Zuzana Malikova of Slovakia (1.35.14).

In the Men’s 50 Kilometres a fast early pace was cut out by Maik Berger (Germany) and Herve Devaux (France) as they passed 10km in 46.12. By the 20km point they had been joined by Arthur Brzozowski (Poland) and Segundo Panchez (Ecuador) as they passed 20km in 91.57. By the halfway mark they were still together in 1.54.56. Soon after the 35km point Berger began to crack as Devaux pushed the pace. Devaux began to pay for this effort as Brzozowski swept past him into the lead at the 40km point. He powered on to clock 3.52.09 and book his place on the Polish team to the Olympics. Davaux was passed by compatriot Cedric Housayye who clocked a new pb of 3.56.43.

In the Men’s 20 Kilometres the early pace was set by Benajmin Kucinski (Poland) and David Dominguez (Spain), Diogo Martins (Portugal) and Jose Diaz (Spain) who passed 5km in 20.50. By the halfway mark (42.00) Dominguez, Kucinski and Diaz had been joined by Irish duo Colin Griffin and Jamie Costin. By 15km it was down to a leading trio as Martins and Diaz had been disqualified. They were still together at the bell, but Dominguez pulled away over the last lap to record 1.24.16 as Griffin 1.24.16 took the Irish title ahead of Costin (1.24.37).

In the Junior Men’s 10 Kilometres Hagen Pohle of Germany dominated the race to clock 43.43, ahead of Paul Fitzpatrick of Ireland in a new personal best of 43.58. England’s Mark O’Kane clocked a new personal best of 47.34 in 5th place. Christian Elb made it a German double as she took the Junior Womens 10km in 49.13 ahead of Ireland’s Laura Reynolds (50.43) and Scotland’s Chelsea O’Rawe Hobbs (54.17).

In the inaugural Anglo-Celtic Cup Ireland took the title with 28 points, ahead of England (26) and Scotland (20).

Report by Ian Richards.

8th Royal Leamington Spa Grand Prix of Race Walking - Preview

Thursday 12th June 2008

ATHLETES from 19 different countries will be descending on the picturesque Victoria Park in Royal Leamington Spa on Sunday 15th June for the 8th Royal Leamington Spa Grand Prix of Race Walking.

The EAA Permit meeting represents the last chance for many walkers to qualify for Beijing and as such the event has attracted walkers from a record 19 different countries, ranging from India, Ecuador, Brazil and Columbia.

The event will be staged in Victoria Park, which played host to last year's successful European Cup Race Walking which saw 5 UK All Comers Records.

The event will also see teams from Ireland and Scotland taking on their English hosts in the first ever Anglo-Celtic Cup of Race Walking. The event will also see history made as it will also incorporate the Irish Senior Championships, the first time ever that and Irish Championships has been staged overseas.

In the Women's 20km event, Jo Jackson (Redcar Race Walking Club) who has been breaking British records for fun in the last few months will be competing in her last 20km before she competes for Team GB in Beijing. At the time of the last Olympic Games in Athens she was still a middle distance runner, an excellent example for talent transfer programmes ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

She will attempt to become the first British Woman ever to take the Leamington Grand Prix Title. She will face tough competition from Greek Despina Zapounidou and Agnieszka Dygacz from Poland.

In the Men's 20 Kilometres Daniel King will lead the English team in the Anglo-Celtic Cup. He will be looking to make up for the disappointment of being disqualified at the World Cup and build on his Olympic 'B' standard performance over 50 Kilometres he recorded earlier this year. Amongst the favourites for the event will be Irish duo Colin Griffin and Jamie Costin, Diago Martins of Portugal, Spaniard Jose Diaz and Pole Benjamin Kucinski. The Men's 50 Kilometres will see walkers from Ecuador, France, Hungary and Sweden looking to qualify for the Olympic Games.

The Men's 50 Kilometres gets the programme under way at 9.00am. The event is being supported by Warwick District Council, England Athletics, Renault, Gatorade, Aqua Pura, Integrated Hydraulics, XLR8, NP Aerospace and Leeds Metropolitan University.

