THE Scottish Widows Parish Walk has had yet another record number of entries with 1,756 competitors having signed on by the deadline of midnight last night.
It beats last year’s record of 1,710 with more than 150 walkers signing up at the last minute yesterday.
The Parish Walk has grown almost every year for the last two decades. When Clerical Medical (now Scottish Widows) took over as main sponsor of the event in 1990 there were few than 200 starters and only six finishers. In 1977 there was only one finisher.
Last year, for the first time, more than 1,000 walkers completed the 32.5 miles distance to Peel and there were 133 finishers. The record number of finishers is 187 in 2009.
The fastest man ever to complete the course is Sean Hands who won the event in 14 hours 47 minutes 36 seconds, more than 30 minutes quicker than second fastest Robbie Callister.
The fastest woman to complete the 85 miles is Janice Quirk who finished third overall in 2009 in 15 hours 58 minutes 35 seconds.
This year is special as it is the 50th anniversary and the favourite for victory is the three times winner Jock Waddington. Four times winner Robbie Callister is also entered and cannot be ruled out for another win.
The top three finishers of all time are also entered again this year. David Collister has a record 27 finishes, Ray Hughes (22) and Anthony Kneale (21).
Amongst local celebrities taking part is regular competitor Noel Cringle, President of Tynwald and a number of MHKs, including Tim Crookall, Graham Cregeen, Phil Gawne and Quintin Gill and MLC Dudley Butt - a past finisher, but with “delicate” feet! A regular finisher, David Cretney MHK, is not entered this year.
The Isle of Man’s Director of Public Health, Dr Parameswaran Kishore, is also on the entry list as is 3FM radio presenter and past finisher Kevin Ford, and Alex Brindley, Manx Radio presenter, taking part for the first time in the Parish Walk.
Also taking part this year - for the first time - is isleofman.com reporter Tessa Hawley.
Former Olympic athlete Roger Black, representing sponsors Scottish Widows, who walked to Santon last year, is again on the start list and plans to go further than last year this time.
