One of the best in its 100 year history was how Manx Telecom Race Director Ray Cox described this year’s centenary event – and few who took part would disagree. Records tumbled in the event with 16% of the starters completing the full 85 mile course – the average over the event’s history is 10%. The 215 walkers who finished inside the 24 hour time limit was also a record. 479 people reached Ballaugh – which was the same figure as the 2012 race - and there were record numbers reaching every checkpoint beyond Ballaugh in 2013.
Manx Telecom CEO Mike Dee said: “Once again the Manx Telecom Parish Walk was a great celebration of our Island community. Thanks to everyone who took part, all of the spectators along the route who cheered on the participants and provided feed stations, and the organising team and the many volunteers who make the event possible. Every one of them contributes to the occasion and it’s this level of participation from the whole community which maintains the Manx Telecom Parish Walk’s position as one of the most popular events on the Island.”
In addition to being the title sponsor, Manx Telecom provides the official timing for all participants, and a live GPS tracking service during the event so that the progress of elite walkers can be followed online. Tens of thousands of pounds is raised each year for local charities, but the Manx Telecom Parish Walk is also a sought after prize for race walkers. Michael George was a popular winner this year after coming close to victory on several previous occasions, but he was pushed all the way by second placed Richard Gerrard and Jock Waddington who was third. George’s time of 14h 44m 49s was the third fastest in the all-time list.
Janice Quirk won the women’s race and finished sixth in the overall standings. Her time of 16h 16m 39s was the third fastest ever by a woman. Defending champion Sue Biggart was second, and Maureen Moffatt third.
This year marked the 100th anniversary of the event in its current format and everyone who reached the Santon checkpoint or beyond received 100th Manx Telecom Parish Walk commemorative medals. The winners of the Parish Walk Merit Award were the ‘Cooil ny Rhunnings’ team of David Horisk, Paul Kennish and Matt Cannell who walked to Peel carrying a bobsleigh dressed as the Jamaican bobsleigh team made famous by the movie Cool Runnings. Along the way they collected funds for Isle of Man Hospice.
The Hopeful Travellers – made up of Sue Biggart, Tufty Nash, Sarah Kirk, and Steve Curtis – won the team prize with all four completing the 85 mile distance in a combined time of 81h 6m 35s. Team Energized – made up of Stephen Caley, Nick Exton, Colin Gilbert and Simon Cooper – won the Corporate Team prize completing a combined distance of 267.5 miles in 67h 21m 22s. They all won Sony Xperia Go smartphones from Manx Telecom. Several Manx Telecom staff took part, amassing 1329 miles between them and three – Gary Lamb, Paul Atkinson and Jane Smith – finished the full distance for the first time. All participants received wooden coasters made by the Manx Workshop for the Disabled which featured the official 100th Manx Telecom Parish Walk logo. To create a unique personal memento, the Workshop can engrave the back of the coasters with the name and finishing time of walkers who took part in the event.
Photo - The three members of Manx Telecom staff who completed the walk.
