Mick Perrio scored his third Church to Church Walk victory in four years when winning the 1979 event. A personal best time of 2.47.43 for the 19.4 miles walk was too good for second man home Rob Elliott who finished just outside 2 hours 50.
Sarnia Walking Club Champion Elliott was pre race favourite, as he was the year before when he retired at 17.5 miles when leading, with Perrio defending his trophy from 1978.
Mick Perrio had vast walk experience but was perhaps better known as a distance runner. He switched his training from running to walking only weeks before the Church Walk with obvious success.
Perrio made his usual fast start in 1979 and soon opened up a gap on the rest of the field before Elliott moved to the front after a few miles. Elliott never completely moved away and Perrio started to whittle the small lead after 12 miles and moved on to the leaders shoulder at 14 miles.
The gap was soon 50 yards as Perrio moved further into the distance over a tiring Elliott. Elliott though stuck to the task in hand to finish second some two and a quarter minutes behind.
Both walkers scored new personal best times and both were quicker than Perrio`s winning effort a year earlier. Dave Dorey was third man home , a further six minutes behind. Womens winner was young Paula Harrison in 4.13.
Mick Perrio, interviewed by the local Press, went on to say” I`ll be trying to make it a hat trick of wins next year, I might do three weeks of (walk) training instead of two”. He would also aim for Andy Le Herons local record of 2.45.39 set in 1972.
Perrio was always a condident athlete and usually prepared in a walk for someone to get away by a few minutes without him panicking. It sometimes worked for him as well. (Photos and cuttings from local paper.)
http://walkguernsey.wordpress.com/sportsman-champions-profiles/michael-perrio/ for more on Mick.
Selfishly, I am glad to report that Mick Perrio did not make it three wins in a row. After getting beaten by him in 78 and 79 I had to make sure in 80 that his plans were disrupted when I made a change of tactics!
More on that year at some other time!
Rob Elliott
