Boxing Day saw the last race walk of 2007 take place in Brighton's
Preston Park 5.5 miles in near perfect conditions, the mildest for many
years. Brighton has three thriving athletics clubs, one of which is
Brighton & Hove AC who always put on a good show with over 180 taking
part in the combined field of runners and race walkers with the latter starting a bit earlier.

A name to watch out for in the future will be Alex Wright from Belgrave
Harriers who easily won in 46:14, with Surrey Walking Club's own Stephen
Crane second in 50:10, battling with and just overtaking Olympian Ian
Richards from Steyning AC in the final stages of the triangular course. The base of the triangle is almost flat but this is followed by a long climb of increasing steepness to the top corner. All of the effort is then lost in a short, sharp descent - not a boring course and at least the Park scenery is pleasant.

Results :

2. S.Crane 50 min 01 sec; 6. P.Crane 57 min 47 sec; 8. D.Hoben 62 min 0 sec.

This was the last Essex League & Enfield League race before Christmas and was held, with a respectable turnout, over the usual course at Chigwell Row in the heart of Wealden Essex which is certainly no billiard table. With temperatures struggling above zero on a cold bright day the front walkers were soon battling for first place, eventually won by Ilford’s Scott Davis. Surrey Walking Club’s Stephen Crane came third in 54 mins 20 sec and this position gave him 2^nd place in the whole 2007 Essex League series thus bringing to an end a hugely successful year.

Results :

 2^nd League Race - 5km

Neither the wet windy weather, which caused the cancellation of many football matches, or the attractions of Christmas shopping deterred the couple of dozen race walkers attracted to the second Cambridge Harriers Winter League race staged at their Bexley clubhouse. Surrey Walking Club had 6 out of whom the four first claim were fortunate to get the second team placing. The field was rewarded with a slight easing of the rain and enjoyed quite good conditions for what was only a three mile sprint. Stephen Crane, back from holiday, was the only member of the family this time but was first home for SWC in fourth a little slower than hoped as he resumes full training. Once again Shaun Lightman showed the effects of injury but used this race to gently come back and we hope will soon be beating the next three other club-mates who were just ahead of him this time.