There's A New Star in The Welbeck Sky

It's possible that you won't believe this but I have on occasion been accused of hogging the limelight, being a self-publicist and even being a local celebrity (z-list ;) )

Most of which is usually associated with my racewalking feats.

What some people don't know is that Irene and I started racing together back in 2003 and this year was the first time since then that she didn't enter the 85 mile (137k) Manx Telecom Parish Walk because she had promised to support our chum Caroline Cain.

So when people exclaim in surprise, 'Oh you walk too?' she is usually too modest to point out that her first finish in the aforementioned race was faster than mine by a good 15 minutes.

However, all this might now have changed because while I stopped after 22 miles of last Sunday's Ramsey Bakery 'End to End Walk,' she completed the entire 39 miles and won her age category (21 - 25 I think.)

Irene at Bride near the start of the race.

On an absolutely beautiful (though a little hot for some of the athletes) 129 of the 218 starters completed the course which is surely the most scenic point to point course used in the British Isles.

Irene and Andy Fleet of Altrincham finish at the Calf Sound.

Congratulations to Richard Gerrard and Michelle Turner (Who also set the women's record) who were overall winners.

As well as being the top male athlete in the event, Richard also works for the secondary sponsors Royal London 360 and here he is in his other role representing his employers giving Irene her prize and certificate.