Parish Walk

The Scottish Widows Parish Walk (previously known as the Clerical Medical Parish Walk until 2009) is a walking race that takes place on the Isle of Man each year usually on the weekend nearest to the Northern Summer solstice. It is the biggest walking event in the Isle of Man.

The Parish Walk is so called because the walk passes through every parish on the Isle of Man, a total distance of 85 miles (137 km). Originally, walkers had to touch the door of each of the seventeen parish churches, but nowadays electronic timing chips are worn. A time limit of 24 hours is given, and there are cut-off times for reaching each stage.

Only a small proportion of walkers are expected to complete the full distance each year. Walkers may drop out at any of the stages, which correspond to each parish, with an official time and distance.

History

The challenge was seeded by a Manx Sun newspaper article in 1852 entitled "A summer's day Journey" recording a journey taken by the then Coroner, John Cannel, who covered 90 miles in 15 hours on horseback. The following year he followed a similar route, only this time on foot, visiting each of the Island's 17 parishes.

It was not until 1913 that the event took its current form when the Parish Walking Match was organised by the Isle of Man Times and the Manx Sporting Club. Although the outbreak of war prevented a repeat of the event the following year, it was revived in 1923.

Fundraising

It is believed that the Parish Walk may be the largest annual fundraising event in the Isle of Man. However, as each participant is left to raise money themselves and for a charity of their own choice, no figures have ever been compiled. The organisers intend to try to assertain a rough figure for the first time in 2011. A section of the on-line application form has been set aside for participants to record the total amount of sponsorship raised along with the charities to benefit and are encouraged to update this after the walk.

The Course

The Parish Walk starts at 8am at the NSC in Douglas. Starting from the start line of the athletics track, competitors must complete 1 lap of the 400m track before leaving through the Marathon gates. They then proceed down the TT Access Road before doubling back to the first of the Parish Churches (Braddan). The churches are then visited in the following order;

• Braddan Church (2 miles)
• Marown Church (4.5 miles)
• Santon Church (11 miles)
• Malew Church (15 miles)
• Arbory Church (17 miles)
• Rushen Church (19 miles)
• Patrick Church (30.5 miles)
• St German's Church, Peel (32.5 miles)
• Kirk Michael Church (39 miles)
• Ballaugh Church (42 miles)
• Jurby Church (45 miles)
• Bride Church (52.5 miles)
• Andreas Church (55.5 miles)
• Lezayre Church (61.5 miles)
• Maughold Church (67 miles)
• Lonan Church (78.5 miles)
• Onchan Church (83 miles)
• Finish, Douglas (85 miles)

The finishing line is on Douglas promenade by the War Memorial at the bottom of Broadway.

Past Winners

Year	Name	Time
1960	Stan Cleator	19.50.30
1961	Henry Harvey	17.10.17
1962	Henry Harvey	16.25.40
1963	Joe Brown	17.04.09
1964	Henry Harvey	16.21.06
1965	No Race
1966	No Race
1967	Albert Johnson	15.54.51
1968	Leece Kneale	16.05.52
1969	Ian Hodgkinson	17.11.25
1970	Dudley Seddon	17.21.49
1971	Graham Young	15.43.12
1972	Derek Harrison	16.19.15
1973	Derek Harrison	16.36.04
1974	John Dowling	16.40.07
1975	Ted Warner	18.49.52
1976	John Cannell	17.28.12
1977	Steve Gardner	19.11.01
1978	Murray Lambden	16.19.37
1979	Derek Harrison	15.20.51
1980	Derek Harrison	16.13.10
1981	John Cannell	16.15.11
1982	John Cannell	15.59.33
1983	John Cannell	16.31.38
1984	Derek Harrison	16.10.17
1985	Willie Corkill	16.29.31
1986	Willie Corkill	17.03.45
1987	Willie Corkill	16.58.33
1988	Martin Lambden	17.12.01
1989	Charlie Weston	18.17.55
1990	Gordon Vale	17.55.10
1991	Charlie Weston	17.46.58
1992	Graham Young	16.38.27
1993	John Cannell	16.11.11
1994	John Cannell	16.13.46
1995	Brian Ashwell	16.37.47
1996	Lee Cain	17.26.29
1997	Chris Flint	17.36.40
1998	Richard Brown	15.59.44
1999	Chris Flint	17.07.46
2000	Peter Kaneen	16.59.54
2001	Robbie Callister	16.59.27
2002	Robbie Callister	16.34.30
2003	Peter Kaneen	15.26.07
2004	Robbie Callister	15.26.31
2005	Robbie Callister	15.24.24
2006	Sean Hands	14.47.36
2007	Robbie Callister	15.36.47
2008	Jock Waddington	15.44.43
2009	Jock Waddington	15.45.56
2010	Jock Waddington	15.18.06
2011	Jock Waddington	15.01.48

Sponsorship

Clerical Medical sponsored the event from 1990 to 2009, until the takeover of HBOS (which owned Clerical Medical) by Lloyds TSB (which owned Scottish Widows) to form the Lloyds Banking Group. As a result of the takeover the event was rebranded as the Scottish Widows Parish Walk.

Organisation

The Parish Walk is organised by Manx Harriers, the largest Athletics club in the Isle of Man. A sub-committee of the club organises the event.

Events

There are four main races within the Parish Walk - The Mass race, Ladies Race, Team Race and Under 21 Race.

Ladies Race

There is a Trophy awarded to the Best Lady Finisher which, in 2010, went to Susan Moore who completed the 85 miles in a time of 17.44.13 making her 12th overall.

U21 Race

The event is open to anyone over the age of 18. However, those under the age of 21 at the time of the race must finish at Peel (32.5 miles). The 2010 U21 winners were Charles Doyle (Men - 06.32.37) and Jenny Newbery (Ladies - 06.42.26).

Team Race

Teams may consist of up to four walkers but each team may only have two members who have previously completed the full 85 miles. The winning team is that with the highest total mileage. The total time is used as a tie-breaker should more than one team have the same total mileage. In 2010 the overall team winners were Oxygen Thieves (Richard Gerrard, Anthony Atkinson, Ronnie Kelly, Janette Morgan). Every Step Counts (Samantha Draper, Marie Gilbertson, Charlene McGarry, Gemma Collister) won the Ladies Team competition.

External links

• Google Map of the course