Saturday 24th May 2008

IN his quest to win the Hewitt Cup for an unprecedented fifth time, Christopher Vesty (Rawlins College) set another personal best time in the second round of the 2008 Hewitt Race-Walking Cup Series held at Leicester’s Humberstone Park. In a tight battle for the other podium placings, Rory Chandler (Blaby Stokes) narrowly beat team-mates Dominic Bishop and Fergus Jeffs.

Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) secured her third consecutive win in the girl’s race. Blaby Stokes Striders, Emma Achurch and Gwenan Jones took huge chunks off their personal bests and were also rewarded with style awards by the judges.

The final race of the competition promises to be very exciting with close finishes in both girls and boys leagues guaranteed. Christopher Vesty leads Fergus Jeffs by 3 points. In the girl’s standings last year’s Champion, Emma Achurch is locked on equal points with the promising Laura-Jo Bazylinski with Samantha Vesty and Kezia Brown just one point off the pace.
Leading Results:
Boys
1 Christopher Vesty (Rawlins College) 10:50
2 Rory Chandler (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:51
3 Dominic Bishop (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:53
4 Fergus Jeffs (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:57
5 Harry Birch (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 15:54
Boys League
1 Christopher Vesty (Rawlins) – 2 points
2 Fergus Jeffs (Blaby Stokes) – 5 points
3 Dominic Bishop (Blaby Stokes) – 7 points
= Rory Chandler (Blaby Stokes) – 7 points
Girls
1 Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland High School) 11:36
2 Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 11:54
3 Gwenan Jones (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:32
4 Fiona Brown (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:48
5 Laura Jo Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 15:33
6 Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard, Leics) 15:56
7 Nikita Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 16:28
8 Kezia Brown (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 16:33
9 Ellie Birch (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 16:47
Girls League
1 Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes) – 6 points
= Laura Jo Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes) – 6 points
3 Kezia Brown (Blaby Stokes) – 7 points
= Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard) – 7 points
5 Gwenan Jones – 9 points
Round 1

Tuesday 29th April 2008

With a fine personal best time, Christopher Vesty (Rawlins College) won the first race of the 2008 Hewitt Cup series and improved his unbeaten sequence to seven in this long-established Leicester Walking Club event. Dominic Bishop (Blaby Stokes) held off team-mates Fergus Jeffs and Rory Chandler to take second place.

Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland) continued her “run” of good form with a victory in the girl’s race. Last year’s Champion, Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes) and Fiona Brown took the other podium positions.

In this competition the individual standings are based on a handicapping system that encourages all competitors to improve, or get close to, their best times over the 3 race series. Half of the walkers bettered their previous best times while all the others were within 45 seconds of their records.

Vesty’s performance was just enough to give him an early lead over Bishop in the league standings. In the girl’s table it was a trio from the Blaby Stokes Striders stable (Sophie Naylor, Laura Jo Bazylinski and Kezia Brown) that head up the charts ahead of Sam Vesty. Judges’ style awards were presented to Laura-Jo, Sophie and Fergus.
Boys
1 Christopher Vesty (Rawlins College) 10:55
2 Dominic Bishop (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 13:49
3 Fergus Jeffs (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:46
4 Rory Chandler (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 15:05
Boys League
1 Christopher Vesty (Rawlins)
2 Dominic Bishop (Blaby Stokes)
3 Fergus Jeffs (Blaby Stokes)
4 Rory Chandler (Blaby Stokes)
Girls
1 Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland High School) 11:53
2 Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 12:46
3 Fiona Brown (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 14:00
4 Gwenan Jones (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 15:06
5 Aimee Holloway (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 15:09
6 Laura Jo Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 15:35
7 Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard, Leics) 16:01
8 Nikita Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 16:29
9 Sophie Naylor (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 16:32
10 Kezia Brown (Blaby Stokes, Leics) 16:34
Girls League
1 Sophie Naylor (Blaby Stokes)
2 Laura Jo Bazylinski (Blaby Stokes)
= Kezia Brown (Blaby Stokes)
4 Samantha Vesty (Hall Orchard)
5 Emma Achurch (Blaby Stokes)

The Hewitt Cup Series continues on Tuesday 17th June 2008. The Peter, Fler, and Keswick Cup takes place on Tuesday 24th June 2008 http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=13076&admin=1

Sunday 18th May 2008

LEICESTER WALKING CLUB celebrated medal successes at the 2006 Midland Track Championships held at Tamworth.

