Centurions1911

Overseas Centurions

The Netherlands

Centurion Vereniging Nederland - Dutch Centurion Association (CVN)
To stay in contact with each other and to represent the Dutch and Belgian contingent of Centurions the Centurion Association of the Netherlands (Centurion Vereniging Nederland, C.V.N.) was founded on the 12th February 1966.

The CVN has it's own page on this website...read more about the CVN


Continental Centurions established 1973


Continental Centurion 1 is Jan Vos.
The rules to obtain this title are roughly the same as for (UK) Centurions. You have to walk 160.928 kilometres within 24 hours at a race on Dutch soil.
Normally these races are organized by the O.L.A.T. one year, followed by the R.W.V. the next year (in Weert and Schiedam respectively). Just like a British Centurion, a Continental Centurion receives a number which he or she will keep for the rest of his or her life (and beyond).  Continental Centurions are mainly Dutch, but there are also some German, Belgian, British or Danish Continental Centurions.
The Continental Centurion title is handed out by the R.W.V. as it is the most active race walking club in the Netherlands.
For the record: the Continental Centurion title has nothing to do with C.V.N.  The Continentals currently have about 300 members.


Australian Centurions

The Australian Centurions, established in 1971, are a very active group with 57 Australia Centurions (2009)
The founders decided that the positions of President and Vice President would be for terms of 2 years and would rotate through the membership in order of Centurion number. That would ensure that all members had the chance to serve the club in an official.
capacity.
Tim Erickson is the Secretary and he produces an excellent and informative Newsletter each month. Read all the News from Australia

The Australian Centurions Honour Board

















New Zealand Centurions

The New Zealand Centurions, full name New Zealand Centurions Endurance Walking Club, is a young organisation, having been founded November 29, 1998. As well as recognising centurion status, the New Zealand Centurions recognise the achievement of walking 100 kilometres in 14 hours 30 minutes.

Like many other national bodies in New Zealand representing minor sports, they are currently looking at ways to attract more people to centurionism and ultrawalking. One possibly being considered is to recognise other achievements such as walking 80 kilometres in 12 hours or 40 kilometres in six hours, two achievements recognised by the Australian Centurions.

They do not usually organise their own events. Instead, members enter events organised by other organisations, such as by the New Zealand Sri-Chinmoy marathon team.

American (USA) Centurions

This title was introduced in 1967 by the Columbia Track Club. They have become active once more, so check out the links page for the latest news or links. The last new American Centurion (57) is Geoff Tranter from Great Britain (in 23 hours, 49 minutes and 52 seconds).

UK American Centurions:
Brown, Richard 49 24-Sep-00 Golden, CO 20:29:45
Brown, Sandra 50 24-Sep-00 Golden, CO 21:50:57
Bhatti, Parminder 52 24-Sep-00 Golden, CO 23:05:10
Green, Jill 53 24-Sep-00 Golden, CO 23:35:07
Tranter, Geoff 57 24-Sep-00 Golden, CO 23:49:52


Malaysian Centurions

The Malaysia Centurion Club was formed in Malaysia in 2001 and held their first 24 hour walk in August of that year. The inaugural race saw 11 new members. The next event was held in August 2003 and saw 12 centurion finishers to make 23 Malaysian centurions in total - from 15 countries.  Interestingly, organiser Khoo Chong Beng had decided that each finisher would be awarded a Malaysian Centurion number even if it was a second finish. This is the only Centurion Club which operates in this fashion. The other clubs only award a centurion number on the occasion of the first finish.

While the first 3 events had been held in the relative coolness of the Genting Highlands resort, their most recent event, in August 2007, was staged in central Kuala Lumpur. The tough conditions ensured that only 5 walkers reached the 100 mile target.  Of the 5 successful walkers, 3 were Malaysian, indicating the increasing standard of local ultra walking within that country.  The other interesting note is that Kenyan women finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in the women's division, definitely another first in the world of ultra walking. Is this perhaps the first sign of an African interest in the ultra running and ultra walking disciplines.


More long distance races of 24 hours duration  are held in France, Germany, Spain and Belgium although these are not qualifying races for the Bortherhood of Centurions.