1998 New Record for Great Britain International Walker Chris Maddocks
Maddocks crosses finish line at South Esplanade. Photo from local Press
Thirty years earlier, Olympic walker Paul Nihill, in his final preparations for the Olympic Games that year, had set a new record of 2.43.19.
Thirty years on and Olympian Chris Maddocks uses same race for his final preparations for major Championship.
Olympic race walker Chris Maddocks of Plymouth City Walkers created a new record for the Church to Church 19.4 miles walk when he recorded a time of 2 hours 22 minutes 35 seconds for the undulating one lap course around the Guernsey Parish Churches.
This time smashed fellow International walker Mark Eastons time set in 1992 by over two minutes.
Chris Maddocks flew to Guernsey for a day trip with fellow Devon walker Ed Shillabeer, a frequent visitor to Guernsey walks since 1977 and himself a previous winner of the event.
The race was to be a final “warm up” before Maddocks flew out later that week to Kuala Lumpar for the 1998 Commonwealth Games 20 kilometres walk.
Before the walk and after a tour of most of the course, by my wife and car, from the Airport at 3 miles around to the finish, I (Rob Elliott) had asked him if he was aware of the Record to which he replied with words to the effect of he had read up on what Mark Easton had recorded. I took that to mean a quick time was on the cards!
From the start two races were to develop for the medal positions. Maddocks was out on his own whilst Shillabeer, Trowbridge AC walker Colin Bradley and Guernseys Rob Elliott were to fight it out for second place.
By the Forest Church and almost 4 miles and Maddocks had forged a six and a half minutes lead over Bradley and Elliott. At Torteval Church (6.25 miles apx) Bradley held second place with Elliott and Shillabeer tucked in behind him. Maddocks was by now steaming past the women walkers who had set off half an hour before the men.
A few miles further on and Elliott had dropped 20 seconds behind Bradley and Shillabeer as they went past the Vauxbalets 10 miles point.
Shillabeer made a break between 12 and 13 miles after the down hill section at Rectory Hill which was to be decisive in his bid for second place. Elliott soon walked himself back into contention for third and momentarily passed Bradley in the 16th mile, before Bradley responded and moved back to third.
Going across the Bridge at 16.75 mile, Shillabeer held second place by three minutes, a gap he was to maintain to the finish. Chris Maddocks was by now well finished!
Rose Druckes finished as leading woman for her 4th victory, well ahead of Pam Fallaize.
One can imagine what Chris said to Commonwealth team mate Mark Easton once in Kuala Lumpar………”by the way I`ve just taken your Church Walk Record” ??
Maddocks split times:
5 miles 37.17
7 miles 51.11
10 miles 73.14
15 miles 1.49.35
30 kms 2.16.46
Results:
Men
1 Chris Maddocks (Plymouth City Walkers) 2.22.35
2 Ed Shillabeer (Plymouth City Walkers) 3.00.49
3 Colin Bradley (Trowbridge AC) 3.04.32
4 Rob Elliott (Sarnia WC) 3.05.11
5 Alan Roger (Sarnia WC) 3.36.03
6 Mick Le sauvage (Sarnia WC) 3.58.16
7 Kevin Le Noury (Sarnia WC) 4.06.24
Women
1 Rose Druckes (Sarnia WC) 4.01.37
2 Pam Fallaize (Sarnia WC) 4.27.54
3 Gabrielle Schutte (Germany) 5.11.35
