Ilford AC Walking Section  

OVER 4 DECADES ON – THE MEDALS KEEP COMING

Ilford AC Life member BOB DOBSON, lived up to his status as an evergreen 50
Kilometres expert on a hot Saturday in Coventry when clinching a hard earned
National bronze medal in the ultra-distance event. Former European and
Commonwealth Games representative Dobson’s 1st National medal was a gold one in
the same Championship event at East Ewell in 1970 – and 43 years later he’s
still being called onto the presentation podium. The distance, 31 miles and 121
yards, to those unfamiliar with metric measurements is the longest athletics
event in the Olympics – being 5 miles further than a marathon. It’s a killer
event at the best of times, but Saturday’s conditions were unbearable and many
retired leaving only the hardy making progress on a multi-lap course around the
University of Warwick campus in Coventry with a sharp incline for good measure!
In an event which brings disqualification if 3 judges object to a walker’s mode
of progression, it proved to be a mental test and a trial of stamina. Dobson had
2 red cards against his name on the hour mark, which left him with 5 hours on
his feet without daring to transgress as he finished 3rd British finisher in 6
hours 4 minute and 19 seconds, well inside a 6-and-a-quarter hour deadline.

Issued by Ilford AC Walking Section (01708-377372)