MANX AIRLINES 20KM WALKS

 

STEVE PARTINGTON reports

 

Irish Olympians, Gillian O’Sullivan and Rob Heffernan retained their Manx

Airlines 20km Walk titles with truly magnificent performances at the NSC on

Saturday.

 

Both walked faster than ever before, recording world-class times and

relegating the quality fields Manx Harriers had assembled to virtual

on-lookers.

 

Having started in the 1960’s, this early season meeting is now recognised as

the oldest International Walking event in Europe, and this year had been

awarded European Permit status.

 

With some very fast times having been set indoors this season, expectations

were high that there would be some memorable performances in both the men’s

and ladies races.

 

The weather is always a telling factor in February in the Isle of Man, but

this year it was perfect. As the ladies field lined up to start their 25

laps around the NSC perimeter raceway, there was no breeze and it was warm

and sunny.

 

Right from the gun, Gillian O’Sullivan was clearly in a class of her own and

determined to do more than just win the race. Ever since the 20km was

introduced as the International distance for ladies, times have been getting

faster, but the 90 minute barrier remains an elusive target for all but the

very best in world walking. It soon became apparent to everyone watching

that Gillian was aiming to go ‘sub 90’.

 

As she powered past 2.5km, she was just a couple of seconds outside the

required pace, but already so far ahead of the chasers that it was a

question of who would be he runners-up . Heading that battle was GB

International Sharon Tonks who was making a return to the course where she

contested the English Schools Championships in 1983! Behind her came the

local duo, with Elizabeth Corran easing ahead of Bridget Kaneen. Jo Hesketh

from Steyning started the most conservatively of all, content to hang back

in the early stages.

 

Showing amazing pace judgement, Gillian swept past  5km in 22.33, and added

another 5km split of 22.31 to reach 10km in 45.04. She was relaxed and

controlled, but it was going to need a faster second half if she was to

break 90 minutes. Her victory was not in question. Sharon Tonks was already

over two laps behind, and having started so positively was beginning to drop

off her planned pace. She reached halfway in 53 minutes, about two minutes

up on Elizabeth, who had extended her lead for local honours. Bridget went

through 10km in 56.10 – not much slower than her best – and was about to

start paying the price! Jo Hesketh was beginning to make her move and looked

very fresh as she passed the halfway mark and began reeling in those ahead.

 

Gillian’s third quarter took her 22.43, and the magic 90 minute barrier

though still a possibility, was looking unlikely. Spectators may have been

telling each other that the chance had gone, but Gillian obviously wasn’t

listening. In a memorable display of controlled acceleration, the 23 year

old full time athlete covered her final 5km in a blistering 22.10 to cross

the line in 89.57. Not only was this Gillian’s third successive Manx

Airlines win. It was an Irish record and pushed her into the top 30 fastest

times in the world. Amazingly, both her 10km splits were faster than Lisa

Kehler’s British Record.

 

Further back, things were looking a bit shaky for Sharon as she slowed in

the latter stages. Bridget was also suffering and once Jo Hesketh powered

past her, it was always going to be a case of ‘gritting it out’ for the Manx

Harriers chairman. It wasn’t long before Jo had caught and passed Elizabeth

too, and in the final kilometres she was undoubtedly the fastest of the

chasers. Sharon hung on for second – albeit a whopping twenty minutes behind

the winner – and had over a minute in hand over Jo. The Steyning walker

smashed her pb by more than four minutes, and was justifiably delighted with

her place on the rostrum. Elizabeth was pleased with her walk, having had

recent injury problems.

 

The men’s 20km started fifteen minutes after the ladies, with Rob Heffernan

the odds-on favourite.  His fellow Irishmen, Olympian Jamie Costin and

junior Colin Griffin were expected to put up good performances against

England‘s best in the shape of Andi Drake, Steve Holier and Chris Cheeseman.

 

Within 50m of the start, Heffernan was setting a terrific pace and pulling

well clear of his rivals. Drake soon established himself in second, ahead of

a large chasing group, seemingly content to share the pace. Heffernan piled

on the pressure and reached 2.5km in just 10.05, and 5km in 20.09. So, while

Gillian was up ahead pushing for a sub-90 minute time, it appeared that Rob

was going to get close to 80 minutes.

 

Drake went through 5km in 21.37, but later admitted that he felt ‘awful’.