However, the celebrations were curtailed following UWIC student and 2006 AAA bronze medallist Fiona McGorum who was forced to pull out of the Senior Women's 5k with a recurrence of a hip injury, this after she was leading at the halfway stage. Team-mate, Sue Rey, finished fifth in 35mins 29secs.

Leicester's medallists were Jasmine Nicholls, Maks Orzel and Emma Achurch.

Nicholls claimed gold in the Under-15 Girls 3km in a time of 18:03. Orzel won Silver in the Under-15 Boys 3km (18:06) and Achurch secured bronze in the Under-13 Girls' 2km in 12:46.

In the Senior Men's 10km, Leicester's Mark Wall was fourth in 54:03, his team-mate Chris Berwick fifth (57:24) and Hinckley's Paul Haydon, who represents Nuneaton, finished sixth in 62:28.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

Sunday 11th May 2008

RUSSIAN Dennis Nizhegorodov claimed a superb home victory taking over a minute and a half off Australian Nathan Deakes’ World Record with a time of 3hrs 34mins 14secs to finish ahead of compatriot and World 20km Record Holder Vladamir Kanaykin in the Men’s 50km race at the 23rd IAAF World Race Walking Cup held in sweltering conditions in Cheboksary.

The Great Britain team was represented by twin brothers Daniel and Dominic King from Colchester Harriers who both set out to improve on their performances in Dudince at the end of March, with the Olympic ‘A’ Standard of 4 hours as their target.

Daniel set of with purpose and walked in a large group passing 5 Kilometres in 23.53 in 46th position, with his brother Dominic King just behind. Daniel passed the 10 Kilometre mark in 47.11 in 42nd position, well inside the 48 minutes required for sub 4 hours. Dominic was just behind in 47.38 in 47th.

However, disaster struck for both athletes as after 20km Daniel picked up his first disqualification card from the judges. Meanwhile Dominic was beginning to slip back from the required pace as he passed the same mark in 1.37.06 (69th).

Both walkers were suffering by the midway point with Daniel suffering from sickness and receiving a second card from the judges. Behind him Dominic was beginning to really suffer as he passed 30km in 2.30.33. Competing well inside the Olympic ‘A’ standard, Daniel unfortunately received his final disqualification card at the 38km point.

Dominic meanwhile soldered on passing 40km in 3:28.40 (69th) and maintained his from to come home in 60th in 4.25.26. At the front, roared on by a home crowd in excess of 30,000

In the Women’s 20 km the home country’s dominance of the World Walking Cup came full circle when Olga Kaniskina reigned supreme in the women’s 20km from start to finish. The only downturn for the World champion in Osaka was the single second that denied her country of their third World record of the weekend.

Kaniskina strained for the line, no doubt aware that anything under 1:25:41 would net her an extra $50,000 to go with the first prize of $30,000, but heartbreakingly stopped the clock just a heartbeat beyond the magical time.

Britain’s Joanne Jackson made a positive start and went through 5km in 22.58 (35th). Yet she too succumbed to stomach cramps, which made it very difficult for her to take on fluids.

She gradually slipped back through the field as she passed halfway in 47.28 in 50th position, and pulled through in the last 5 Kilometres to come home in 45th in 1:37.56. She was very disappointed with her performance.

Cheboksary, Russia

Saturday 10th May 2008

THE Junior Men’s 10km, the first race of the 23rd IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, went to form with Russia predictably opening the weekend with a win.

But the one blip, if you can call it that, was the home-gown athlete with the second-fastest time this year not only prevailed, but claimed a World junior record while he was at it.

Aleksey Bartsaykin had team-mate Edikt Khaybullin beaten long before the end, even though the latter had the fastest time of the year going into the race. In fact, 19-year-old Bartsaykin decided it was going to be his day with a lap-and-a-half to go when he snapped the string that joined him to a group of four.

The Russian then sprinted to open up a gap of 15 metres from team-mate Denis Strekov and Spaniard Luis Torla. The lead doubled by the bell, but it then looked as if Bartsaykin was happy to settle for just a glorious win in front of thousands of his countrymen.

He drunk in the applause going into the final turn, but he was also travelling at a tremendous pace. With a 100 metres to go he turned on the afterburners to crash through the line just under the magical 40:00 and claim the vacant World record.

