This Sunday (September 8) morning’s race walking action on the NSC Roadway is not to be missed, with a handful of visiting athletes adding high international quality to proceedings.
The Isle of Man 20-kilometres race walking championship has added prestige this year, as it is also the English, British and Race Walking Association Championship event.
In addition there are supporting races over distances of 10km, 5km, 3km, 2km and 1km for various age groups.
Race Walking
The really exciting news is that Callum Wilkinson (Enfield and Haringey) is among the entries.
Callum has represented Great Britain at the last two Olympic Games in the 20km walk, finishing 10th in Japan in 2021 and 16th in Paris in 2024, the latter in a time of 1:20:31. His pb of 1:20:23 was set earlier this year.
According to my statistics, the fastest time ever recorded at the NSC for the men’s 20km walk was by Rob Heffernan of Ireland, whose time of 1:21:54 was set at the NSC in 2001. Could that be challenged on Sunday?
Entry List
Also on the entry list is the current British number two ranked Cameron Corbishley (Medway & Maidstone), who has a pb of 1:22:50 and who has performed consistently well on the international stage for several years.
To complete the set, current British number three Guy Thomas (Tonbridge AC) is also on the entry list. Guy has previously competed on the Isle of Man.
In the women’s race, the entry is highlighted by Abigail Jennings (Aldershot Farnham & District) who is the current British number one with a best time of 1:42:55 which was set in the Czech Republic earlier this year.
Local Entries
The local entry for the 20km is led by Neil Wade who has had a year of great progress, and this will be a big opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the country.
In the women’s race, newly crowned World Masters 60 champion Marie Jackson tackles her second 20km race in a week, and an interesting entrant is Catherine Perry who produced a terrific walk to Peel in the Parish Walk this year.
The 10km entry includes Parish Walk winners Dean Morgan and Lorna Gleave who are also entered for the End to End Walk a week on Sunday. In the younger age groups, the outstanding entrant looks to be Lilee Fletcher in the 3km.
I understand from event organiser Steve Taylor that late entries will be accepted up to Wednesday – stevetaylor1966@manx.net
It promises to be a great morning of race walking, which begins at 9.30am.
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