88th Enfield Open Seven Miles also incorporating SVAC championships

Saturday 8th November 2014 at 1pm Lee Valley Athletic Centre – 61 Meridian Way - Pickets Lock - N9 OAS

Newcomers Novices 3.756km/7.512km First three Individual (Women/Men), First 4 Teams (mixed 4 to score)

Bob Clark Young Walker Award - Lol Dordoy Prize2013 Winners:Grazina Narvilene 60.17 – Callum Wilkinson 57.46 – Team (4 to score mixed): Ilford AC

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The Enfield Open Seven is the only surviving race of the famous London Open Seven series; Highgate, Enfield, Belgrave, Cambridge and Metropolitan Police. They were spaced between the end of October and mid- January annually and regularly brought together the finest walkers of the time. Belgrave and Enfield had their inaugural races in 1920, Cambridge’s first open was in 1923 and for the first three years over 10 miles, whilst Highgate joined the series in 1933 and the Met in 1942.

The courses used were legendary and not all that accurate, but they were part of the challenge that walkers relished. The Belgrave took in a couple of circuits of Wimbledon Common and was acknowledged as a little over distance, the Met Police’s flat Imber Court circuit always produced fast times and Highgate’s start up the long West Hill and onto the North Circular road was renowned for sorting out the field. The Cambridge venue was at Eltham over two testing laps with an uphill finish and Enfield’s seven involved a climb to the Ridgeway and then along it as far as water-tower and back.

Changes in society, changes in the walking definition and the risks connected with road walks all contributed not only to the demise of these races, but the numbers taking part.

A warm invitation is extended to athletes of all ages and abilities along with supporters of race walking to come along to the 88th Enfield Open Seven at Lee Valley, on 8th November and be part of history, as well as ensuring that the history continues.

Borough of Enfield Harriers 7 miles Open Road Walk 1974

Carl Lawton c740 winner in 1974Who will be starting the race and

Presenting the prizes

Much of the documentation used in this sheet is by coutesy of The Race Walking Record

Enfield Open History years 1984, 1994 and 2004Enfield Open 1984 Helen Elleker & Mick Greasley 1994 Vicky Lupton & Tim Watt

Gill Pollinger leads Peter Ryan Sarah Foster