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Wednesday 19 November 2014

35 years since first entering the Syd Quirk Half Marathon and its no longer an afterthought


Give me a choice between an event with 252 people taking part on Sunday morning, with online entries and results, or 15 people running around the same course in the afternoon and I know which option I would choose.

Nevertheless its hard not to be nostalgic about the state of the Manx athletics scene when I became a regular competitor in 1979 after four years off the Isle of Man at North Staffs Polytechnic in Stoke-on-Trent, punctuated by two six month work placements, one back on the Isle of Man and the other based in Manchester.

Steve Kelly was in his prime and was winning just about every local race on every surface but Dave Newton was always pushing hard.

It was 20p to enter the Syd Quirk in 1979. Actually I just made that up. It was 20p in 1981 (I can prove that) and so with inflation at a high point then perhaps it was only 10p in 1979!

In the Haldane Syd Quirk Half Marathon last year 80% of the runners were slower than 1 hour and 30 minutes. In the late 70s the majority were under that time. Runners were nearly all young men; hardly any women and certainly very few veterans.

In June 1979 I started an extremely intensive block of race walking training principally with the TT Walk in August in mind. The following week I had my best ever fell race pushing Steve Kelly most of the way in the Laxey horseshoe fell race.

In October, against the odds of getting a full time job on the Isle of Man, I started a very well paid one at Ronaldsway Aircraft Company.



A couple of weeks after starting I was lining up just down the road from the Ballasalla factory, outside what was then Mylchreests Motors (now Ocean Ford). This is how the race went:


1KellySteve01:11:24
2NewtonDave01:13:41
3LambdenMurray01:14:09
4HorneAndrew01:18:59
5CannellJohn01:22:30
6WrightJohn01:24:24
7EvansTerry01:24:52
8CainPhil01:27:03
9CallisterKeith01:29:03
10JoughinMitch01:29:16
11VarleyTony01:32:03
12StevensonRichie01:34:30
13MooreAllen01:35:56
14CringleNoel01:37:15
15GrayMike01:37:50


A few useful walking results in 1980 but the first weekend of November was out of season for the long walks so I would probably have done it again had it not been that I went away to my niece's Christening and took in the Enfield 7 miles that weekend.

After my international debut in Brighton (35km on the track) at the end of June 1981, I struggled for a few weeks with injury and retired from the National 50km walk. I managed to run the first ever Douglas to Castletown run on 3 August and then resumed my walking training sufficiently well to win the TT walk on 15 August. September was a mad month winning the Morecambe 20km on 12th, walking 50km in the End to End the week after, 9.38.38 for 2nd in the National 100km walk the weekend after that, into October with the TT Relay walk, a win in the Stockport 7 miles, the York 7 miles, Then an easy week, followed by 101 miles walking with a winter league walk at the end. By now I was a week from the Syd Quirk and on the Monday and Thursday of race week I did 6 miles running at lunchtime in addition to 12 and 14 miles in the evening. I recall that I ran those sessions at 5.30 mile pace and after another 6 miles running on Friday evening and rest on Saturday my preparation for the Syd Quirk was complete!






Although I was fairly pleased with my run, my 1.10.59 clocking only really received a passing mention in the report as Steve Kelly continued his domination.

Just two years after that I retired from athletics after a lot of problems with my back - at 27 I was advised not to continue what I was doing and I didn't really want to be making excuses for sub standard performances. Little did I think that I would be lining up for Syd Quirk number 17 - 31 years after my retirement.

Although I watched the event every year, the thought of entering again didn't really cross my mind for many years. In 1996 Paul Curphey and I trained hard for the Robin Hood Half Marathon and we finished about 21st and 22nd out of the 8,000 runners. After recovery I suggested rather half heartedly that we may as well do the Syd Quirk as well. In the week leading up to it I had a sore shin and nearly pulled out and the there were gale force winds. With Peter Costley, Kevin Albinson and Bernie Cannan in the field we thought we would be well back but we dropped the others at the end of the first lap and Paul put a great kick in going out of Ballasalla to make his break.

