Competitive Racewalking Debuts At The Open Meeting

Many thanks to Nick Fleeman for this contribution

Winchester, July 16, 2025

History was made at the WADAC Evening Open Meeting as race walking, for the first time, took centre stage on the programme. The 2000m race, judged to an A standard by highly qualified and experienced officials Verity Snook, Denise von Roretz, and Alfie Wells, proved to be a thrilling success, leaving participants and organisers alike buzzing for more.

The event, as part of the Southern Race Walking Association’s initiative to promote the discipline within its catchment area, was organised by WADAC Head of Walks, Derek Smith, who saw his dedicated efforts pay off. "I'm thrilled that race walking made its debut at the Open,” said a delighted Derek. “ It’s something I’m definitely going to push for the club to host more events in future Open meetings, building on this success." Derek extended his thanks to all competitors and judges who generously gave up their time to make the event possible.

A Night of Personal Bests and Close Finishes

The competition itself was fierce, with athletes pushing their limits and delivering impressive performances:

* Natasha Mitchell (Southampton AC), an Under 23 woman, clinched first place with a remarkable time of 10:01.75, shaving a full 7 seconds off her personal best.

* The battle for second and third was incredibly tense. Marcin Wojtowicz (WADAC), a veteran male 35, ultimately secured second with 10:53.10. Hot on his heels was David Mitchell, Natasha’s father, who clocked a massive personal best of 10:53.41. David, who dipped under 11 minutes for the first time, tracked Marcin the entire race in an incredibly close affair. This outstanding performance also puts David at number 1 in the UK rankings for veteran male 50 age category for 2000 metres race walking.

* Jack Wynn, a previously unknown athlete from Somerset, made a truly remarkable debut. Benefitting from bespoke advice from the judges before and after the race, his time of 11:42.71 is outstanding for a first competitive outing. Jack is currently unattached to a club.

* Derek Smith (WADAC), a veteran male 70, showcased flawless technique, earning compliments from the judges, as he completed the race in 14:13.29.

* Mark Pocock (Southampton AC), a veteran male 45, also put in a strong performance in 14:26.31.

The event was extremely well received by all who took part, and the enthusiasm for race walking is clearly high. More events are certainly on the horizon! Congratulations to Derek!

Well I was there is spirit (but sadly, not in body)!!!!!!!!!!

Results from last nights Open Meeting

Have been updated on Open track through the link below. They will appear on pof10 in the next day or so.

WADAC July Open Results

Start lists & Field Pools for Tomorrows open meeting published

We are looking forward to tomorrow’s Open meeting which is also a BMC meeting.

The start lists for the (non BMC) track races can be seen below

Track races Open 3

The start lists for the field events can be seen below

Field events open 3

The timetable can be seen below

Timetable Open 3

The full list of (non BMC) competitors can be seen below

Competitor list

Vets in action for match three

WADAC Veterans Shine Bright in Basingstoke Showdown

Hampshire Veterans League – Match 3 | Monday 9 June 2025 | Basingstoke Report by Nick F

Under clear June skies in Basingstoke, Winchester & District AC’s veterans made their mark in Match 3 of the 2025 Hampshire Veterans League, combining competitive grit with club firsts and record-breaking performances. With contributions across all age categories, it was an evening that underscored Winchester’s strength in depth and the spirit of the team.

Women: Middle-Distance Magic and Strong All-Round Showings

The Winchester women’s team placed 4th overall, amassing 91 points, just behind Havant (93.5) and within touching distance of Basingstoke (107). Aldershot led the field with 121.5 points, but Winchester’s night was defined not by standings alone—but by heart, drama, and sheer determination.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the W35 1500m, which delivered one of the most exciting finishes of the league season so far. Kiralie Leigh-Jones, showing tactical poise and fearless acceleration, surged to the front with 200m to go. But the race was far from over. Basingstoke’s Rebecca Sleap, producing a perfectly timed response, began to close rapidly in the final metres. In a nail-biting finale, Kiralie held her off in a photo finish, winning by the finest of margins. It was a memorable win for Winchester and a showcase of elite-level competition within the club ranks. Such was the engrossing nature of Kiralie’s 1500m race that one competitor in the men's shot put actually missed the call for his second throw!

