On 10.00am on Saturday 2nd May 1982 a remarkable 24 hour
track race destined to change the history of long distance running was started
on the Blackbridge Athletics Track in Podsmead, Gloucester. Organised by Chris
O’Carroll on behalf of the local Gloucester Athletic Club, he was rewarded with
a number of record performances including a stunning new World Record for 24
hours of 170 miles 974 yards (274.480 kms) set by club member Dave Dowdle.
The field that day
consisted of 19 international entrants including two women, with fancied
runners from France (and the existing World Record holder), Australia, and the
USA joining British favourites Mark Pickard, the then reigning British 24 Hour
record holder and a very strong local contingent of Dowdle, O’Carroll himself
and Martin Daykin. All sixteen runners still on the track after 24 hours
covered over 100 miles, with Pickard 2nd at over157 miles and O’Carroll 3rd at
over 140 miles.
Two women also beat
the previous world best distance with British woman Lyn Fitzgerald finishing in
5th place to establish a new Women’s World Record of 133 miles 939 yards
(214.902 kms) – another outstanding achievement in the days when women running
long distance was still not accepted by many and indeed they were laughed at by
some of the men as they lined up at the start; but they were soon to be
laughing out of the other side of their faces!
Roll forward 31 years to 2013 and the track being
refurbished and reopened by Princess Anne as the Blackbridge Jubilee Track
inspired Pam Storey, a long-time Gloucester Athletic Club member and a
well-known devotee of long distance racing as a much respected organiser of
events such as the 2013 British Ultra Fest at Radley in Oxford and the Crawley
6 Hours and 12 Hours ultra marathons, to propose holding a tribute 24 hour race
on the track to celebrate Dave Dowdle’s world best achievement – and which
still is the British 24 hour record.
The Gloucester 24 Hour Track Race was born. Billed by Pam
(who of course took on the Race Director role, but ably supported by
Co-Director Abichal Sherrington) as an opportunity for novices and experienced
runners alike to become a part of local running history by competing in an
event that has not been held for many years, the weekend of Saturday and Sunday
14th and 15th June 2014 was agreed as the date.
The search was soon on for sponsors to help meet the costs
of promotion over and above expected entry fees from a field limit of 50
runners. Gloucester AC agreed to be the hosting club again and a brand new race
logo was designed by fellow long distanced runner Mark Howlett.
Introduction by Phillip Howells from the July 2014 race
report.
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2019 Race report By Paul Corderoy November 2019
Having run his first track race at the 2014 event and now
living in Gloucester, Paul Corderoy felt it was time to put the race back on
the calendar permanently. So in 2018 Paul
set up a 6 hour event at Grimley with his wife, Maria to put their organising
skills to a test. The event went well
and a new events company Severn Valley Events, was born. The Gloucester 24h 2014 race had been a hot
race, being held in the summer months so a decision was made to move the race
to a cooler time of year.
The Gloucester invitational 24 Hour Track Race was held
under UK Athletics Rules and obtained the Bronze Label of the IAU
(International Association of Ultrarunners) so that any records set or
international selection qualification distances recorded by competitors would
be officially recognised. A field of over 60 long distance runners from 14
nationalities eventually entered. With a starting field of 58.
Race briefing before the start
|
Amongst the starters was a Norwegian,
Simen Holvik who was looking for a qualifier into his national team. Also travelling from Spain was Eduardo L. Gomez
Velasco who had narrowly missed out on the team selection for the world
championships the week before. Several other entrants were hoping
to set records of their own and were looking qualifying times for other races. With
the Spartathlon auto qualifier being raised this year.
 |
| Dave Dowdle Cup |
In recognition of the historical
background to the race, the organisers were delighted that the British record
holder Dave Dowdle agreed to start the race on the Saturday and provided an
annual trophy in his honour, which would go to the top British finisher male or
female.
 |
| Dave Dowdle British 24 hour record holder |
 |
| Eduardo L. Gomez Velasco |
Dowdle’s British record was never in any danger. The leading British runner, Danny Hawkins,
coached by British 24 hour team runner, Wendy Shaw who was the youngest
participant at 24 years old, crossed 100 km in 3rd place rising to
second by the time he hit the 100 miles in a time of 15:41:40, a Spartathlon
auto qualifier. Behind Hawkins as the second place Brit was our oldest male participant
Ian Thomas. Thomas covered 100 miles in 18:31:36.
Hawkins finished the 24 hours with a distance of 210.380 winning the
Dave Dowdle cup
 |
| Hawkins winner of the Dave Dowdle cup |
After the
100km mark Holvik, coached by Sondre Amdahl, took the lead from Gomez Velasco and was never
in any danger. He ran a solid paced race
and passed through 100 miles in the lead and with a new Norwegian national record
of 14:06:28 beating the previous record by 17 minutes set in 2017. He continued
his relentless pace, showing a class all of his own. With 5 hours to go it looked
like he may break the Norwegian national 24 hour record. He eventually finished the 24 hours with
253.140 km only 4.5 km from the Norwegian record which is at 257,606 km
Holvik and his crew father
 |
| Mabelle with Race Director Corderoy and British 24 hour record holder Dowdl |
At the other end of the field there were some gutsy
performances. Some of the athletes
struggled with injuries and stomach issues.
All regular problems for the endurance runner, however many stayed on
the track and battled it out for the 24 hours.
The determination to continue is always inspiring, especially when
people miss their goals but don’t quit! With a determined march that is fast becoming her trademark, Roz
Glover was the final person to cross the 100 mile mark at 23:52:45 she moved up from 28th
place at 100km to 23rd to achieve the 100 miles in one day. Along with Fiona Davies our oldest
participant, 6 minutes in front. Moving from 27th to 22nd
over the night and Sunday morning, also reaching 100 miles. 6 runners left it
until the final hour to achieve 100 miles.
 |
| 100 miles belt buckle |
The prizes at the official presentation after the race were
handed out by Dave Dowdle with 23 runners achieving 100 miles and the coveted
100 miles in one day buckle. Three
runners surpassed 200 km including the winner Holvik, the youngest runner Hawkins
and the oldest male runner Thomas!
The organiser would like to thank referee Norman Wilson for
his hard work. Dave Dowdle for starting the race and helping with the awards presentation. Dave Cresswell for the PA and occasional music/commentary.
Gill, Sam, Nat, and Helen who gave up their free time to feed and water the
athletes. Arthur and Chris for help setting up and knocking down the event.
Men
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Women
|
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1st
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Simen Holvik
|
253.14
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Rebecca Mabelle
|
172.386
|
2nd
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Danny Hawkins
|
210.38
|
Rachel Ball
|
167.222
|
3rd
|
Ian Thomas
|
203.22
|
Iaciu Stefania-Gabriela
|
165.239
|
Full results and splits: http://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultevent.php?event=52554
In 2020 we are going to hold a 48 hour race as well as the 24 hour race. To express an interest please fill in the form found here: http://www.severnvalleyevents.co.uk/events/blackbridge.html
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