1 Curphey Paul 01:15:28
2 Lambden Murray 01:15:51
3 Costley Peter 01:16:24
4 Cannan Bernard 01:17:16
5 Albinson Kevin 01:19:39
6 Motley Phil 01:20:08
7 Finn Danny 01:20:18
8 Kelly Steve 01:20:23
9 Postlethwaite Alan 01:20:50
10 Gellion Mike 01:21:36
11 Crawford Ian 01:22:24
12 Rushton Karen 01:23:19
13 Sinclair Nigel 01:23:44
14 Cubbon Paul 01:24:37
15 Radcliffe Richard 01:25:16
16 Bates Terry 01:26:24
17 Parrick Hadyn 01:27:41
18 Cooper Peter 01:27:48
19 Taubman Ray 01:28:13
20 Murphy Jack 01:32:23
21 Grady John 01:32:26
22 Mooney Jane 01:32:49
23 Moughtin Roger 01:33:17
24 Packard Martin 01:33:27
25 Callister Robbie (2) 01:33:39
26 Pilling Alan 01:35:59
27 Hooke Bill 01:37:52
28 Cox Simon 01:38:13
29 Williams Gareth 01:42:08
30 Corran Allan 01:43:25
31 Watson Dawn 01:46:45
32 Tasker Dave 01:48:19
33 Halsall Derek 01:50:21
34 Cooil Miriam 01:53:34
35 Harrison Susanne 02:07:20
36 Harrison Sylvia 02:07:44
37 Turner Diane 02:11:56
38 Kelly Judy 02:23:32

I can't remember much about 1997 but it was when Bernie was at his peak and I didn't get near to him.

1 Cannan Bernard 01:15:37
2 Lambden Murray 01:20:05
3 Radcliffe Richard 01:20:36
4 Crawford Ian 01:21:17
5 Gellion Mike 01:21:44
6 Hughes Peter 01:25:53
7 Taubman Ray 01:28:26
8 Cooper Peter 01:29:00
9 Hall Stan 01:29:03
10 Bagley Alan 01:30:44
11 Corkill Dougie 01:31:23
12 Jewell Neville 01:31:36
13 Shooter Ray 01:31:56
14 Pickard Martin 01:33:38
15 Corran Allan 01:33:49
16 Cox Simon 01:34:37
17 Pilling Alan 01:35:45
18 Page Andy 01:36:48
19 Dyer Lawrence 01:37:50
20 Hooten Rose 01:39:29
21 Bell Martin 01:40:42
22 Hooke Bill 01:42:20
23 Martin Kevin 01:43:20
24 Tasker Dave 01:46:16
25 Cain Ann 01:50:45
26 Chrystal Collette 02:17:31


I don't know if I ever told Bernie this though but the following year, when he was not in such good form and I had just returned from a holiday, I agreed to act as hare for Paul. I went out really fast, took Bernie with me, we both slowed and Paul went through to win.

1 Curphey Paul 01:16:20
2 Cannan Bernard 01:17:15
3 Lambden Murray 01:18:43
4 Hughes Peter 01:21:44
5 Bates Terry 01:21:50
6 Crawford Ian 01:25:41
7 Gellion Mike 01:26:52
8 Mackie Phil 01:26:57
9 Cooper Peter 01:29:58
10 Bagley Alan 01:30:40
11 Stigant Graham 01:31:09
12 Corkill Dougie 01:31:24
13 Macgregor Neil 01:31:33
14 Grady John 01:32:20
15 Sinclair Nigel 01:33:00
16 Shooter Ray 01:34:45
17 Taubman Ray 01:35:10
18 Callister Robbie (2) 01:36:11
19 Brown Les 01:39:44
20 Hooke Bill 01:43:52
21 Tasker Dave 01:43:56
22 Bates Graham 01:44:45
23 Pilling Alan 01:49:38
24 Hodgson Al 02:03:38
25 Bates Carol 02:17:11

I didn't take part in 1999 but 2000 was once again an afterthought having run the Abingdon Marathon two weeks earlier. I ran that one badly and blew up to run 2.45.59 but was extremely fortunate to be credited with 2.44.59 and secured my place for London the following year.I ran steadily in the Syd Quirk and kept Robbie Callister honest towards the end. By this time Tony Okell. who has won the race more times than anyone other than Steve Kelly, was the man to beat.

