Surrey Walking Club Alec Potton 7 mile Championship.

 

The 7 mile Championship, now held in memory of Past President and former walks judge Alec Potton has been held for many years over various courses but for the last 25 years has been won by our best walker, Mark Easton, who is now a young veteran in his early 40’s and until recently Commonwealth Games competitor over 30/50km. On this occasion his time was fast enough to beat most walkers in the South-East and certainly enough to lap the field in this Club event although perhaps a minute short of his target.

Behind him the next four competitors were within a couple of minutes of each other and  the three Club men among the four finished within 35 seconds after a long struggle on a very pleasant afternoon. On these short days in winter time the sun and its warmth subsides as the rear of the field came home with Pam Ficken taking the Ladies Championship.

 

The incorporated Handicap race for the Alec Potton Salver was won, but only just, by P.Hannell trying to hold the Club group mentioned earlier. It was good to see very reasonable fields in the shorter 3km and one mile races where Surrey Walking Club’s Andrew Statter battled with a visiting boy and achieved a draw for first place in a good time missing out on 12 minutes by just 1 second.

 

The visiting girls team from Tonbridge AC were pleased to be presented by SWC Past President and Current Race Walking Association President, Brian Ficken, with the Cup for first place in the National young age groups Grand Prix