September 2nd 2007
Jim Ball springs surprise win
Jim Ball walked to an unexpected Guernsey Church to Church walk win, when he completed the 19.4 miles distance in 2 hours 55 minutes 46 seconds. Although slower than his best time of 2 hours 48.40 set 20 years ago, it is the first time since that that he has completed the course. Ball set himself a comfortable pace for the first ten miles which he passed in 97 minutes, some minutes ahead of first Guernsey walker Terry Bates, who had relatively close company of the the Le Noury brothers. Meanwhile in the womans section of the walk, which had set off half an hour earlier, found Katrina Thomson, better known as a triathlete, but with some walk experience, in the lead at this point in 1 hour 58 minutes. Three minutes behind came Carol Bates, who had lead the race for some distance, followed by Jayne Le Noury. Defending Champion Rose Drückes, who was walking the event for the 20th time, was some way down.
Ball soon picked up the pace to open up an ever bigger gap over the rest of the field. By 15 miles, reached in 2 hours 18 minutes, he had 15 minutes advantage. Bates was second, with young Jason Le Noury only seconds behind. Stuart Le Noury`s challenge was fading. Like Ball, Thomson was building up a big lead over Jayne Le Noury and Carol Bates. Second place was a close affair right until the closing miles. Bates won the battle by 1 minute 20 seconds at the finish. Both were well behind Thomson who was moving well throughout the latter half to cross the line in just under 3 hours 39 minutes to move to 7th place on the Alltime list.
Whilst Ball moved along the final miles with victory assured, Terry Bates was easing ahead of Jason. Jason eventually finished less than five minutes behind, smashing his Personal Best in the process. Stuart Le Noury, back in 4th, also recorded his best time.
Evergreen Ron Powell had a good walk to claim 5th place, breaking his own M70 best. Local stalwarts Mick Le Sauvage and Kevin Le Noury both added to their impressive total of Church Walks. 46 and 32 respectively.
Regular visitors to the walk from the UK included Laurence Dordoy, Brian Sturt, Mick Barnbrook, Bernie Hercock and Ron Powell. They were joined this year by Surrey`s Dave Hoben and Des Francis.
Rob Elliott for SWC
| Guernsey | ||||||
| Church to Church 19.4 miles Walk | ||||||
| Sunday September 2nd 2007 | ||||||
| Pos. | No. | Name | Club | Country | Age | Time |
| Men | ||||||
| 1 | 39 | Jim Ball | Steyning AC | England | M/40 | 2.55.46 |
| 2 | 32 | Terry Bates | Sarnia WC A | Guernsey | M/55 | 3.14.31 |
| 3 | 36 | Jason Le Noury | Sarnia WC A | Guernsey | U/20 | 3.19.16 |
| 4 | 35 | Stuart Le Noury | Sarnia WC A | Guernsey | M | 3.28.05 |
| 5 | 24 | Ron Powell | Enfield & Haringey | England | M/70 | 3.36.28 |
| 6 | 27 | Laurence Dordoy | Ilford AC | England | M/50 | 3.40.05 |
| 7 | 33 | Brian Sturt | Enfield & Haringey | England | M/65 | 3.41.17 |
| 8 | 25 | Des Francis | Unattached | England | M/40 | 3.41.20 |
| 9 | 38 | John Dedman | Sarnia WC A | Guernsey | M | 3.41.30 |
| 10 | 26 | Mick Barnbrook | Sarnia WC A | England | M/60 | 3.46.56 |
| 11 | 37 | Mick Le Sauvage | Sarnia WC B | Guernsey | M/65 | 3.48.52 |
| 12 | 29 | Bernard Hercock | Enfield & Haringey | England | M/70 | 3.50.39 |
| 13 | 31 | David Hoben | Surrey Walking Club | England | M/50 | 3.56.50 |
| 14 | 34 | Kevin Le Noury | Sarnia WC B | Guernsey | M/45 | 4.01.45 |
| 15 | 40 | Phil Taylor | Unattached | Guernsey | M/50 | 4.11.06 |
| Women | ||||||
| 1 | 94 | Katrina Thomson | Guernsey Triathlon Club | Guernsey | W | 3.38.59 |
| 2 | 90 | Carol Bates | Sarnia WC B | Guernsey | W/50 | 4.02.23 |
| 3 | 92 | Jayne Le Noury | Sarnia WC B | Guernsey | W/45 | 4.03.43 |
| 4 | 93 | Rose Drückes | Sarnia WC B | Guernsey | W/60 | 4.19.24 |
| 5 | 91 | Gabriele Schütte | Unattached | Germany | W/65 | 5.15.36 |
| Event Sponsors: | ||||||
| Walkers, Fletchersports, Rose Drückes, | ||||||
| P & B Drückes Horticulturists | ||||||
| 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 2nd 2007 | |
| Definition of a Channel Islander | |
| “A person who was born or has been resident in Channel Islands for 12 months immediately prior to walk” | |
| Men: | |
| Open Winner | Jim Ball |
| 2nd | Terry Bates |
| 3rd | Jason Le Noury |
| Victory Cup (First Channel Islander) | Terry Bates |
| 2nd | Jason Le Noury |
| 3rd | Stuart Le Noury |
| Newcomer (First Channel Islander) | Phil Taylor |
| Women: | |
| Open Winner | Katrina Thomson |
| 2nd | Carol Bates |
| 3rd | Jayne Le Noury |
| Star Trophy (First Channel Islander) | Katrina Thomson |
| Jenny Elliott Salver (First Guernsey woman O/35) | Carol Bates |
| Newcomer (Open) | Katrina Thomson |
| Men or women: | |
| Veterans tankard: 40 to 49 male or female | Jim Ball |
| Super vets: 50 to 69 male or female | Terry Bates |
| Vets Over 70 : male or female | Ron Powell |
| Team Trophies: | |
| Fletchersports Team: (Men, women, mixed) | |
| Named team of 3 walkers to score | Sarnia Walking Club A 9pts |
| (Based on overall actual finish times) | Terry Bates, Jason and Stuart Le Noury |
| (Enfield 26 pts, SWC B 43) | |
| Parish Shield :(first Parish with 3 over line) | St Peter Port |
| Terry and Carol Bates and Katrina Thomson | |
| Family of 3: (first family across line) | Jason, Stuart and Jayne Le Noury |
| Husband and Wife: (first couple over line) | Terry and Carol Bates |
| Mob match Channel Islands v Overseas (6 a side) | |
| 6 a side based on actual walk times for positions | Channel Islands 37 |
| Overseas 41 | |