1 Okell Tony 01:14:11
2 Callister Robbie 01:16:13
3 Lambden Murray 01:16:55
4 Hughes Peter 01:20:32
5 Cannan Bernard 01:21:03
6 Robinson Philip 01:22:00
7 Crawford Ian 01:25:07
8 Postlethwaite Alan 01:25:21
9 Bates Terry 01:25:41
10 Noon Marie 01:26:42
11 Hall Stan 01:27:49
12 Sinclair Nigel 01:30:09
13 Dickinson Paul 01:31:10
14 Cooper Peter 01:31:36
15 Duncan Tony 01:32:57
16 Bagley Alan 01:33:03
17 Moughtin Roger 01:33:47
18 Collins Pat 01:34:26
20 Brown Stephen 01:34:59
19 Corran Allan 01:34:59
21 Trees Paul 01:35:46
22 Dyer Lawrence 01:36:38
23 Grady John 01:37:38
24 Bell Martin 01:37:52
25 Hempsall Mark 01:38:35
26 Stigant Lorraine 01:39:52
27 Moore Shirley 01:39:59
28 Titley Andrew 01:40:48
29 Kelly Alan 01:41:00
30 Scott Richard 01:43:11
31 Pilling Alan 01:43:32
32 Hempsall Nicola 01:45:28
33 Tasker Dave 01:46:49
34 Martin Kevin 01:49:24
35 Crook Michael 01:49:31
36 Turner Diane 01:54:32
37 Ronan Ron 01:58:22
38 Evans Kenneth 01:58:48
39 Furner Sue 01:59:41
40 Hall Moira 02:07:20
41 Bates Carol 02:12:56
42 Barwell Christine 02:15:47
43 Jacobs Arnie 02:24:32
43 Kelly Maureen 02:24:32
45 Goldsmith Sarah 02:30:28
46 Moon Richard 03:14:18
47 Bell Bernadette 03:22:20

2001 was an a-Pauling year! 5 Pauls in the first 13. I got some stick from my brother Martin as for the first time I was slower than his one and only appearance.

1 Okell Tony 01:14:33
2 Clarke Paul 01:18:34
3 Gale Ian 01:19:20
4 Curphey Paul 01:20:12
5 Lambden Murray 01:23:14
6 Postlethwaite Alan 01:24:41
7 Motley Phil 01:25:33
8 Young David 01:26:37
10 Bates Terry 01:27:35
9 Crawford Ian 01:27:35
11 Cubbon Paul 01:28:10
12 Dickinson Paul 01:28:33
13 Trees Paul 01:30:10

Fields were getting bigger now so I won't repeat all the results but Tony Okell was winning every year. The finish in Ballasalla was getting pretty crowded too but the presentation remained at Malew Football Club. Later in moved to Ronaldsway Aircraft Company and then to Castletown Civic Centre.

1 Okell Tony 01:15:17
2 Clarke Paul 01:16:44
3 Gale Ian 01:17:44
4 Callister Robbie 01:20:38
5 Curphey Paul 01:21:30
6 Lambden Murray 01:21:31
7 Garrett Mike 01:27:05
8 Young David 01:27:54
9 Foulkes-Morris Gareth 01:28:45
9 Stigant Graham 01:28:45
11 Cole Damian 01:28:53
12 Trees Paul 01:29:06
13 Bates Terry 01:29:49

It was good to have Mike Garrett back training with Paul and I after a six year absence and he featured in 2002 (above).

