A NUMBER of well known Isle of Man faces took part in the Scottish Widows Parish Walk, achieving some impressive results, including the Island’s new Lieutenant Governor, Adam Wood, who recorded a very respectable time of 4 hours 42 minutes to finish at his target check-in at Rushen.
The Governor started the race alongside Roger Black, walking for sponsors Scottish Widows, who also managed to get to Rushen, having walked last year to Santon.
The former Olympic gold medallist reached his chosen destination at 19 miles in 5-22-45, before being collected to catch an evening flight back to the UK. He will be on the Island for tomorrow night’s prize presentation at the Villa Marina.
The top performance by a well known personality was by Energy FM presenter Adam Russell who finished the event yet again, this year in his fastest ever time.
Adam was, in fact, broadcasting live to 3FM listeners for much of his first sub-19 hour walk, finishing just before 3 am in 18 hours 55 minutes 21 seconds. His work colleague Kevin Ford, a previous finisher, made it to his home town of Peel in just under eight hours, nicely in time for a beer at his local - The Creek.
Manx Radio presenter Alex Brindley was given the dubious honour of being described by his workmates as the only man likely to be heavier at the end of the walk than when he started - because of the amount of food he was taking with him!
Alex also gave live broadcasts during his time on the Manx highways, getting as far as Patrick in just over six hours before calling it a day with blisters galore!
Fellow Manx Radio presenter Ben Hartley - who has competed before - reached Jurby before retiring after more than 11 hours of walking - another really good performance.
Our own reporter - Tessa Hawley - was taking part in her first ever Parish Walk and managed to get to her target checkpoint at Peel. "I thought about stopping lots of times, but I'm glad I didn't," she said. "Someone asked me if I would do it again. On Saturday I said definitely no, but today maybe I think I will."
Amongst the walkers out for the longest time for those who finished at Peel was Dr Parameswaran Kishore, the Isle of Man’s director of public health.
He completed his target of 32.5 miles to finish at Peel with two colleagues - Shirley Smith and John Thomas - in a time of 9 hours 44 minutes 14 seconds.
President of Tynwald Noel Cringle, a regular competitor in the event, did magnificently again, but couldn’t quite make it to his target of Peel, finishing at Patrick around 3pm.
Dudley Butt MLC, who has finished the 85 miles previously, made another attempt to do the same again but this year he retired at Lezayre just before 2am. The condition of his feet is not known!
The battle of the three Rushen MHKs to reach their home parish was won by Quintin Gill who recorded a really good time of 4 hours 56 minutes 42 seconds.
Phil Gawne had a determined face as he started and was going strongly through Marown and Santon time of 6 hours 36 minutes 58 seconds.
However, Graham Cregeen not only reached Rushen but went on to get to Peel in 8 hours 42 minutes 24 seconds.
The overall political honours, however, go to Peel MHK Tim Crookall who also managed to get to his home town once again, this year in 7 hours 30 minutes 43 seconds.
The prize for the most innovative performance was that of regular competitor Marcia MacLeod Brabbs who definitely won the prize for the best turned-out competitor and who wore bright pink high heels!
She smiled all the 11 miles to Santon in just over three hours - and turned many a head along the way!