Another momentous achievement for the women's squad came from the women’s medley relay team of Tracey Bezance-Collins, Amanda Smith, Sian Lewis & Kiralie Leigh-Jones. They set a new club record of 4:45.9, eclipsing the previous record of 4:47.6 set in 2017 at Basingstoke.

Elsewhere, Sian Lewis demonstrated her usual quality, winning the W35A 400m in an outstanding time of 63.8. Alongside her, Alison Wheeler put in an impressive shift in the W35B 400m race, demonstrating the wealth of talent across the women’s squad.

Veterans Charlie Hoskins and Emma Carter again played pivotal roles, scoring valuable points in the 1500m, adding poise and experience to a high-performing endurance team. 

Men: Records Fall, New Ground Broken, and Spirited Contributions

The Winchester men’s team also secured 4th place, with 95 points, just behind Aldershot (99), and ahead of Havant, Overton, Fleet, and Portsmouth. While the night belonged to Basingstoke (158) and Southampton (132), Winchester left with club records and milestones to celebrate.

In the M75 100m, veteran sprinter Keith Stone entered the history books as the first WADAC athlete to compete in this age category, capping his run with a new club record, a remarkable milestone in itself.

The M65 Shot Put delivered another historic moment for the club. Tim Sorrell, in his debut in the event opened with a throw of 6.49m, setting an initial club record. Moments later, Nick Fleeman (throwing for the first time since 1972) bettered it with an effort of 6.59m, giving WADAC two club records in one event, underlining the internal competitiveness that’s helping drive performances forward.

On the track Team Manager, Owen Watts (M50) and Rodolfo Rodriguez (M35) both put in exceptional performances, winning their respective 400m races. They also featured in the medley relay squad that finished in a strong 2nd place.

Paul Cox was another standout performer on the night. Competing in multiple disciplines, Paul’s contribution across both track and field was vital in bolstering the team’s points total. Whether stepping in at short notice or doubling up to fill gaps, his selfless approach and all-round athleticism were emblematic of the WADAC spirit, and deeply appreciated by the squad.

A special mention must go to Rodolfo Rodriguez, whose efforts across track, field and relay events continue to be instrumental. A tireless competitor, Rodriguez once again delivered crucial points and exemplified the team-focused ethos that has defined WADAC’s veterans this season.

 Match Results – Team Scores

 Women’s Standings:

·       Aldershot – 121.5

·       Southampton – 112

·       Basingstoke – 107

·       Winchester – 91

·       Havant – 93.5

·       Overton – 69

·       Fleet – 44

·       Portsmouth – 10

 Men’s Standings:

·       Basingstoke – 158

·       Southampton – 132

·       Aldershot – 99

·       Winchester – 95

·       Portsmouth – 111

·       Havant – 65

·       Fleet – 37

·       Overton – 35

Looking Ahead

Winchester left Basingstoke with much more than points: the club returned with new club records, a thrilling photo-finish victory, and historic firsts that highlight the vibrancy and competitive ambition of WADAC’s veteran athletes.

With eyes now set on Match 4 at Aldershot (Monday 21 July), momentum is undeniably building. This is a squad that continues to push boundaries, whether through blistering sprints, or contending dramatic middle-distance races to the very last stride. The dedication and camaraderie on display are a testament to the strength of WADAC.

RR10 Race 6 at Marwell

It was a hot, sunny and humid evening at Marwell yesterday evening. No giraffes were spotted but 492 runners made the annual pilgrimage to the footpaths around Marwell Zoo.

8 ladies and 5 men from WADAC enjoyed the uphill singletrack paths and wide open grasslands with coach, David Vosser showing us how to do it. William Dickinson was our first man home and Vicky Gill our first lady. Our ladies team finished 4th overall. Well done to everyone that took part.

The next race is on 9th July, 7pm at Itchen Valley Country Park.

Please come along and join in the midweek fun, competition and friendliness. All levels of running, just wear your club vest.

