As I mentioned last month, Saturday 2nd March sees the Ascot Hotel sponsored Manx Open Walks and 10k run.
The blue riband event is the 20k and although the field is lacking some of the quality of previous years, numerically at 18, it is one of the largest entries for some time, with most of the leading local exponents of the discipline in action.
The two class acts in the field are multiple winner of the trophy, David Kidd and John Egan from Ireland, though both are very lightly raced in recent times as I think they have been leaning towards coaching, so if they are not at the top of their game, I would hope to put them under pressure myself.
In December, Jock Waddington achieved his first personal best at 10k in nearly 5 years and he was moving with great speed and fluency on Monday night at training, so also cannot be discounted.
Joint Parish Walk winners, Richard Gerrard and Vinny Lynch are also turning out but the major interest of the day could lie in the performance of the sole lady in the race, Michelle Turner.
Coached by six times Commonwealth Games athlete, Steve Partington, Michelle has improved rapidly since her debut at the distance in 2012 and she would have topped the World rankings in her age group had her lightning quick performance in the 10k at Andreas had been recognised up by the international statisticians.
Her progress has continued and she clocked 50:17 on her last outing in the final Up and Running Winter League 10k, so it is hoped that at the ripe old age of 40, she could gain international selection.
Unfortunately, the 10k race has not attracted an entry that will challenge our rising young stars, Alex Eaton, Adam Cowin and Juan Bellando but it may be an interesting battle between Adam and Alex, as the latter man is recovering from injury. Spice will also be added by the it being concurrent with the longer distance.
A similar tussle may ensue between Marie Jackson and Sally Walker, though little is known by the author of Harriet Sheard and Irish raider, Sarah Bourke.
The 5k may be a competitive race with some of the cream of the Irish juniors up against our own Danielle Oates and Rebecca Greatbatch.
It is a bit of a shame that Jason Turner, son of Michelle will not have any off-Island rivalry as he has shown all comers a clean pair of heels over the winter season.
