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race results >>MK Results
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Milton Keynes RWA and Centurion 100 miles track race, 16-17 August 2008 It’s always nice to have a little excitement in a race. Long track races can become very tedious, so walkers and helpers alike enjoy the build up of tension at cliff-hanging moments – unless, perhaps, it’s you that is doing the cliff hanging! At the back of the filed, where the race is longest and hardest, this event produced nail-biting performances by Bob Austin (Milton Keynes AC) and Sean Pender (Enfield & Haringey). Not that they had any time spare to bite their nails as first Bob (listing increasingly to starboard in the closing stages) finished in 23.45.18, and then Sean crossed the line to universal acclaim in 23.56.11. At the front of the field, Marcelino Sobczak, experienced Dutch walker and winner of the Battersea Park 100 in 2007, won convincingly in 19.00.53 and was cheerful about just missing 19 hours. He was followed in second place by fellow Dutchman and first new Centurion Victor Mennen. The two men train together and are impressively strong. Even more impressive in third place was debut Centurion Ian Richards (Steyning AC). Returning to walking after an absence of nearly 30 years, Ian is remembered as GB 50 kms walker in the 1980 Olympics and as a London-Brighton man. In a storming performance, Ian completed the 100 in 19.37.11 to set a superb new M60 best time. More excitement was in store in 4th place, as SWC’s Sandra Brown rounded the final bend with the clock showing 19h 59m. She crossed the line in 19.59.29, just 31 seconds inside the 20 hours “first class” time. En route, Sandra posted her fastest times for 50kms, 50 miles and 100 kms for some time. When heavy rain set in for 2 hours during the night, she lost precious but necessary time stopping to don waterproofs. Though recognising that the 20 hour mark might no longer be achievable, she decided to give it all and was rewarded with a sub-20h time – just. The Fred Baker plate, awarded to those who complete 20 English Centurion 100s, has until now featured two names, both SWC walkers: Hew Neilson (Captain of Centurions and father of SWC Centurion and prolific walker Pam Ficken) and Sandra Brown. At Milton Keynes, Martin Fisher (Redcar) became the third person with 20 completions. Other club members had mixed success. Chris Flint produced another excellent completion. Richard Brown, still suffering the effects of a chest infection, sensibly stopped after 28 miles and gave much appreciated support to Sandra. Paul King stopped at 27 miles and Ken Watts at 61 miles. All walked very well. Key results were: 1. Marcelino Sobczak NL 19.00 53 2. Victor Mennen NL 19.33.48 3. Ian Richards Steyning AC 19.37.11 (M60 record) 4. Sandra Brown SWC 19.59.29 (1st lady) 10. Chris Flint London Vidarians/SWC 22.43.02 report from Sandra Brown |