Sunday September 3rd 2006
The trio of British International walkers Andy Penn (Nuneaton Harriers), Steve Hollier (Wolverhampton & Bilston) and Nick Ball (Steyning AC) put on three fast performances in Guernsey ’s annual Church to Church 19.4 miles walk.
Recent Commonwealth Games competitor Andy Penn emerged victorious, although it was not until late in the race when he could be confident of winning.
Eighteen year old Nick Ball, in his first walk longer than 20 kilometres, had forged himself almost a minutes lead at 15 miles in a fast 1.58.39, until the pace told, as within a mile the youngster almost ground to a halt going up the climb to the 16 mile point, enabling Penn to stride past and move into the lead.
Ball, to his credit, kept going until the inevitable drop back to third place as Steve Hollier, almost two minutes behind Ball at 15 miles, went into second around 2 miles later.
With an unfaltering Penn striding to victory, second place was still in doubt as Hollier slowed and Ball showed small signs of recovery. The headwind along the sea front for the final two miles did little to help the walkers.
A few backwards glances towards the end confirmed to Hollier that second was safe as he passed the finish line four and a half minutes down on race winner Penn’s 2.33.38. Ball crossed the line a minute after Hollier in 2.39.24, a fast time for someone so young on a far from easy course.
Within minutes of finishing Penn was talking to the local Press describing the course as nasty (re the hills), but beautiful at the same time.
The walk was a good advert for walking as any of these walkers were capable of winning, keeping even those with walking knowledge unable to predict a winner at the start. It was the first time that three walkers had finished in under 2.40.00 in the same Church race, with Penn adding his name to the list of winners, as has his coach Chris Maddocks who holds the Record at 2.22.35. Penn moved into 5th place on the All Time list behind Maddocks, Mark Easton (Surrey WC) 2.24.41, local Rob Elliott 2.32.38 and Pat Murphy (Castleisland RWC). Hollier and Ball move into 7th and 8th respectively.
The first 5 miles of the walk, up some hard hills had the trio through in 42.19. Trevor Jones (Hillingdon AC) was next through, some way down.
The leading trio were still together to eight miles before Ball split the pack to pass 10 miles in 80.56, 15 seconds up on Penn and 50 seconds up on Hollier.
What may look like uneven splits is down to the undulations of the course. Ball did not seem too happy in front at this point with a few backward glances to see where the opposition were.
A few miles later he was into unknown territory distance wise, with things going well until 16 miles before his slowing.
Walking an isolated race in fourth was Trevor Jones who crossed the line in just under 3 hours. Defending Champion Ed Shillabeer, despite walking quicker than last year, was down in 5th place creating a new M/65 course best of 3.08.11.
First Guernsey walker home was Terry Bates, setting himself a new personal best time and Guernsey Age Best as he finished just two seconds down on visitor Kevin Marshall. The Le Noury brothers Jason and Stuart took second and third places in the Guernsey category, both finishing remarkably close to their 2005 performances.
In tenth place Ron Powell walked his usual solid Church Walk to break the M/70 best held by Eric Horwill.
Rose Drückes retained the Women’s title and in doing so equalled the biggest number of finishes by a woman. Drückes has now completed the event 19 times, as did Winona Robert in the period from 1936 to 1964.
Sarnia Walking Club Race Secretary Jayne Le Noury, in her first Church Walk for some time and a previous winner, walked well to finish only three minutes down on the winner and well ahead of the third woman Mary Collins.
Sarnia Walking Club would like to thank all those who helped make the event another success, especially to the visiting walkers that helped keep walking on the Guernsey map.
Rob Elliott
Split times for first 3: 3 miles 25.54 Penn, Hollier, Ball: 5 miles 42.19 Penn, Hollier, Ball: 7 miles 57.44 Penn, Hollier, Ball: 10 miles 80.56 Ball, 81.11 Penn, 81.46 Hollier: 15 miles 1.58.39 Ball, 1.59.34 Penn, 2.00.29 Hollier.
