Jane Leece and Mick Holgate in action on Sunday morning (picture by Paul Jackson; edited by Bridget Kaneen)

STEVE TAYLOR REPORTS

The 2004 Isle of Man 10k m Race Walking Championships incorporating theyounger age group championships were held in dry but windy conditions on the NSC roadway on Sunday morning. There number of entries was small but the enthusiasm of all the competitors made up for this and a number of walkers were rewarded with personal best times despite the conditions.

All the races started together allowing the younger athletes to mix it with the seniors for a short while. In the 1km race Abbi Moore walked her time ever but it wasn't enough to prevent Sinead Kaneen taking the title who walked her fastest time for a year. The 2km event was won as predicted by RWA champion Lauren Whelan, she was untroubled in her victory with the minor medals going to Bronwen Kaneen and Kirsty Taylor. Another RWA champion Callum Taylor won as predicted but he opted out of the under 15 distance and instead chose to race over the longer distance of 5km. He walked a solo race finishing well clear of Enid Watson and Jane Leece.

The main events also went as predicted with what turned out to be easy victories for Steve Partington in the D.F. Cannell Memorial Shield and Marie Latham in the Martin Trophy. Partington was joined initially by GB junior international Neil Bates but his challenge faded quickly and a recurrence of an ankle injury put paid to his race after only 2km. This left Partington in a familiar position, well clear of a field in which he lapped his nearest competitor twice to record the fastest time by a local athlete for over two years. Steve has been in heavy training throughout the winter as he prepares to tackle 50km later this year, but  a number of illnesses and injuries have prevented him from really getting into his stride but he will more than happy after this performance which shows he his getting close to his best form. 

The way walkers beat the weather finishing before the heavy rain began there was no beating a resurgent Steve Partington who retained the , winning by a clear margin after the early challenge from ended after only 2km. Partington has struggled with various injuries through the winter having upped his training aiming at 50km this year but there was no stopping him as he sped round to the fastest 10km by a local athlete for over two years. He had the company of Bates for the first two laps but he pulled up with a recurrence of an ankle injury although he was unable to live with the pace of Partington.  

Second place went to a regular visitor to the Island, Dave Turner of Yorkshire Race Walking Club. Turner started slowly but after two laps with no apparent challenge he upped his pace and proceeded to lap the majority of the field behind him. Third place however was undecided until the last 100m.

Ian Callister, Simon Cox and Andy Gosnell walked together for the first half of the race but Gosnell soon found the pace too much and started to fall of the back. Callister and Cox continued to match each other stride for stride with Simon doing most of the work up front with Ian content to sit in behind. As they entered the home straight Ian surged past Simon and looked set to take the bronze medal but the devastating finish that he used to good effect during the winter was missing and this allowed Simon to retake the lead with less than 100m to go. Callister could not respond and the podium finish went to Cox by four seconds. Gosnell continued to work away and was rewarded with a pb in breaking the hour for the first time. Further behind there were pbs for Ray Pitts and Adrian Cowin who has improved by a huge margin since his walking debut only six months ago.

Marie Latham walked on her own throughout but split the men's medallists with an excellent 55.06 which is just outside her best ever. Marie has walked consistently well for the last 12 months and a huge improvement is surely due if she gets the competition and conditions are favourable for once. Second place in the senior event went to 14 year old Emma Latham competing over 10km for the first time ever. Emma has been plagued with shin splints this winter but seemed comfortable and effortless in taking silver behind her mum. Bronze went to Jan Hodgson in a personal best time, showing the benefits of training alongside the juniors under the guidance of Liz Corran.  

Thank you to all the officials on the day and to Island Games Athletics Team Manager Di Shimmell for presenting the prizes.

Marie Latham, winner of the Martin Trophy, leads national champion Callum Taylor. Top class race walking in the Manx 10km championships at the NSC on Sunday. Picture by Paul Jackson on the Kaneen digital.