Elliott marks 50 years in style
ROB ELLIOTT marked 50 years since his first race walk with a handicap win over the distance it all started with back in 1970.
As an enthusiastic 11-year-old he hit the footpath between Bulwer Avenue and Bellegrave Flats to record 12.15.
Fifty years on and and almost 1,300 races later, he managed to surprise himself with his best time for three months with a faster 12.05.
Having taken part in a 2km virtual series for the last 30-plus weeks, his times since September had taken a turn for the worse.
Even on the start line he commented that it looked like last place for himself going on the handicap and recent form.
As Elliott said afterwards: ‘Going by recent form there was no way I was going to celebrate with a win, but after four of the five laps I thought that second place was on, then coming into the final turn with only Kevin Le Noury to overtake I realised he was there for the taking. I knew that backmarker Stuart was not going to get near me to spoil things. I was so surprised when I checked my time.’
Kevin Le Noury held on for second place followed by Peter Beckerleg.
Mick Le Sauvage took fourth and he, along with Dave Dorey, has also hit 50 years of race walking.
Sandwiched in between was fastest walker of the day Stuart Le Noury, who broke the old M35 Guernsey best time with 9.12.
Bob Wright Handicap Series
Race four – 2,000m track walk
1, Rob Elliott M60 14.35 (watch time) / 2.30 (handicap) / 12.05 (actual time); 2, Kevin Le Noury M60 14.41 / 1.30 / 13.11; 3, Peter Beckerleg M60 14.52 / 1.45 / 13.07; 4, Mick Le Sauvage M80 14.56 / 0.30 / 14.26; 5, Stuart Le Noury M35 15.12 / 6.00 / 9.12; 6, Dave Dorey M70 15.44 / 0.00 / 15.44.
