Church to Church Walk has two new winners
NEWCOMERS to the annual 19.4-mile race Jonathan Hobbs and Angela Martin took the respective men's and women's honours in the Church to Church Walk on Sunday.
TWENTY-year-old Ashford AC member Jonathan Hobbs, an established race walker at shorter distances, stepped into the unknown in the traditional Church to Church walk over a distance of 19.4 miles and won a close race against local walker Jason Le Noury.
After negotiating the stretch of road closure along the Esplanade, dodging the thousands of people from the visiting cruise ships and a food festival, Hobbs made his way to the final half mile where he cruised to victory by 47 seconds to become the youngest men's winner since 1977.
Jason Le Noury in second place, claimed the Victory Cup for first Channel Islander and recorded a surprise personal best time.
A hard last few miles saw one-time winner Ball lose time, but holding onto third spot.
Fourth man home Edwards, walking minutes quicker than Ball for the final 4.4 miles was still too far back to challenge for the top three.
Angela Martin, a recent convert to race walking walked a solid 3-46-52 to take the women's title from Jayne Le Noury, with Kay Coulson in third.
