[Extract from the VRWC "Heel & Toe" Newsletter - with thanks]
It was a big day of racing as 86 walkers contested the various events in what were perfect winter conditions (as usual for Melbourne at this time of the year – but I'm not biased!). The highlight was the Victorian Masters 10 km roadwalking championship where 35 of our older walkers showed that they have lost little of their speed and racing ability. And we were privileged to see 2 World Records and one Australian Record amongst the many top performances. Andrew Jamieson (46:22) took a further 24 secs off his M60 World Record that he set last week while Heather Carr (53:41) took 14 secs of her own W55 World Record which she equalled last week. And joining the elite group of Masters record holders was Ralph Bennett whose time of 54:06 took some 10 secs off Murray Dickinson's M65 Australian Record. If you haven't heard much of Ralph before, you can be excused as he has only recently joined the walking ranks. Here is what he has to say in his profile on our newly created VRWC WIKI Site (but more about that later in the newsletter)
I am a Masters middle and long-distance runner (Mentone Venue) and racewalker. I started racewalking in April 2006, with VRWC, after three frustrating months of running that was limited by persistent hamstring injuries. That's when I found out about the technical nature of racewalking, found some relief for my hamstrings, but started to experience the soreness of some other new-found and previously under-utilised muscles and ligaments!
My other vote for top performers amongst the masters were Bendigo walkers Geoff Major (M70 – 64:34) and Barbara Bryant (W50 – 56:37) but it's really a toss of the coin in trying to pick out individuals from amongst so many wonderful walkers.
VMA 10 km Championship VRWC Handicap Place 35 1 Harlene Hercules 78:57 E9 40 1 Gayle McIntyre 65:40 11 45 1 Pam Tindal 55:40 4 45 2 Frances Halton 68:17 50 1 Barbara Bryant 56:37 50 2 Alison Thompson 58:23 5 50 3 Janet Holmes 61:17 6 55 1 Heather Carr 53:41 E2 55 2 Liz Feldman 58:06 E2 55 3 Marlene Gourlay 58:52 55 4 Celia Johnson 66:23 1 60 1 Valerie Millard 66:37 65 1 Gwen Steed 63:34 E9 65 2 Sylvia Machin 64:04 8 65 3 Margaret Beaumont 75:58 7 35 1 Aaron McDonough 58:13 2 35 2 Adam Patterson 65:55 45 1 Mark Donahoo 49:26 4 50 Ross Reid Disq 55 1 Alan Lucas 57:02 6 55 2 Robin Wood 63:24 1 55 3 Geoff Barrow 64:13 9 55 4 John Carter 67:13 60 1 Andrew Jamieson 46:22 5 60 2 Russ Dickenson 55:40 8 65 1 Ralph Bennett 54:06 3 65 2 Murray Dickinson 57:09 7 65 3 Barry Wicks 68:17 65 4 John Hallo 69:11 70 1 Geoff Major 64:34 70 Ian Beaumont Disq
For the complete article, read the VRWC Newsletter