The History Of UK Racewalking By Nick Fleeman
Nick has written a fascinating history of how Racewalking has developed in the UK. Please read the article below:-
Nick F’s Brief (but very interesting) History of Race Walking in the UK
Origins
The roots of race walking can be traced back to the early 19th century, where it emerged as a popular pastime in England. The sport gained great traction during the 1860s, coinciding with the rise of pedestrianism, a competitive walking sport that involved long distance walking races. These events attracted substantial crowds and were held in public parks or on the streets of large cities. Pedestrianism grew during the Victorian era when members of the nobility would place wagers on the performance of the footmen they employed to walk alongside their horse drawn coaches. The inaugural Amateur Walking Championship was held in 1866 with J.G. Chambers of Cambridge University winning the seven mile race in a time of 59:32. Following the formation of the Amateur Athletics Association in 1880, track race walks have been included in every AAA championship since.
Formalisation and Growth of the Sport
As the popularity of race walking grew so did the need for formal regulations and governing bodies. In 1880, The National Walking Association (NWA) was established which played a critical role in standardising the rules of race walking and organising competitions. The influence of the NWA helped to legitimise the sport and attract participants leading to the establishment of local clubs and competitions across the country. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, race walking continued to evolve with events ranging from short distances to ultra-marathon length races. Race walking made its Olympic debut in the 1904 St Louis games when an 800 metre walk formed part of an “All Round Championship” event, a forerunner of today’s decathlon and heptathlon. The sport gained particular recognition, however, when it was included as a discipline in its own right in the 1908 London Olympics four years later. The single “rule” in force at the time of the Games appears somewhat vague, “In Walking Races cautions and disqualifications to be left to the discretion of the Judges.” This inclusion marked a significant milestone for the sport as it provided the top British walkers with the opportunity to showcase their prowess on an international stage.
The undoubted star of the 1908 Olympic race walking events was the Brighton policeman, George Larner. Having embarked on his athletic career at the age of 28 in 1903, the Highgate Harrier won both the 3500 metre and 10 mile events. In the 3500 metre race Larner finished in 14:55.0, ahead of fellow Brit, Ernest Webb, who won silver and the New Zealander, Harry Kerr who made the podium in third place. GB went one better in the ten mile race completing a clean sweep of the medals. With Larner once again victorious, Webb took his second silver and, on this occasion, fellow Briton, Edward Spencer claimed the bronze. On the day Larner set a new world record of 1 hour 15 minutes and 57.4 seconds. In fact, both he and Webb bettered the previous record. As both 3500 metre and ten mile walking events were discontinued following the London games technically Larner remains Olympic champion and record holder. During his illustrious career he held every world record from two to ten miles and the distance record for one hour (8.249 miles). His world two mile record was set in July 1904 and was to stand for the next 39 years. His book, “Larner’s Text Book on Walking: Exercise, Pleasure, Sport,” was published in 1909.
Impact of the World Wars
The two World Wars exerted a profound impact on race walking in the UK. World War 1 saw top walkers enlisting in the military, leading to a decline in participation and a significant decline in events. The post war period saw a resurgence in interest with race walking becoming a popular recreational activity as servicemen returned home. The 1920s and 30s saw a revival of the sport with increased participation and the establishment of new clubs. World War 2 again disrupted the sport, but the post war era brought about significant changes. The formation of the British Athletic Association (BMAA) in 1946 provided a new governing body for athletics including race walking. The BMAA introduced standardised rules and regulations which professionalised the sport and encouraged greater participation at all levels.
Modern Developments and International Success
The latter half of the 20th century saw race walking in the UK reach new heights with British athletes achieving significant success on the international stage. The 1960s proved particularly notable with Don Thompson bringing home medals from the Olympics and European Championships. Having collapsed in the Melbourne heat during the 1956 Olympics, Thompson took an innovative approach to acclimatising for the heat he would encounter in the Rome games of 1960. Thompson boiled kettles and set up paraffin heaters in the bathroom of his parents’ home. He waited until the temperature reached 49 degrees centigrade before entering the room and starting to walk vigorously on the spot. He was forced to stop after 45 minutes feeling nauseous, dizzy and disorientated. The dangers associated with carbon monoxide poisoning were not fully appreciated at the time! Thompson’s somewhat extreme training regimen won rich reward however when he won gold in the 50 km walk in the Stadio Olimpico finishing in an Olympic record of 4 hours 25 minutes and 30 seconds. He was the only British man to win a gold medal at the XVII Olympiad. Ken Matthews won gold in the 20 km event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and Paul Nihill finished second in the 50 km. Such achievements inspired a new generation of race walkers and contributed to the sport’s growing popularity.
In recent years the UK has continued to produce world race walkers with athletes such as Tom Bosworth and Callum Wilkinson making their mark in international competitions. Wilkinson, a member of the Enfield and Haringay club, achieved a top 20 finish in the 20 km race walk at the Paris Olympics of 2024 finishing 16th in a time of 1:20:31. At the time of writing Tom Bosworth holds three world best times, for the indoor and outdoor 3 km in addition to the world mile record. Bosworth’s mile time of 5:31.08 was set during a meeting of the Diamond League in London in 2017. Bosworth has participated in two Olympic games and is currently the holder of six British records. He has won multiple medals in British Championships and has a silver from the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Future Challenges
Despite its rich history and many successes, today race walking in the UK faces many significant challenges. The sport struggles with visibility and recognition compared to other athletic disciplines which undoubtedly hinders participation and sponsorship opportunities. Having been established in 1964, in 2024 Guernsey’s Sarnia Walking Club announced their decision to disband. An aging membership and low numbers of competitors and officials underpinned this decision. Other clubs will undoubtedly suffer the same fate or abandon competitive walking to focus on social rambling. The strict technical requirements involved can prove a barrier for newcomers as many find it difficult to master the style necessary for competition. The pressure and cost of travelling significant distances to participate in races only to face the prospect of disqualification can prove extremely off-putting for the novice walker. This is of particular relevance as a high degree of subjectivity is involved. Judgements are made on the basis of naked eye observations without recourse to modern technology. Whilst attempts have been made to introduce a number of initiatives at grassroots level their impact has been limited. The power of social media and digital platforms must now be exploited to raise awareness and attract new participants.
Conclusion
The history of race walking in the UK is testament to the sport’s resilience and evolution over the years. From its humble beginnings in the 19th century to its current status as a competitive discipline with international recognition, race walking has undergone significant changes. It is undoubtedly true, however, that the sport currently faces significant challenges that must be addressed to ensure its survival. Efforts must be made to effectively promote the sport and nurture new talent.
British Olympic Race Walk Medallists
Year Event Name Position Time
1908 3500m George Larner Gold 14:55.0
3500m Ernest Webb Silver 15:07.4
10 miles George Larner Gold 1:15:57.4
10 miles Ernest Webb Silver 1:17:31.0
10 miles Edward Spencer Bronze 1:21:20.2
1912 10000m Ernest Webb Silver 46:50.4
1920 10000m Charles Gunn Bronze 49:43.9
1924 10000m Gordon (Reg) Goodwin Silver 48:37.9
1932 50km Tommy Green Gold 4:50:10
1936 50km Harold Whitlock Gold 4:30:42
1948 50km Tebbs Lloyd Johnson Bronze 4:48:31
20km Stan Vickers Bronze 1:37:57
1960 50km Don Thompson Gold 4:25:30
1964 20km Ken Matthews Gold 1:29:34
50km Paul Nihill Silver 4:11:32
It is 60 years since a British athlete achieved an Olympic podium finish.
One third of all the medals achieved were won in the 1908 London games.
