Congratulations to Ron Wallwork and his team on a superb weekend.  I’m sure everyone enjoyed the experience .... it’s raining, therefore it must be the 100 mile RWA Championship weekend!
Surrey Walking Club members and Centurions Pam Ficken and David Watson (with helpers) ran the official feeding station and kept fit by running after the wind strewn paper cups throughout the event!

It can’t have been pleasant standing/sitting out in the rain all night! Well done and thank you everyone.

The race (all the longer distances) started at 3pm on a somewhat steamy Saturday afternoon. The weather forecast wasn't too special - strong winds and extremely heavy rain expected during the evening.  Oh joy!
The cool wind at the start hid the strength of the sun but the promise of wind and rain raised the burning question in the ladies changing room  "what shall I wear?"  For many a seasoned ultra distance walker it is often...start as you mean to go on...  and many 24 hour races see walkers start off in leggings and long sleeved tops even though it's warm...ie don't waste precious time changing into warmer/wet weather clothes later in the race...

There was a much appreciated appearance by Richard Dunwoody who had completed his 1000 miles in 1000 hours only the day before. Thank you Richard!

The course was mapped out at a very nice 2 miles which made adding up the laps so much easier! (for those who are mathematically challenged).  The one mile and 50km markers were a nice touch so everyone not on the 100 miles and 50k/100km knew exactly where they would finish. Most of the 50km walkers probably just about finished before the rain set in just after 10pm (and continued for five hours or so)

Know the Rules

Race walking is a technical sport and as such has judges positioned around the course to ensure everyone complies with the rules ie walking and not breaking into a trot or run (the contact rule) and that the old legs are kept straight...ie the leading leg must be straight at the knee when the foot touches the ground and remain straight until the leg is vertical (bent knee rule).

Whilst the 100 mile event was the RWA National Championship, the whole weekend was dedicated to challenges. Walk 20 miles, 30 miles, 50km, 50 miles, 100km etc in a given time.  As such, the whole event was designated a "B" race. In race walking speak this meant the judges would only judge on "contact" ie one foot must be in contact with the ground at any one time (or words to that effect). The "bent leg" rule was not in contention here. Good news for us ole codgers! (see more on race walking rules)

There are of course checks and balances.
Cautions (warnings to the walker that they are not complying with the rules) need to be given by different judges,   If the walker is breaking a rule, the judge fills in a disqualification card with the walker’s number, the fault and the time, and then signs the Card.  The  "Judges’ Runner"  conveys the card to the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge’s Recorder (the official who checks the paper-work of the individual judges)

So what happens then when a walker is confronted by the words "You know the rules.  Knees must be uncovered. Go and change into a pair of shorts" (when the walker was sporting a very dashing pair of just below the knee lycra tights)

Does the offending owner of the offending dashing pair of just below the knees lycra tights have to walk back a quarter of a mile to change, or, can the offending walker, etc, complete the lap and then change into a pair of shorts? (if a pair of shorts was lurking in a kit bag, of course) 

So, what's a race walker to do? turn back...walk on.. and wonder whether the Race Referee will-
(a) spot these offending below the knee lycra tights (dashing though they might be) (not that he had noticed them up to now) and/or
(b) disqualify the poor walker on the spot (as claimed by the judge that this would  possibly happen).

Goodness and this at only 8 miles into the race! One would have thought that all this would have been spotted and dealt with on the first lap or so.

Simple solution: roll the aforementioned tights up above the knee. Problem solved. Walker mutters and gets on with the job.
But horror of horrors. After 10 more miles of walking, the left leg of lycra tights unravels and obscures 2 cm of the knee. Judge jumps in front of walker wagging finger in face and most vehemently reminds walker of previous "caution" and warns that one more instance of a partially covered knee will mean certain disqualification. (even possibly beheading.... knee capping ..or other such horrendous consequence?)

This was clearly distressing to the unfortunate walker. Luckily, the dispute was clarified by other judges on the course as a sheer nonsense.

Lessons learned:
(i) Know what you can and cannot wear in a race (Rules can be found on the UK Athletics website).

But, what of the "long shorts" some walkers were wearing. Some were obviously slipping and obscuring part of a knee. Leggings, tracksters, long tights, etc  were spotted on the course not long after the confrontation and then on Sunday, during the shorter races, when the same judge was captured on film out "judging" the most stylish of racing kit.

(ii) know what you can caution a walker with: eg an athlete cannot be given a second "caution" by the same Judge for the same offence. (and perhaps just as important - how you caution the athlete. Verbal abuse is not tolerated in the workplace - nor should it be in the sports arena)

So - know the rules!
Sad to have report this incident in such a superb event. Hopefully this was a one-off and  no other walker was subject to this "officiousness". What kind of  signal are we giving?

On to nicer things..

The memento given to all walkers is possibly the best ever given and received! Well done to whoever chose and designed it.

Also, it was good to see the Dutch continuing to support our 100. We must make an effort next year to support their event at Schiedam.

Carol Baird (Australian Centurion) graced our race as did the Belgian, Ludo Schaerlaeckens.

Note that this is a report of a competitor and not necessarily the opinion of the Brotherhood of Centurions.

20 miles-100 miles results | 3 miles-5 miles results