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New book celebrates
centenary of Manx Telecom Parish Walk
A new
book charting the 100 year history of the Parish Walk will be launched at
Waterstones in Douglas on December 7. The walk – which is now sponsored by Manx
Telecom – marked its centenary this year. The 216-page, full colour, tome –
titled ‘The Ultimate Challenge: The Centenary of the Isle of Man Parish Walk’
and written by Manx author and walking enthusiast Dermot O’Toole – will be
launched at the book store in Strand Street from 10am to 1pm. The author will
be there to sign copies purchased on the day and the Manx Telecom Parish Walk
winner’s trophy will be on display.
Dermot
wrote a history of the event published in 2005 and
has spent thousands of hours researching and writing this latest book to
produce the definitive account of the Island’s biggest mass participation
sports event. All the legendary tales and anecdotes which the race has produced
since it began in 1913 are within the pages, alongside results and maps to
complement the text. Mr O’Toole commented:
“It
has certainly been a labour of love from start to finish. It took 12
months and several thousand hours of research to put together, and this
version is an improvement on a Walk In Time which was published in 2005.
Nevertheless, some of that content from that book has been included in The
Ultimate Challenge in order to maintain a definitive history of the event
over the past 100 years. Finally, with nearly 22,000 starters and 2,100
finishers since the event’s inception in 1913, it has been impossible to
include every name and I apologise to those who missed out.”
The book is published by Manx-based
Lily Publications Limited who – in association with the Parish Walk Committee
and Manx Telecom – offered copies at a special discounted rate to all
competitors from the 2013 event. ‘The Ultimate Challenge: The Centenary
of the Isle of Man Parish Walk’ is available from all
good bookshops and from www.lilypublications.co.uk
priced £18.95.
David Smith, Manx Telecom
Marketing Director, said:
“Dermot has done a fantastic job
producing this history. As title sponsor of the event we fully endorse ‘The
Ultimate Challenge’ as a fitting tribute to all of the walkers whose
determination, dedication and enthusiasm over the past century have made the
Manx Telecom Parish Walk the popular event it is today.”
Manx
Telecom’s association with the Parish Walk goes back to 2007 when they began
providing timing and results services. The Island’s leading telecommunications
company began a three year deal as title sponsor in 2012, and recently
announced that their support for the event has been extended until 2017.
Entries for the 2014 race opened on December 1. Go to www.parishwalk.com to enter and for full
details about the event.
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