Thirteen walkers completed the Steyning Open 10km road over a new course last weekend.
Despite now being in the M70 age group, Ian Richards underlined his status as the leading Sussex race walker as he brushed off the uncomfortable wet and windy conditions to storm away to a nearly four minute advantage over Trevor Jones (M60) at the half-way turn, in 25:21s.
The start was moved from the town clock at Steyning to outside of the town as it had become too dangerous for the race walkers to cross the by-pass.
Richards barely eased on the return journey coming home in a pretty useful clocking of 51:50 while Jones managed to come well inside one-hour in 59:18s.
A fine battle for third place resulted in a late surge by Jimmy Ball (M55) in the closing stages to make it a clean sweep for Steyning walkers in 61:37. Ball managed to catch and pass Arena 80’s David Kemp (M60) who was only a few seconds adrift in 61:43s.
Former Steyning walker Richard Emsley (M65) now with Saints and Sinners clocked 63:17 in fifth place while Paul Gaston (M70) (Surrey) was sixth in 68:38s.