www.manxathletics.com

WHAT A FANTASTIC DINNER!

24 April 2003

Sportsman of the year – TT winner Milky Quayle

Sports woman of the year – Cheryl Done, Bobsleigh Oympian and former multi Island Games Athletic Champion

Under 21 Sportsman of the year – Martin Aram who made the final of the Commonwealth Games high jump

Allan Callow – coach of the year

Keith Gerrard – the first ever winner of the Isle of Man Newspapers Dave Phillips Memorial Bursary in addition to winning the Tower Insurance Scholarship

Brenda Walker – the Manx record holder from 3000 metres to the marathon finally added to the hall of fame

Keith Gerrard and Darren Gray pictured with guest of honour Steve Cram

Cheryl Done also pictured with Steve Cram who was the perfect guest

earlier in the day he met an old rival, Colin Moore

and Keith Gerrard

and a group of the promising youngsters

and went for a run with some not quite so young!

Left to right: Chris Quine, who has held the Manx 1500 metres record since 1985 the same year that Steve set the British (then World) record, Gianni Epifani who did so much to organise the event, Steve Cram and Paul Clarke.

Two coaches who have done so much to improve the standard of Manx athletics over the years pictured together on Thursday. Maurice Herriott’s main involvement was to coach most of the middle distance runners in the 1980s, an era which remains the peak time for records and depth of quality. Margaret Lockley is also greatly admired for her training of many of the leading fell runners and a number of individual athletes.

Maurice has an athletics pedigree unequalled by anyone in the Isle of Man. The Birmingham born man, and proud member of Sparkhill Harriers, was runner up in the 1964 Olympic Games steeplechase. Margaret is the 40th fastest British marathon runner of all time with a time of 2.36.10 set in the 1984 London Marathon.

Brenda Walker was added to the Sporting Hall of Fame on Thursday but biographer, journalist, photographer and runner John Watterson didn’t have a colour picture of her. So I took one of her with John!

Good news for Peter McElroy. Although he looks as if he has stayed behind to clear all the drinks in this picture, the Chit Chat compiler says he is enjoying his best health for years after having a new pacemaker fitted. He plans to watch the Island Games – he hasn’t missed any yet.

Pictures by Murray Lambden

SPONSORS UNITED

Terry Quayle and David Saunders of the Isle of Man Bank ( sponsors of the Peel to Douglas Run) share a laugh with Geoff Corkish of the Steam Packet (sponsors of the March walking grand prix meeting) at the sports awards dinner last Thursday.