What the event lacked in numbers was made up for in quality of this year's Manx Harriers-organised Novice One-hour Challenge Walk at the NSC on Sunday.

On a very wet morning for walkers and marshals alike, the performance of the day came from junior competitor Lilee Fletcher who was attempting an hour for the first time and came within a hair's breadth of recording 11km.

After setting a championship-best performance when winning the English Schools walk in Bedford the previous weekend, she toed the line again and sat behind newcomer Dan Gibson for most of the event, before she pulled clear in the latter stages of the hour.

Gibson himself set a very impressive distance of 10,900m in his first walk around the perimeter roadway at the National Sports Centre and showed a good solid technique - he is going to be one to watch for the future as he finished as first novice by a clear margin.

Cory Addy was smiling the whole way round and also had a solid walk, not quite reaching 8km but this was enough to claim second novice ahead of Gordon Erskine.

The latter, although he cannot really be considered a novice walker, is on the comeback after hip replacement surgery last year.

In the half-hour event, the juniors put on a fine display. Jack Davies impressed, surpassing the 5km mark easily, while Amy Surgeon pulled clear of Polly Davies for second and third respectively.

In the 1,600m walk Daisy Sille and Charlee Fletcher finished very close together and both under six minutes. Similarly, Faye Robertson impressed doing two laps in under 12 minutes ahead of Ossie Addy.

Thanks go to all who stood out in the wind and rain to support the walks.

The top three in the half-hour walk, winner Jack Davies leading runner-up Amy Surgeon (left) and third-placed Polly Davies in the wet conditions at the NSC (Photo: Steve Partington)
The top three in the half-hour walk, winner Jack Davies leading runner-up Amy Surgeon (left) and third-placed Polly Davies in the wet conditions at the NSC (Photo: Steve Partington) (Steve Partington)

- The next event is the first round of the Winter Walking League which will take place on Sunday, October 26, again at the National Sports Centre. Signing on will be in the clubhouse from 8.30am for a 9.30 start.

RESULTS

One-hour Novice Walk: 1, Lilee Fletcher (Manx Harriers) 10,979m; 2, Dan Gibson (unattached) 10,900m (first novice); 3, Holly Salter (Northern AC) 10,114m; 4, Marie Jackson (MH) 9,291m; 5, Louise Hollings (MH) 8,460m; 6, Jim Caley (Manx Fell Runners) 7,983m; 7, Cory Addy (U/A) 7,923m (second novice) 8, Gorden Erskine (U/A) 6,690m (third novice).

Half-hour Walk: 1, Jack Davies (MH) 5,145m; 2, Amy Surgeon (MH) 4,728m; 3, Polly Davies (MH) 4,505m; 4, Robbie Lambden (MH) 2,084m.

800m walk: 1, Daisy Sille (U/A) 5 minutes 53 seconds; 2, Charlee Fletcher (U/A 5m 55s.

1,600m 1, Faye Robertson (MH) 11m 48s; 2, Ossie Addy (U/A) 16m 36s.

BRIDGET KANEEN

Holly Salter on her way to finishing third in the one-hour walk at a rain-soaked NSC last Sunday (Photo: Steve Partington)
Holly Salter on her way to finishing third in the one-hour walk at a rain-soaked NSC last Sunday (Photo: Steve Partington) (Steve Partington)

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