Marcin’s Miles Better

The club’s top racewalker, Marcin Wojtowicz, was in Oxford at the weekend where he took part in a 1 mile race. Despite having back problems, Marcin showed his class, winning in a time of 8:47.30 and beating his nearest rival by almost 15 seconds. He was due to compete in a 10km race as well but pulled out as he didn’t feel well enough to tackle the distance. Congratulations Marcin on yet another magnificent achievement.

Latest Racewalking News

The recent activity of the racewalking group has brought some impressive performances.

At the Hampshire Veterans League meeting in Portsmouth in April, Marcin Wojtowicz set a new all time club record for the 2000 metres event, winning in a time of 10:39.4 in the V35 category. This eclipses the record which was previously held by Ian Leedham. At the same time, Derek Smith, by finishing third in the V50 race, set a new V70 club record with a time of 13:14.2. A week later, at the Hampshire Championships also held in Portsmouth, Derek posted a time in the 3000 metres event of 22:36.4 to secure the bronze medal, and also set another V70 club record in the process.

In other news, a small bit of history will be created shortly, as there will be a 2000 metres racewalking event taking place on the track at the club’s open meeting on Wednesday 16th July. This will be the first time that WADAC has hosted a walking race and it is hoped that, if it proves successful, there could be more races added to the club’s calendar in the future.

Start lists for WADAC Open

The start lists for tomorrow’s WADAC Open can be seen in the links below.

Timetable

Competitor list

Start lists for track events

Field pools for field events

Save the Date: AGM

This year’s AGM will be held on Sunday 8 June at 7pm. Please save the date. An email will be sent out soon to give further details.

Results from the Vets match

Our first match of the season kicked off at Portsmouth on 28 April, where WADAC took a large team of Vets to compete in various events including 100m, 400m 1500m, shot, high jump, long jump and hammer. Following some strong performances, the ladies team came second with 99 points and the men came third with 123 points.

Results are here: https://hampshirevetsleague.co.uk

If you are interested in competing in the Vets league and are over 35 please let Paul Cox know at secretary@wadac.org.uk and he will pass your contact details onto the team manager.

Quad kids points totals from Saturday

Whilst all results have been included, for some reason Opentrack isn’t calculating the points scores for the Quad kids competition and I have therefore done this manually and this can be seen in the link below.

QK points totals 19 04 25

Results from yesterday’s Open Meeting

We had great feedback from yesterday’s Open Meeting and the weather was kind to us as the sun came out and the wind turned around in the Afternoon.

See below link for all the results which can be seen in Opentrack and they will be updated on pof10 in the next few days.

Results from Open Meeting 19th April 2025

Final timetable, competitor list, track gradings and field event pools for Saturdays Open Meeting are published

We have our usual entry of approximately 450 athletes for our early season open meetng on Easter Saturday.

See below the final timetable for the day please arrive at least 30 minutes before your start time.

WADAC Open Timetable

See below the complete list of competitors in alphebetical order by last name

WADAC Open competitor list

See below the track gradings in chronological order

WADAC Open track races

See below field pools in chronological order

WADAC Open field pools

A beginners guide to Racewalking and the ‘Challenge’!

Time to step up to a new challenge? 

 Considering trying something new and rising to a new challenge?  Well, look no further! The wonderful world of race walking is here for YOU! 

Give it a go and who knows, you might just discover a whole new passion!  

Here are some friendly tips to help you hit the ground walking (pun intended!): 

 Master the technique: 

Race walking is much more than just fast strolling, it’s got a style all of its own. Keep one foot on the ground at all times (sneaky jogging is seriously frowned upon) and make sure your leading leg stays straight until your body passes over it. It might feel a bit funny at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. 

 Start slow and build up: 

Don’t worry about speed right away. Focus on getting the form right and walk just a short distance, maybe just round the block or a lap of the track. Gradually increase your time and distance. You’re not racing (yet!), so take it easy and enjoy the process. 

 What you need: 

No expensive equipment is required. A pair of trainers that offer support and flexibility will do the trick (definitely NO spikes). 

Swing those arms: 

Your arms are your secret weapon in race walking. Bend them to about 90 degrees and swing them energetically. Think of moving your hands from your sternum to your pocket and rather than punching forward focus on pulling your elbows backwards. Keep your shoulders down and your hands relaxed, don’t clench your fists. This will boost your momentum and make you feel like a pro. 