Behind him Cheeseman, Holier and Costin were still working together, though

Olympic 50km walker Costin was looking ominously  comfortable. Steyning’s

Don Bearman has been in great form over the past year, and it was no

surprise to see him close behind Colin Griffin, who had started

conservatively.

 

Demonstrating amazing leg speed, Heffernan took just 40.27 to reach 10km. By

this stage, Drake had called it a day, suffering the effects of a recent

bout of flu. No doubt, the fact that he had two warnings on the board,

hastened his decision. He wasn’t the only one to attract the attentions of

the judges, as, to the surprise of the majority of spectators, Heffernan had

also picked up a warning. With his closest rival out, the 23 year old

Irishman enjoyed a lead of over half a mile. Sensing a slackening in the

group, Costin eased to the front and moved away to pass 10km in 43.54, ten

seconds up on Cheeseman and Holier. Griffin was closing all the time and was

just 20m adrift of the English pair at halfway, with Bearman a further 30

seconds back.

 

Over the third quarter, it was business as usual for Rob Heffernan, but all

change behind him. As the leader extended his advantage with another fast

5km, Griffin was making a big move through the pack. By 15km, he was up to

third and Jamie Costin was no longer looking the safe bet for second place

he had been a few laps earlier. Holier had broken clear of a tiring

Cheeseman, who had been relegated to sixth by Bearman, who was really

beginning to get into his stride.

 

Crucially, Heffernan then picked up a second warning, and with just a few

kilometres remaining, he had to slow down or risk losing out on a

world-class time. He was visibly shaken by the blow, and was even checking

with spectators that there had been no mistake. So, there was a slightly

muted end to what had been a wonderful racing performance. He crossed the

line in 81.54 – just one second shy of the Irish Record – before promptly

throwing up. He made it look easy, but walking at over 14.5 kmph for an hour

and twenty minutes is tough!

 

With just a couple of laps to go, Jamie Costin was caught and passed by the

impressive Griffin, who went on to cross the line in 88.22 – a massive six

minutes faster than he’d walked before and a new Irish Junior Record. Costin

was just 17 seconds back to complete an Irish top three, with Holier leading

home the English trio. At the age of 35, Don Bearman produced a two and a

half minute personal best to dip under 90 minutes, 30 seconds behind 50km

expert Holier and 30 seconds up on Cheeseman, who was another to have

another look at his breakfast after the race. Next came regular Irish

visitor, Pat Ryan who was three minutes clear of another Irishman walking

faster than before, David Kidd. His 97.51 was almost five minutes up on his

previous best.

 

In 9th place Coventry‘s Mike Smith walked his fastest 20km since 1989, and

AllanCallow showed that there is life in even the oldest of dogs with his

best for three years and finishing first local. Behind Dave Radcliffe of

Wales, Mark Stewart had a torrid race, never really looking comfortable but

admirably sticking it out to the finish. Unluckily for him, Simon Cox

finished 13th, another to struggle in the perfect conditions.

 

Combined with the run in the morning, this was another meeting that Manx

Harriers can be justifiably proud of. As ever, thanks are extended to

everyone who helped make the day such a success – from Manx Airlines for

their continued sponsorship, the timekeepers, judges, recorders and

officials, not forgetting the tea-makers and everyone who turned up to

support or race.

 

 

MANX AIRLINES 20KM WALK (MEN)

 

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2001

 

Position

Surname

Christian Name

Time

Club / Country

1

Heffernan

Rob

01:21:54

Ireland

2

Griffin

Colin

01:28:22

Ireland

3

Costin

Jamie

01:28:39

Ireland

4

Hollier

Steve

01:29:26

England

5

Bearman

Don

01:29:56

England

6

Cheeseman

Chris

01:30:26

England

7

Ryan

Pat

01:34:31

Ireland

8

Kidd

David

01:37:51

Ireland

9

Smith

Mike

01:38:51

England

10

Callow

Allan

01:46:08

Isle of Man

11

Radcliffe

Dave

01:46:50

Wales

12

Stewart

Mark

01:50:47

Isle of Man

13

Cox

Simon

01:53:55

Isle of Man

 

 

MANX AIRLINES 20KM WALK (WOMEN)

 

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2001

 

 

Position

Christian Name

Surname

Time

Club / Country

1

Gillian

O’Sullivan

01:29:57

Ireland

2

Sharon

Tonks

01:50:27

England

3

Jo

Hesketh

01:51:43

England

4

Elizabeth

Corran

01:52:54

Isle of Man

5

Bridget

Kaneen

01:57:24

Isle of Man