The Chinese, Ding Chen thundered past Strelkov for silver, who in turn, was too quick for the Spaniard Torla. Early on, a group of eight enjoyed a relatively easy first 2km in around 8:02, with all the form walkers showing up front.

Indeed, such was the pushy pace, the field of 50-plus walkers was blown apart with large gaps from first to last. Even though most walkers in the race had PBs not exceeding 50:00, by the last lap of five around the lakeside setting, the backmarkers were already being lapped.

It was no surprise that Khaybullin was suffering, despite his superfast time in the Russian Championships and disappeared on the last lap. The only surprise to spectators was that Bartsaykin had time to wave to crowds, and still claim the fastest ratified time ever by a junior man.

The winner’s major concern wasn’t whether he would break the World record, but whether his pole position was in danger from a team-mate.

Bartsaykin said: “I didn’t think about the World record. However, I though another Russian might win. “I didn’t know which one, but certainly thought any threat would come from our team, with 200m left, I realised there was no-one behind me. But it was only 50m from the line I realised the World record was on.”

Great Britain’s Ben Wears finished 38th, this after he had made a positive start, passing 3km in 12.59 in 30th place. At the front the Russian duo of Strelkov and Bartsaykin lead a group of 6 through halfway in 20.21.

However, Wears bright start was threatened when he began to suffer from a major stitch at the 4 km point, and between 4 and 6km lost over a minute, as he passed halfway in 52nd position in 23.07.

Recovering from his stitch in the second half, he was able to get going again and began to move through the field. He came home in a creditable 38th place in a Seasons Best of 45.22.

Wears said after the race “I am very disappointed as I am in great shape at the moment. The stitch came on after 4km and I could do nothing for 2km. Fortunately I was able to get going again in the last 4km as it wore off”.

Report from the IAAF.

Saturday 10th May 2008

JASMINE NICHOLLS representing the Leicester Walking Club secured a bronze medal finish at the National Young Athletes Grand Prix Championships held at Victoria Park, London.

Nicholls recorded a time of 18mins 10secs in the Under-15 Girls' 3km in the race won by Ashford's Kelsey Howard in 16:42.

Chris Vesty was fifth in 29:26 in the Under-17 Boys 5km, whilst, Samantha Vesty was 13th in 15:58 in the Under-13 Girls 2km.

In the senior races, Mark Wall was eighth in the Men's 5km in 26:32 and fifth in the veterans 3km in 15:36.

Helen Middleton was second in the women vets 3km in 17:40, and fourth in the senior 5km in 30:14. Sue Rey was sixth in the vets 3km in 20:37 and eighth in the 5km in 34:24.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

Saturday 19th April 2008

JASMINE NICHOLLS extended her unbeaten run to six races this year at Under-15 level with victory in the 2008 Jeff Ford Memorial Walks Young Athletes Grand Prix meeting in Sheffield.

The Leicester Walking Club junior won the 3km race in a time of 18mins 20secs to finish ahead of her nearest rival by more than two minutes on a new twisting course surrounding the Don Valley Stadium.

There were also bronze medals for club-mates Emma Achurch in the Under-13 Girls 2km in 13:06, Mark Wall in the Men's 5km in 31:26 and Helen Middleton in the Women's 10km in 60:49.

Leicester's Women's team captain Sue Rey set personal-best times over 5km and 10km with 32:18 in 11th and 66:00 taking fourth position respectively.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/Results.asp

Thursday 10th April 2008

FIONA McGORUM representing the Leicester Walking Club claimed a fine silver medal on her debut at the National 20km Championships held at a cold and snow covered Earls Colne in Essex on Sunday 6th April.

The 19-year-old UWIC student clocked a time of 1hr 58mins 53secs to finish runner-up to Diane Bradbury representing Tonbridge AC (1:57.18).

McGorum's performance combined with Helen Middleton (fifth in 2:10.10) and Sue Rey (sixth in 2:17.58) ensured Leicester also won the team title.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racewalkuk.com/EventDetails.asp?id=1993&race=UKA/RWA_Championships

Tuesday 26th February 2008

BLABY STOKES STRIDERS race walking squad successfully retained the Chris Smith race walking league team title. This league format continues to be a runaway (or should that be “walkaway”!) success - a record 78 walkers from 40 schools competed during the 4 race series. With an impressive 25 of them achieving the gold standard, 23 the silver and 20 getting bronze indications are that schools race walking standards continue to rise.

