Jimmy Ball led the Steyning challenge in the Annual Steyning Open 10km road walking on Saturday after a good battle with Ilford’s Francisco Reis. The Ilford walker managed to break clear over the second half of the race eventually clocking 53:33 to Ball’s 53:52 while Stuart Maidment was the next Steyning walker home in 53:52.
The home club’s Liz Claridge was the first women to finish clocking 66:46 while club mate Ann Jones clocked 67:05 in second place.
The previous Saturday at the 90th Anniversary Enfield Harriers Open 7 Miles, we saw a surprise entry from Sussex as Donald Bearman turned up as a previous winner to race. Bearman still with a good style has hardly done hardly any racing since his 20 Kms Commonwealth Games appearance in 2002.
However his was a most welcome appearance as he helped the Steyning club to a clear team victory and included in the team was fellow former international Sophie Hales who finished fourth woman to finish but was second Steyning walker to finish in 61:36. Jimmy Ball led the team home placing fifth in 61:15 with Bearman seventh in 65:51 and Ron Penfold 11th in 73:12.
Walking for the Surrey Walking Club Crawley’s Chris Cheeseman filled ninth place in 71:51.
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