I had said I would do an 800m lap of honour in the number 1 shirt but I didn't get to the N.S.C. in the end. I'd like to say this was because I thought the focus should be on this year's competitors because I am such a good bloke but the honest truth is that I overslept and missed my opportunity to pose before the cameras.
Perhaps I saved myself the embarrassment.
I had promised to help the judging team led as usual by London Olympics Chief Race Walk Judge, Steve Taylor and in a moment of complete and utter madness decided the best way to do this would be by bicycle. I wouldn't have attempted to walk 85 miles without training but for some reason I thought doing it on a push bike would be easy.
It was a beautiful sunny day, although it did become a little cool during climb to the highest part of the course in the Sloc and Round Table areas and after the sun went down.
Having made the ascent, huffing and puffing up the hills, I felt able, unlike the other 10 occasions I'd been there to avail myself of an glass of the excellent Bosun Bitter, brewed by Parish Walkers Paul Phillips & Dale Farquahar at the Shore Hotel in Laxey.
They weren't going to let me have one because they said I was cheating by using my mode of transport but I reasoned that actually, they owed me for all the times I hadn't drank one and they relented.
By this point the eventual winner, Richard Gerrard had established what was to prove an unassailable lead, though even he struggled with the effects of the heat during the 3rd quarter of the race.
Sinethemba was the first African to finish Cape Town's 'Big Walk' in November and his prize, sponsored by Old Mutual Finance for such an achievement was to leave his homeland for the first time, come to the Isle of Man and suffer for 85 miles. He was sucked along with the pacemakers to Rushen and I feared for him when I passed in on the infamous Ballakillowey only less than a quarter of the way into the lap but with much bravery, he toughed it out to finish 16th in 17:46.
First lady home was Janette Morgan who confounded the pundits by easily (though I'm not sure this adverb should be used in any context in a Parish Walk report) beating the champion Janice Quirk, though with her excellent efforts in Roubaix 28 hour 2012, last year's 100 mile walk and her progress over last winter in the shorter events, it should really have been no surprise.
Lighter moments of the day came when I popped into Kirk Michael Filling Station to be asked about the state of play. After I had relayed the first half dozen positions, he said, 'Where's Michael George?' And there I was. |
Just after the hell that is known as Ballajora, I caught another bike rider who was riding a strange contraption with 12" wheels and drop handle bars. It turned out that we were both chasing Richard Gerrard but for different reasons. I needed to be a witness to validate his performance but the other chap had followed the action in 2013 but had been half way along the Promenade when the winner crossed the line and he didn't want to miss the climax. On this occasion I kept quiet.
There are many businesses that remain open during the event, though I suspect it is more for community involvement rather than to make their fortune. One of which is the café at the Dhoon. As I waited for my cup of tea, the lady serving enquired about the leading positions. 'It that fellow from the Welbeck not doing it this year?' to much laughter from the queue.
I could write for many hours about this year's Manx Telecom Parish Walk but time has beaten me. There is lots of coverage on www.parishwalk.com or buy this week's Manx Independent http://www.iomtoday.co.im/
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