Steyning Athletic Club: Annual awards 2nd February 2019.

Winner of the main award (‘Best Overall Performer’) was Ian Richards, whose race-walking achievements in 2018 included setting two new world records on consecutive days in the British masters championships in Birmingham in August (3000m and 5000m) and a sizeable medal haul:

3 world championships golds (Men, 70 to 74 age group) in Malaga in September at 5000m, 10000m and 20km.
2 European championship golds (M70 to 74) on consecutive days in Alicante in May at 10000m and 30km.
2 European championship silvers (M65 to 69, 3 weeks before Ian’s 70th birthday) in Madrid in March at 3000m and 5000m.

Ian says: 'Over the last 11 years I have trained as hard as I did to get to the Olympics (1980, finished 11th in 50km race walk) and have gradually got better. 2018 was one of my best years ever. Something I never expected at age 70. My next major races are the World indoor championships in March which will be held in Torun. I am pleased with what I have achieved but I have analysed what I could have done better and am looking to improve this year. I believe if you want to be a world leader you can’t stand still.'

Ian retired from active competition in 1982, but restarted in 2007 when he joined Steyning A.C.

As a result of his performance race-walking the Brighton Marathon (4h 18m 48s), Ian was selected for the England Masters running Marathon Team. He improved his time in the Chester Marathon (4h 03m 51s), which placed him 3rd in the British Masters championship. Ian goes on to say: 'This was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my athletics career. I started out as a runner at age 18 but it became clear that I was never going to get to the top. I represented my county at cross-country, but that looked as if that was it. I discovered race-walking and that got me all the way to the Olympics. To get selection for an England running marathon team on the back of a race-walking performance was out of this world.'

Steyning A.C. was formed as a race-walking club in 1951. It’s activities have since expanded to provide coached sessions every week across a wide range of disciplines. Members of all levels participate in running, swimming, cycling, triathlon and fitness. Other notable award recipients on the night were:

‘Most Inspiring Performers’: Mark Tyler (Circuits), Lee Oxley (Running), Wayne Gosden (Swimming), Graham Parsons (Triathlon).
‘Most Inspiring Performance’: Sarah Cotton and Lawrence Naested (Swimming), Juliet Starbuck (Triathlon).
‘Club Sprint Triathlon Winners’: Moyra Amess and Simon Turk.
‘Comic Pirahna Award’: Mike Harris

Club Awards also went to:
‘Club Member of the Year’: Vicky Claydon, whose achievements included successful qualification and participation in the ITU Sprint Triathlon Worlds on the Gold coast in Australia.
‘Coach of the Year’: Juliet Starbuck
With Special Mention Awards to: Caroline Jefferson (communication), Steve Jones (events), Andy Selman (publicity), Anne Jones (warrior spirit) and Ann Witney (best newcomer).

Readers who want to find out about getting involved can visit the Steyning Athletic Club Facebook page, or SteyningAthleticClub1951 on Instagram.

SAC Award Winners (Feb2019). Photo by Emma Pumfrey-Selman.