2003 saw Ian Gale win well whilst Brian Osbourne complained of being bored whilst I bust a gut to keep him in sight! Mike was a lot faster a year later and Simon Skillicorn's name was starting to appear.

1 Gale Ian 01:15:42
2 Osborne Brian 01:19:07
3 Lambden Murray 01:21:35
4 Garrett Mike 01:22:13
5 Skillicorn Simon 01:23:02
6 Curphey Paul 01:23:25
7 Postlethwaite Alan 01:23:54
8 Young David 01:26:25
9 Dickinson Paul 01:26:30
10 Watson Andy 01:27:16
11 Kneen Chris 01:28:15
12 Jewell Neville 01:29:09
13 Corrin Dave 01:29:59

And it was Simon who was closest to me when I finally won in 2004 at the age of 48. Nigel Armstrong had also joined my training group with Paul and Mike as had Nev Jewell who was under 1.30. But the focus of my group was always on the London Marathon with the Lancashire Cross Country and the 20 miles in March being our secondary aims.

1 Lambden Murray 01:17:09
2 Skillicorn Simon 01:18:17
3 Garrett Mike 01:19:10
4 Armstrong Nigel 01:19:59
5 Curphey Paul 01:22:22
6 Scott Ben 01:22:44
7 Postlethwaite Alan 01:23:28
8 Kneen Chris 01:24:29
9 Crawford Ian 01:24:36
10 George Michael 01:25:06
11 Cannan Bernard 01:25:36
12 Radcliffe Richard 01:26:02
13 Quinn Daniel 01:26:28
14 Brown Stephen 01:26:54
15 Glover David 01:27:24
16 Sinclair Nigel 01:28:46
17 Callister Robbie 01:29:09

My late uncle, John Crowe, rang me to congratulate me after reading about my 2004 success and said: "You looked as if you were in a lot of pain. Now that you have finally won, don't you think its time to give up?".

I ignored his advice and was back in 2005 and I had a new name ahead of me for the first mile before Kevin Loundes faded. Fell runners to the fore:

1 Okell Tony 01:15:05
2 Skillicorn Simon 01:16:36
3 Lambden Murray 01:17:48
4 Armstrong Nigel 01:20:41
5 Garrett Mike 01:20:46
6 Callister Robbie 01:21:13
7 Loundes Kevin 01:21:15
8 Curphey Paul 01:24:21
9 Clague Mark 01:24:25
10 Bell-Scott Anthony 01:25:11
11 Young David 01:26:32
12 George Michael 01:27:24
13 Cubbon Paul 01:27:30
14 Quine Michael 01:27:48
15 Wilson Neil 01:29:01
16 Blenkinsop Craig 01:29:21

The main thing I remember about 2006 was the incredible support for Christian Varley around the course.

1 Okell Tony 01:14:51
2 Skillicorn Simon 01:15:06
3 Loundes Kevin 01:15:34
4 Gray Darren 01:16:29
5 Garrett Mike 01:17:59
6 Gumbley Ed 01:18:18
7 Lambden Murray 01:18:39
8 Varley Christian 01:18:53
9 Clarke Paul 01:20:21
10 Packer Malcolm 01:20:45
11 Callister Robbie 01:21:00
12 Melvin Tom 01:23:38
13 Skillicorn Darren 01:24:21
14 Curphey Paul 01:24:50
15 Malone Martin 01:25:27
16 Wilson Neil 01:28:21
17 Cubbon Paul 01:28:24
18 Hempsall John 01:28:34

Can't remember much about 2007 but Kevin Loundes won - the year before he was stopped by the train.

1 Loundes Kevin 01:15:30
2 Armstrong Nigel 01:19:35
3 Scott Ben 01:20:17
4 Garrett Mike 01:21:23
5 Lambden Murray 01:21:53
6 Partington Steve 01:22:54
7 Postlethwaite Alan 01:22:59
8 Deakes Kevin 01:25:05
9 Cubbon Paul 01:25:31
10 Young David 01:27:12
11 Gellion Mike 01:27:53
12 Sellors Rob 01:28:14
13 Wilson Neil 01:28:36
14 Moffatt James 01:29:25

2008 was the first year I had trained every day as a runner and my form was transformed - but by September I was injured and missed a potential marathon PB in Amsterdam. I was at the Syd Quirk with the camera but was back to run in 2009 when Lloyd Taggart won for the first time.

