EMA BEST MASTERS AWARDS 2019 – Category Race Walks
Noel Blatchford (W70, GBR) and Ian Richards (M70, GBR)
Both awarded 2019 European Master‘s Athletes of the Year for Race Walks are British. Ian Richards was also revealed as EMA Male Best Master‘s “Overall”.
Noel Blatchford won gold this summer at EMAC in Italy in both the 10km and20km race walks events, 70-74 age group. „Find It Film“, a social enterprise, in collaboration between Alex Rotas and Danielle Sellwood writes: „We are super proud that Noel will feature in our Masters athletes doc that starts filming in January! You’ll get to find out more about this fascinating sport when we start filming.“ [#https://www.finditfilm.com]
Ian Richards currently holds two M70 track walk world records (3000m, 5000m). At EMAC in Veneto he felt in such good shape to break the world record in the 10km road race walk. Unfortunately the 10km course was shortened by about 600m (approx. 9.38km). Richards’ target time of 49:32 in the short road race walk would result in a time of less than 52 minutes when extrapolated to 10km. The world record 53:32 is held by Arthur Thomson, GBR.
Noel Blatchford (W70, Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
W70 European Champion EMAC 2019 Venice
Short road race walk, ca. 9.38 km (1h01:37)
20km road race walk (2h25:58)
Ian Richards (M70, Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
M70 World Record at WMACi Toruń/POL 2019
3000m track walk indoor (15:19.64) WR
M70 World Record (2018)
5000m track walk M70 (25:48.50, Birmingham 2018)
M70 World/European Champion 2019
3000m track walk indoor 15:19.64 (WR), WMACi Toruń, World Champion
5000m track walk (27:08.70), EMAC Venice, European Champion
Short road race walk (49:32, ca. 9.38 km), EMAC Venice, European Champion
20km road race walk (1h55:37), EMAC Venice, European Champion
Ian Richards (EMACNS 2018, Alicante, ©A.H), Noel Blatchford (short race walk EMAC 2019, © A.H)
A.H