Race Date: Sunday 18th June 2023

For many years the BMAF 5km running and racewalk championships took place in Horwich, north of Manchester. This year the racewalk championships returned on a new course close to the Bolton football ground. My racewalk club, Lancashire Walking Club, has been involved in organising this race over the years so I decided to cross the Pennines to support this event.

30 racewalkers, with an age-range from 45 to 85 competed. It was good to see racewalk friends from all over the country. There was also a big contingent visiting from Ireland. There were some former champions taking part, including 1980 Olympic racewalker Ian Richards.

I was a little bit worried about this event, as it was a championships, it was going to judged to ensure that walkers were following the rules. One foot must always be in contact with the ground and knees must not be bent when leg is upright. A few years ago I was repeatedly getting disqualified in championships so I stopped competing in them.

We had 4 laps and a little bit more to make 5km. I took it relatively easy at the start and worked my way through, I was up to 10th by lap 3. Last lap was very hard work, I wasn’t going to catch 9th place. Over the line in 32.39, faster than I thought I would do. No problems from the judges, I did try and keep my knees straight. Some walkers did get warning cards but I think the judges were relatively lenient for us old fogies.

I was 6th man to finish, 2nd M60.

Results and pictures at

https://lancswalkingclub.com/2023/06/22/the-welcome-return-of-the-bmaf-5-km-championship-part-one/

More pictures at
https://lancswalkingclub.com/2023/07/01/the-welcome-return-of-the-bmaf-5-km-championship-part-two/