UK, the use of a computer chip in the shoe of each competitor was used, enabling certified laps and timing. The race achieved a remarkable number of new Centurions; out of 76 starters, 42 completed the 100 miles, 25 being new Centurions. Sean Hands C1014, led throughout the event to win in 19:16:03, ahead of Sandra Brown C735 whose second place finish in 19:28:38 constituted her 21st UK 100 mile finish, finally putting her ahead of Hew Neilson's 20 finishes. October 2006 saw the death of arguably our best known Centurion, Don Thompson MBE
C631 1960 Olympic 50K gold medalist, at the age of 73 after a brain aneurysm. His funeral service at Aldershot Crematorium saw one of the largest assemblies of Centurions ever seen, as well as many others from race walking and athletics in general.
Centurion 409 Harry
Dorras was the eulogist. The 2006 A.G.M. was held in October at the Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly and all Officers and Committee were re-elected to serve for a further year. This was followed by a very successful 95th anniversary dinner later in the evening. The guest speaker was Peter Selby, not a Centurion but one who had assisted, over decades, those tackling distance events in the UK and further afield.
A presentation was made in recognition of Sandra Brown's
C735 outstanding contribution to ultra distance walking. This award was sponsored by Brian Scrivens C337 and accepted on the recipient's behalf by husband Richard Brown (760). Sandra was not present as, in keeping with her reputation, she was racing over 24 hours at Tooting!
The 2007 Centurion qualifier was hosted by the Surrey Walking Club, being held at
Battersea Park in London on 28-29 July in conjunction with the RWA 50 km championship. Although this well organised race was conducted in difficult conditions there was a successful participation rate with 54 out of 58 entrants starting the race. Conditions were trying with continuous rain throughout the night but it did not stop 28 walkers finishing the 100 mile walk within the requisite 24 hours, of whom 8 were new Centurions. New Centurion Annie van der Meer C1055 was the winning female walker with a time of 21:18:00 and, Jill Green C898, with a time of 23:49:42, was the inaugural winner of the Chas Shelley Trophy for the first woman finisher over 65 years of age. At the time of writing, Jill still holds the trophy and we await a further winner. Piet Jensens, the Dutch Centurions secretary, worked hard to ensure a strong Dutch contingent and they dominated, taking the first 3 places in the men's event, the first 2 places in the women's event and winning the Hew Neilson Trophy, The Sunday Dispatch Trophy, The Hammond Cup, The Bristol Trophy, The Ko van der Kwaak Cup and The Bill King Memorial Trophy. The 2008 A.G.M., held in February, saw Treasurer Paul Sargent C430 stand down after 11 years of service, to be replaced by Hans Rennie C915. All other Officers were elected unopposed. The 2008 Centurion qualifier, was held in August at the Milton Keynes Athletics Club
track. Of the 29 entrants, 25 started and 17 finished of whom 5 qualified as new Centurion members. Ian Richards C1064, an Olympian, was the first English walker to complete the distance and a first time Centurion. Ian had returned to walking after an absence of nearly 30 years and his time of 19:37:11 was a superb new M60 best time. A third name was added to the Fred Baker Plate when Martin Fisher C788 completed his 20th English Centurion hundred with a time of 22:49:20. Chris Flint C849 finished the hundred for the 18th time and, after the walk, organised the presentation of the prizes. December 2008 saw the death, at just 48, of Jerry Everett C951 from complications after
heart surgery. Jerry held many offices within athletics and was a key Organising Committee figure at three Colchester 100 mile events including the one in which he had qualified. So highly was he regarded that past and present internationals, all in Representative GB blazers, formed a guard of honour as his coffin entered a packed crematorium chapel.
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