I remember a great move by Rob Sellors, who beat me for the first time, and barely moving into the wind as I raced Russell Collister on his debut. For the first time I was slower at half marathon that I had run my marathons earlier in the year!

1 Taggart Lloyd 01:15:18
2 Malone Martin 01:15:44
3 Garrett Mike 01:21:35
4 Sellors Rob 01:23:42
5 Lambden Murray 01:25:12
6 Storrie Aron 01:26:18
7 Cubbon Paul 01:26:36
8 Collister Russell 01:26:52
9 Lewthwaite Paul 01:26:55
10 Lee Jackie 01:27:43
11 Deakes Kevin 01:28:55
12 Cowin Barry 01:29:43


2010 was a mini repeat of 2008 for me. Entered the Amsterdam Marathon got injured, ran really badly there so didn't make the Syd Quirk;

At last Mike Garrett wins in 2011. Running with Paul Curphey was like turning back the clocks particularly when he put one of his infamous bursts in to pass Kevin Deakes just after 5 miles.

1 Garrett Mike 01:16:08
2 Taggart Lloyd 01:17:07
3 Cringle Tom 01:19:50
4 Sellors Rob 01:20:23
5 Armstrong Nigel 01:22:25
6 Lambden Murray 01:22:51
7 Curphey Paul 01:23:18
8 Deakes Kevin 01:25:15
9 Knott Timothy 01:26:24
10 Cuthbert Philip 01:26:31
11 Shipway Richard 01:26:54
12 Quaye Nigel 01:27:25
13 Lee Jackie 01:27:45
14 Sutton Paul 01:28:22

In September 2012 I retired for a second time and have not run any marathons since. My knee prevented me from driving more than 20 minutes without a rest and my hip was also a concern. So I didn't expect to be back in 2013 for Syd Quiirk number 16. With the fields now much bigger it was by far the most company I had enjoyed during the race and I really enjoyed it - so much so that I was only 2 seconds outside my personal worst!

1 Gumbley Ed 01:14:34
2 Newton Jamie 01:16:18
3 Garrett Mike 01:17:13
4 Cringle Tom 01:17:26
5 Knott Timothy 01:18:47
6 Sykes Paul 01:20:26
7 Sellors Rob 01:20:35
8 Reynolds Chris 01:21:30
9 Russell Adam 01:21:39
10 Goatman Ian 01:22:27
11 Collister Russell 01:23:10
12 Taggart Jacqueline 01:23:27
13 Mcgowan Jon 01:23:57
14 Lyon Steve 01:24:00
15 Shipway Richard 01:24:24
16 Sutton Paul 01:25:02
17 Lambden Murray 01:25:14
18 Geddes Fionn 01:25:20
19 Highfeld Richard 01:25:26
20 Deakes Kevin 01:25:35
21 Brogan Neil 01:26:20
22 Sandford Alan 01:26:24
23 Boyde Nikki 01:27:04
24 Curphey Paul 01:27:12
25 Brown Stephen 01:27:20
26 Rice Geoffrey 01:27:48
27 Winrow Daniel 01:28:58

Another year on and my form has really dropped. Cracking my ribs and missing 6 weeks of running didn't help (although poor diet and too much wine are probably more significant) and I have only raced 6 times this year. But the funny thing is that I have prepared more specifically than for any of my previous 16. I have done three 15 miles sessions and countless 12 milers.

Training times don't lie and so I shall be much slower than ever before. But the thought that for the first time ever this is my main race of the year makes me quite nervous. Only Alan Pilling has run it more times than me but I am going to have to run another 14 times to break the only record in my sights!