| Guernsey | ||||||
| Church to Church 19.4 miles Walk | ||||||
| Sunday September 3rd 2006 | ||||||
| Men | ||||||
| Pos. | No. | Name | Club | Country | Age | Time |
| 1 | 15 | Andrew Penn | Nuneaton Harriers | England | M/35 | 2.33.38 |
| 2 | 9 | Steve Hollier | Wolverhampton & Bilston | England | M | 2.38.17 |
| 3 | 12 | Nick Ball | Steyning AC | England | U/19 | 2.39.24 |
| 4 | 8 | Trevor Jones | Hillingdon AC | England | M/45 | 2.59.27 |
| 5 | 14 | Edmund Shillabeer | London Vidarians | England | M/65 | 3.08.11 |
| 6 | 23 | Kevin Marshall | Ilford AC | England | M/45 | 3.13.02 |
| 7 | 18 | Terry Bates | Sarnia WC “A” | Guernsey | M/55 | 3.13.05 |
| 8 | 4 | Laurence Dordoy | Ilford AC | England | M/50 | 3.23.46 |
| 9 | 6 | Andrew Cox | Hillingdon AC | England | M/50 | 3.25.21 |
| 10 | 3 | Ron Powell | Enfield & Haringey | England | M/70 | 3.37.41 |
| 11 | 1 | Mick Barnbrook | Ilford AC | England | M/60 | 3.39.26 |
| 12 | 7 | Bob Austin | Marshall Milton Keynes AC | England | M/55 | 3.39.55 |
| 13 | 21 | Jason Le Noury | Sarnia WC “A” | Guernsey | U/19 | 3.41.33 |
| 14 | 2 | Brian Sturt | Enfield & Haringey | England | M/65 | 3.44.40 |
| 15 | 5 | Bernard Hercock | Enfield & Haringey | England | M/65 | 3.48.07 |
| 16 | 20 | Stuart Le Noury | Sarnia WC “A” | Guernsey | M | 3.48.43 |
| 17 | 17 | John Dedman | Sarnia WC “A” | Guernsey | M | 3.54.50 |
| 18 | 13 | Alan Roger | Sarnia WC “B” | Guernsey | M/50 | 4.05.52 |
| 19 | 19 | Kevin Le Noury | Sarnia WC “B” | Guernsey | M/45 | 4.08.34 |
| 20 | 11 | John Crahan | Blackburn Harriers | England | M/55 | 4.18.51 |
| 21 | 16 | Mick Le Sauvage | Sarnia WC “B” | Guernsey | M/65 | 4.19.03 |
| Women | ||||||
| 1 | 79 | Rose Drückes | Sarnia WC “B” | Guernsey | W/60 | 4.05.47 |
| 2 | 85 | Jayne Le Noury | Sarnia WC “B” | Guernsey | W/45 | 4.08.42 |
| 3 | 89 | Mary Collins | Unattached | Guernsey | W/50 | 4.22.45 |
| 4 | 84 | Belinda Doyle | Unattached | Sark | W/45 | 4.45.02 |
| 5 | 86 | Gabriele Schütte | Unattached | Germany | W/65 | 4.56.21 |
| 6 | 88 | Alison Prigent | Unattached | Guernsey | W/45 | 5.04.35 |
| 87 | Sam Eker | Unattached | Guernsey | W | DNF | |
| Event Sponsors: | ||||||
| Walkers, Fletchersports, Rose Drückes, | ||||||
| P & B Drückes Horticulturists, Bucktrouts | ||||||
| Organised by Sarnia Walking Club | ||||||
| Thanks to all walkers and helpers for making todays event another success | ||||||
| Guernsey Church to Church 19.4 miles Walk | ||
| Sunday September 3rd 2006 | ||
| Trophies have been donated over the years from many sponsors | ||
| some are open to allcomers, some only to Guernsey or Channel Island walkers | ||
| Definition of a Channel Islander | ||
| “A person who was born or has been resident in Channel Islands for 12 months prior to walk” | ||
| Men: | ||
| Open Winner | Andrew Penn | |
| 2nd | Steve Hollier | |
| 3rd | Nick Ball | |
| Victory Cup (First Channel Islander) | Terry Bates | |
| 2nd | Jason Le Noury | |
| 3rd | Stuart Le Noury | |
| Under 19 (First Channel islander) | Jason Le Noury | |
| Women: | ||
| Open Winner | Rose Drückes | |
| 2nd | Jayne Le Noury | |
| 3rd | Mary Collins | |
| Star Trophy (First Channel Islander) | Rose Drückes | |
| Jenny Elliott Salver (First Guernsey woman O/35) | Rose Drückes | |
| Ladies Newcomer (Open) | Alison Prigent | |
| Men or women: | ||
| Veterans tankard: 40 to 49 male or female | Trevor Jones | |
| Super vets: 50 to 69 male or female | Edmund Shillabeer | |
| Vets Over 70 : male or female | Ron Powell | |
| Team Trophies: | ||
| Fletchersports Team: (Men, women, mixed) | Ilford AC: 25 pts | |
| Named team of 3 walkers to score | Kevin Marshall, Laurence Dordoy, | |
| (Based on overall actual finish times) | Mick Barnbrook | |
| (2nd SWC A 36pts, 3rd Enfield 39 pts, 4th SWC B 57 pts) | (No award) | |
| Parish Shield :(first Parish with 3 over line) | Vale | |
| Jayne, Jason, Stuart Le Noury | ||
| Family of 3: (first family across line) | Jayne, Jason, Stuart Le Noury | |
| Husband and Wife: (first couple over line) | Kevin and Jayne Le Noury | |
| Mob match Channel Islands v Overseas (6 a side) | Overseas: 21pts C.Islands 93pts | |
| 6 a side based on actual walk times (lowest points win) | ||
| Andy Penn, Steve Hollier,Nick Ball, Trevor Jones, Ed Shillabeer,Kevin Marshall | ||
