Chris Snook (Aldershot Farnham & District/Leeds Beckett University, Verity Snook) and Erika Kelly (Northern AC, Isle of Man, Tom Craggs) took the first ever England Athletics Winter Race Walking Championships titles over 10,000m in challenging conditions, reports Ian Richards. Like most of the North of England on Saturday the track at Leeds Beckett University was battered by strong and gusty winds which made chasing fast times particularly difficult. Snook the Leeds Beckett student competing on his home track was dominant form the gun and despite the tough conditions produced a track personal best of 43:27.6 Behind him Tom Partington (Manx Harriers: Steve Partington) took the silver medal in 45:18.3, but the winds mean he was unable to chase the Isle of Man Qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games. George Wilkinson (Enfield & Harringay) took the bronze medal in 47:14.1 ahead of Luc Legon (Bexley AC, Noel Carmody) 47:46.4. Ireland’s European Under 20 6th Placer Oisin Lane took 2nd in the race in 44:26.7 after serving a minute penalty in the penalty zone. Christian Hopper (Cambridge Harriers, Noel Carmody) was the leading Under 20 English athlete in 49:56.8. who did not record 10km/10,000m performances outside of a 10km split in a 20km. He has added some obvious anomalies, also some will be
quicker than what they achieved at the shorter distance:
Men’s 20km (from 6th Feb. 2021 to 5th Feb. 2022)
In the Women’s 10,000 metres Erika Kelly making a welcome return to competition took the English title in 51:41.6. Like compatriot Partington, the conditions put paid to her hopes of chasing the Isle of Man Commonwealth Qualifying time. Abigail Jennings (Aldershot Farnham & District, Verity Snook) closed in on Kelly over the last few laps to finish just behind her in a big new personal best of 51:46.2. Under 20 Millie Morris (Ashford AC/Leeds Beckett University; Chris Hobbs) competing on her home track, battled off the after effects of a recent bout of COVID to take the bronze medal in 54:52.9. The race
was won by Wales Heather Lewis (pictured) (Pembrokeshire Harriers, Chris Jones) in 46:47.6 despite the tough conditions. Welsh compatriot and British 35km Record Holder, Bethan Davies (Cardiff AAC, Andi Drake) was 2nd in 48:17.8.