 Practice: 

Try doing some drills. When I started, I found the YouTube videos posted by Coach Carmen to be invaluable, have a look at Coach Carmen 101. It’s very important to have the right technique from the start as you will quickly develop muscle memory and rather than perfect, practice makes permanent. 

 Join the fun: 

Come and join us at the Bar End track on a Wednesday evening, sessions start at 6:00pm. You’ll be sure to receive a warm welcome. 

 Have a blast: 

Seriously, don’t stress if you’re not perfect right away. Enjoy the rhythm of your steps and the fact that you are challenging yourself and trying something new. You’re already a champion for starting. 

Give it a go and who knows you might surprise yourself with how much you love it. Any questions as you get going? Just ask. Rest assured, we’re here to cheer you on! 

Author: Nick Fleeman 

 NOW TRY THE CHALLENGE 

 If you feel even just a little bit motivated by Nick’s write up, then how about having a go at this. 

 Using the technique explained (as best you can) try doing a self-timed lap of the track. This could as be part of your usual warm up, warm down, separate from your normal session or even as part of a group, and note the time it took you to get around. Most people should be able to manage below 3 minutes 45 seconds, but it is more about enjoyment. If your time is significantly below this or you enjoyed the experience, then we would be delighted to have you join our group. Just for reference, our two senior citizen male walkers consistently go below 3 minutes and another one of our number regularly smashes the 2 minutes 15 seconds mark for a lap. 

We would be interested in seeing your times, so please feel free to let us know how you did by sending an email to derek.smith@wadac.org.uk  

Derek Smith 

Racewalking leader 

Weekend Track & Field preview

Always an exciting time, the beginning of the outdoor season is upon us and there are lots of WADAC names on the start lists at the well supported City of Portsmouth Open taking place tomorrow.

We wish everyone well as they begin their outdoor track & field seasons.

Lexie breaks her own indoor club record

Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farres) broke her own club indoor record by going over 3.17m in the pole vault at Vault London in Lee Valley on Sunday. Lexie added another couple of centimetres to her existing mark and finished her indoor season in style.

Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) also jumped an indoor pb of 2.57m to improve his own all time 2nd place age group performance in the same competition and both Lexie & Tom will now be focussed on the outdoor season.

Elsewhere at the weekend, Oliver Thatcher (coach Andy Fisher) began his outdoor collegiate season with a throw of 39.80m in the discus and a long jump in excess of 6m at a local meeting last Friday night.

Martin chosen to coach England team

Head of throws Martin McBriar has been chosen to act as coach for the England discus team selected for the Pickering Memorial Throws Internatioal at Loughborough University on the 1st June.

This is a huge honour both for Martin and the club and is vindication for all Martin’s hard work in transforming the throws group at WADAC and the success it has had.

Sports Book Sale

 SPORTS BOOK SALE.

Tony Bateman has a number of past publications he wants to sell to boost his granddaughter's British Heart Foundation donation related to her 2025 Marathon entry.

He has copies of THE COACH:It published articles by well respected UK coaches and S&C experts. Request £2 per copy

 PLUS copies of SPORTS INJURY BULLETIN, In-depth cover of scientific studies of injuries with case studies.  Request £5 per copy

If you are interested, please contact membership@wadac.org.uk and I’ll put you in touch with Tony.

Weekend track & field preview

Just 1 WADAC athlete I can find on the trak & field startlists this weekend as we transition from the indoor season to the outdoor one.

The last of the Lee Valley Minithon’s takes place with a WADAC young athlete on the start lists and from here on in we celebrate the start of the outdoor season.

Track & Field fixture lists sent to every club member

With the outdoor track & field season fast approaching, every member of the club has been sent a league fixture list specific to them.

Whether you are 8 years old and taking part in the quadkids at the Wessex League or 80 years old and taking part in the Hampshire vets league, you know the dates of the fixtures and how the teams are chosen.

This is a historic year for WADAC as we compete in the NAL for the very first time and we are looking forward to record numbers of athlets representing the club in league matches this year.