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THE HISTORY OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE BRAVED THE FULL 85 MILES

It was in 1963 that a woman first completed the full course.  Eunice Davies had that honour in 20:51:24 but Irene Cottier (later Corlett) followed her home less than two hours later (22:51:19).  The following year Heather Murphey walked the course in 22:37:35 but it was a further 14 years (1978) when visiting walker Ann Sayer smashed the record with a time of (17:51:17) finishing in third place overall.

The official women’s walk was “only” to Peel and Irene Corlett had won this several times but Ann Sayer’s record prompted Irene to challenge it and, under enormous pressure in 1980, she did so in 17:41:40. In the most horrendous of weather conditions she finished second overall and her record stood for 18 years.

Caroline Convery became only the fifth ever finisher in 1983 in 23:36:46. After another six year wait, there was further history in 1989 when three women finished for the first time - Jean Oldroyd (20:55:24); Maureen Cowbourne (23:58:28); Vivienne Hooper (23:58:28).

Jean Oldroyd (20:18:20) improved her time in 1991 while Maureen Cox became finisher number nine the same year (22:56:44) In 1992, Jean Oldroyd became the first walker to finish three times (21:22:39).

It is hard to believe that as recently as 1993 and 1994 no women completed the course.  1994 was the last year of such an occurrence.  Numbers have since grown rapidly with a massive 31 finishers walking the 85 miles in 2005.  After years of lobbying, the organisers accepted that with a third of finishers now female, the real Parish Walk winner was the first overall to Douglas and not to Peel and this year the trophy will be awarded to the first over the full course for the first time.

The record for the full distance stands to international Sandra Brown (16:16:36). This was set in 1998 when the 100 mile walk was held in conjunction with Parish Walk and amazingly she then walked up and down the promenade for a further 15 miles. The following table shows the fastest women of all time including their overall rank, ie Sandra Brown has walked the 19th best time of any finisher male or female.

In 2003 Rosemarie Crellin improved the local record to (17:12:19) and this was further improved by Sue Biggart the following year (16:48:32).  Sue and Rosemarie now have five of the fastest six times on record and may be able to challenge the overall record this year.

Irene “never again” Taggart has completed the course the most with eight circuits. 

This feature was written (and all statistics compiled) by Murray Lambden.