Holly Smith (Cadbury College) notched up her second victory ahead of training partner Keera Rayment (City Tech.) with Jasmine Nicholls (Leysland, Leics) third quickest on the night. Antonio Cirillo (Neath) became the first male walker to win all four races in a season ahead of Mark Pratt (All Saints, Sheffield) and Matthew Duncan (Franklin College, Grimsby).

The individual leagues were closely contested as they are based on a handicapping system, which encourages all competitors to improve, or get close to their best performances, over the 4 race series. In a closely contested event, Rebecca Chambers (Greenhill, Sheffield) just held on to win the girl’s league by 3 points from Eleanor Mills (Grace Academy, Birmingham) with Katherine Jolley (Brantwood, Sheffield) just pipping Gwenan Jones (Blaby Stokes) for third place.

Similarly the outcome of the boy’s title was only decided in the final race. With another personal best time, Rory Chandler (Blaby Stokes, Leics) came out on top ahead of team-mate Dominic Bishop. Shaun Cohen (Handsworth Grange, Sheffield) squeezed out Antonio Cirillo (Neath) for third place overall.
Full Results:
Boys
1-Antonio Cirillo-Neath Port Talbot College-9:45; 2-Mark Pratt-All Saints, Sheffield-10:36; 3-Matthew Duncan-Franklin College, Grimsby-11:24; 4-Eddie Brebner-King Ecgberts, Sheffield-11:28; 5-Nathan Duncan-Hereford School, Grimsby-12:26; 6-Maks Orzal-Leicester Grammar-12:55; 7-Shaun Cohen-Handsworth Grange, Sheffield-13:43; 8-Rory Chandler-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:16; 9-Dominic Bishop-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:17; 10-Fergus Jeffs-Blaby Stokes, Leics-14:36; 11-Harry Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:15;12-Charlie Arnold-Queen Elizabeth, Atherstone-15:33; 13-Peter Bilson-SHEAF-17:17; 14-Adam Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:45; 15-Ryan Horne-Alderman Smith-17:50; 16-Harry Stain-Market Drayton Junior-17:56; 17-Ben Timson-Blaby Stokes, Leics-18:15
League (points after 4 races)
1-Rory Chandler-168; 2-Dominic Bishop-163; 3-Shaun Cohen-158; 4-Antonio Cirillo-155; 5-Fergus Jeffs-150; 6-Maks Orzal-120; 7-Mark Pratt-96; 8-Nathan Duncan-94; 9-Andy Friend-93; 10-Tyler Bower-92
Girls
1-Holly Smith-Cadbury College-10:19; 2-Keera Rayment-City Tech College, Kingshurst-11:09; 3-Jasmine Nicholls-Leysland H.S., Leics-11:48; 4-Eleanor Mills-Grace Academy Chelmsley Wood-12:43; 5-Gabrielle Terry -Hull Collegiate-12:52; 6-Emma Achurch-Blaby Stokes, Leics -13:14; 7-Caitlyn Akers-H.S. Academy, Sheffield-13:40; 8-Cassandra Tingey-Sharlands Collegiate Academia, Smethwick-14:02; 9-Rebecca Chambers-Greenhill, Sheffield-14:37; 10-Chloe Pateman-Greenhill, Sheffield-14:57; 11-Katherine Jolley-Brantwood, Sheffield-15:03; 12-Jessica Warren-Burbage Junior-15:11; 13-Gwenan Jones-Blaby Stokes, Leics-15:16; 14-Eve Stain-Heartshill HS, Nuneaton-15:25; =-Eden Backhouse-Market Drayton Junior-15:25; 16-Lisa Costelow-Blaby Stokes, Leics -15:42; 17-Laura-Jo Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-16:01; 18-Jessica Mills-Marston Green Junior, Birmingham-16:25; 19-Nikita Bazylinski-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:36; 20-Ellie Birch-Blaby Stokes, Leics-17:53; 21-Sophie Naylor-Blaby Stokes, Leics-18:08; 22-Kezia Brown-Blaby Stokes, Leics-18:08; =-Rosie Parsons-St Josephs Junior, Nuneaton-18:53; 24-Elisze Streton-Barwell Junior-18:53
League (points after 4 races)
1-Rebecca Chambers-170; 2-Eleanor Mills-167; 3-Katherine Jolley-147; 4-Gwenan Jones-145; 5-Holly Smith-138; 6-Jasmine Nicholls-136; 7-Chloe Pateman-134; 8-Laura-Jo Bazylinski-131; 9-Maria Walker-130; 10-Cassandra Tingey-129
Overall Team Standings:
1 Blaby Stokes “A”, Leics-358; 2 Blaby Stokes “B”-312; 3 Greenhill, Sheffield-304; 4 Blaby Stokes “C”-264; 5 Market Weighton, E. Yorks-227; 6 Blaby Stokes “D”-202; 7 Blaby Stokes “E”-175; 8 Grace Academy, Chelsley Wood-167; 9 University of Wales-162; 10 Michael Drayton “A”, Nuneaton-159; 11 Handsworth Grange, Sheffield-158; 12 Neath Port Talbot College-155; 13 Brantwood, Sheffield-147; 14 Cadbury College, W. Midlands-138; 15 Leysland High School, Leics-136; 16 Blaby Stokes “F”-134; 17 Sharlands Collegiate, Smethwick-129; 18 Burbage Junior-125; 19 Leicester Grammar-120; 20 HS Academy, Sheffield-113; 21 Blaby Stokes “G”-109; 22 King Ecgberts, Sheffield-106; 23 Franklin College, Grimsby-104; 24 All Saints, Sheffield –96; 25 Hereford School, Grimsby-94; 26 City School, Sheffield-92; 27 City Tech. Kingshurst-80; 28 Croft Junior-78; 29 Heartshill High, Nuneaton-78; 30 Rawlins College, Leics-72; 31 Michael Drayton “B”, Nuneaton-71; 32 Queen Elizabeth, Atherstone-67; 33 Blaby Stokes “H”-65; 34 St Edmunds Campion, Erdington-61; 35 Wolfreton School, E. Yorks-60; 36 Marston Green Junior, Birmingham-57; 37 Kingstanding, Birmingham-51; 38 Hull Collegiate-36; 39 Thistly Meadow, Leics-31; 40 Blaby Stokes “I”-28; 41 cSilverdale School, Sheffield-22; 42 Hall Orchard, Leics-19; 43 Alderman Smith’s, Nuneaton-18; 44 Beauchamp College, Leics-16; 45 Barwell Junior-8; 46 St Joseph’s Junior, Nuneaton-7; 47 SHEAF-6; 48 Lacely’s Junior, Nuneaton-5; 49 Blaby Stokes “I”-5; 50 Nicholas Chamberlain, Nuneaton-2

