This event was a combined run/walk event with the Australian Centurions joining with the Coburg Harriers as co-hosts. A record 53 starters fronted the line with competitors split across the following divisions  

The carnival started at 10AM on Saturday morning in overcast cool conditions. The sun broke through after several hours but was never too debilitating with the day recording a maximum temperature of 19 degrees C. A cold still night was followed by a sunny Sunday morning as the 24 hour competitors closed in on their various individual targets.

Three walkers completed in excess of 100 miles and we welcomed one new Australian Centurion into our elite club.

English legend Jill Green, C38,  was the first to reach the 100 mile mark in an excellent 22 hours and 59 minutes and was the overall winner with 165.996 km. Jill, who is already an Australian Centurion (1999 – C38), competed with a torn hamstring but this did not seem to slow her as she led the whole way. Jill is one of only 2 people who have all 6 Centurion badges and she has completed over 50 100 mile walks during her illustrious career.

Geoff Hain, C49, who had previously completed the 100 mile distance in October 2004 in Adelaide, completed his second Australian qualifier and improved on his previous time with 23 hours and 25 minutes.

The third centurion finisher was 34 year old South Australian runner David Billett. In this same event last year, David completed 163.8 km in the 24 hour run. This year, he entered as a walker and recorded a very similar distance – 161.887 km. Along the way, he passed the 100 mile mark in 23:52:27 to become Australian Centurion Number 50. 

David becomes the 10th ultra distance athlete who has separately run and walked the 100 mile distance within 24 hours. Others are  Claude Martin, Jim Turnbull, George Audley, Stan Miskin, Yiannis Kouros, Sandra Brown, Carol Baird, Lyn Lewis and Geoff Hain.

David was behind the required schedule at the 18 hour mark and had to dig deep during the final stages of the event to bring himself back into contention. The final outcome was a fitting reward for his efforts and it won him the Jack Webber Trophy which is awarded annually to the best Centurion performance of the meet.

This year, we hosted the inaugural Racewalking Australia 100 km Australian Walking Championships for men and women. We hope this will continue as an annual event.

24 HOUR WALK MEN  

24 HOUR WALK WOMEN 

12 HOUR WALK MEN  

6 HOUR WALK MEN

6 HOUR WALK WOMEN

AUSTRALIAN 100 KM CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MEN

AUSTRALIAN 100KM CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN

CENTURION WALK QUALIFIERS

JACK WEBBER MEMORIAL TROPHY
Was awarded to David Billett  for the most meritorious Centurion performance on the day

AUSTRALIAN 24 HOUR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP, ADELAIDE, 15-16 OCTOBER 2005

The annual Sri Shinmoy 24 Hour Track championship was held at Santos Stadium in Adelaide on 15-16 October 2005 and Deryck Skinner was amongst the starters.

Deryck had walked in the 12 Hour event there last year and had set new Australian M70 walking records for 50 miles (11:15:30) and 12 hours (85.580 km). He recently approached me to advise that this year he would be attempting the 24 hour walk this year and, with a number of our Centurions (Geoff Peters, Carol Baird, David Billett, Stan Miskin and Tim Thompson) available to judge his performance, I gave the official go-ahead.

I am now very excited to officially announce that Deryck has become Australian Centurion number 51 with a superb 100 mile time of 22:39:55. His significant splits were as follows

It was a real record breaking spree for Deryck - new Australian M70 walking records at 50 miles, 12 Hours, 100 km, 100 miles and 24 Hours and new Australian M70 running records for 100 km, 100 miles and 24 Hours (even though he was walking!). His 100 miles and 24 Hour records are probably M70 World Walking bests for track and he becomes the first Australian male in that age group to cover 100 miles either running or walking. We think he also became the oldest ever Centurion Walker on Debut. If so, this will put Australia on top of the tree as we will then have the youngest debutante (Bill Dyer - 16 years) and the oldest debutante (Deryck at 72 years and 10 months). Deryck was born 27 November 1932. Hence he was only just short of his 73rd birthday when qualifying as a Centurion!

His record breaking performance was one of a number in the race - other record breakers included

- Peter Lahiff who set 50 Miles and 12 Hours Australian Records as a runner in the 70-74 Age group.
- Shirley Young who set W75 Australian Age Records for 50km and 6 Hours. These may also be World records.
- Carol Baird (C 39) who bettered her own W55 Australian 24 Hour running record by 5 km with a fantastic distance of 194.945km.
 
Full results, photos and race reports may be viewed at http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/au/events/24hour/

The results for the 24 Hour competitors were as follows

Deryck was one of 4 Centurions in action. Carol Baird (C 39) came second overall with a PB run distance of 194.945 km, David Billett (C 50) improved on his best 24 hour run distance to come third overall with a good 172.747 km and Stan Miskin (C 23) completed yet another 24 hour walk with 101.703 km. Stan is now over 80 and not 100% well but it takes a lot to keep him off the track!

Amazingly, Deryck was a bit disappointed with the second half of his walk and he vows to be back next year to try again (wow!). His preparation for this year's race was very thorough and he clocked thousands of kilometres along the way. His longest training session was a 21½ hour stroll 3 weeks before the event. On that occasion, he covered 135 km, winding around Adelaide along the marathon course and along the beach front.

His time of 22:39:55 makes him the fastest South Australian Centurion, beating the times of Jack Webber, Tim Thompson, Geoff Peters and David Billett. He is now the fifth person from that State to join our elite company.

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