2008 British Masters Indoor Championships

Lee Valley Athletics Centre, London

Sunday 24th February 2008

HARBOROUGH'S England international Toni Boa successfully defended her 3,000 metres race-walking title at the British Masters Indoor Championships held at London’s Lee Valley Athletics Centre.

The F45 veteran crossed the line in a time of 17mins 15.74secs to retain her title with ease. This was her first race-walk event since the 2007 World Masters Championships last September when she led Team GB team to the Gold medal, and followed her previous day's efforts when she was the second Senior women for Harborough over 8k in the Saucony English National Cross-Country Championships at Alton Towers.

In other events at Lee Valley Boa’s club-mate Andy Wilkinson finished fourth in the M40 Pole Vault competition with an indoor best height of 3.30m.

Full results are available on the following link: www.bmaf.org.uk/results/

Saturday 23rd February 2008

JO JACKSON broke the eight-year-old British 20km race-walking record by a healthy margin with victory at the Australian Championships in Melbourne on Saturday (23rd February).

The 23-year-old Redcar athlete, competing as a guest, clocked a time of one hour 31 minutes 40 seconds - an Olympic Games 'A' qualifier - to smash Lisa Kehler's previous best of 1:33.57.

Jackson, who has developed into the country's first international-class walker for many years, decimated her previous fastest time of 1:36.28.

She finished well clear of Australia's Kellie Wapshott and Claire Woods, who also produced lifetime best marks of 1:32.57 and 1:33.02 in Fawkner Park.

It was Jackson's third and most important success since beginning a spell of warm-weather training and competition in Australia.

Jackson won a 3km walk in Canberra last month then, competing as a guest, claimed the New South Wales 5km title in Sydney.