in the dark about the merits of greased nipples, uphill training and nylon socks, then you may find some enlightenment here. We've asked experienced 'Parishers' to share some of their experience and wisdom(?). Remember though... what works for one, won't necessarily work for you. |
| BRENDA CHARLTON finisher 2001, walked approx. ten times in all. Top Tip - Make up your mind where you want to get to... and stick to it. Forget taking it 'one church at a time'. Best Bit of the Course - Jurby to Bride. Worst Bit - The bats at Lezayre Church! I also didn't like coming down onto Douglas Prom - it meant that the race was nearly over, and I'd enjoyed every minute. Parish's Best Feature- The superb organisation. And Another Thing - For a number of years I thought that I wasn't able to carry on past Peel, as I hadn't told the organisers that I might. |
| BARRY GILSENAN reached Peel in 2000 and 2001 Top Tip - Practice in all weathers. Make sure you have tested your kit in the rain. Oh, and don't forget the Vasaline of course. Best Bit of the Course - The Sloc. Worst Bit - The climb up past the Waterfall in Glen Maye. Parish's Best Feature - It's a great challenge. |
| RUTH SADLER Three starts. Top Tip - Do enough training. Practice on parts of the course. Ensure that you have a good support crew. Don't start too fast. Best Bit of the Course - Patrick to Peel (I always enjoy the end of races). Worst Bit - After Marown Church, the steep climb up the Glen Darragh Road. Parish's Best Feature - The atmosphere and the camaraderie between walkers. I recall someone stopping to give me Jelly Babies on the Sloc once (I know I shouldn't have taken sweets from a stranger, but I my blood-sugar was low)! And Another Thing - Some of my best Parish memories have been of supporting walkers - especially if they go on to finish. |
| RAY COX walked once - finisher 1994 Top Tip - The parish is a mental thing. Concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and try and forget about how far there is to go. Best Bit of the Course - Jurby to Bride - Ireland were playing Italy in the World Cup and they were one-nil up. I was listening on the radio and this section flew by. Worst Bit - From Lonan Church to Onchan. I was happy that I could finish, but physically I was in a bad way. Parish's Best Feature - It's a truely Manx event that the whole community is aware of. You can hold an 85 mile race anywhere, but the Parish is more than the distance. |
| CARYL ANSTEAD walked twice. Top Tip - Just get out and practise! Especially walking uphill. Best Bit of the Course - From the top of the Sloc to Glen Maye. Worst Bit - Two bad bits... the climb up Ballakilowey and the top of the hill at Glen Maye - it's very tempting to turn right and nip home! Parish's Best Feature - The unique atmosphere and the sense of achievement. Could it be Better? Traffic is becoming a real problem. Last year, at one church, the road was blocked with cars and walkers had to climb up on the hedge to get past. I don't really see the need to have vehicles following each walker in the early stages. |
| BRIDGET KANEEN reached Peel four times (second fastest overall in 2001) Top Tip - Buy the right shoes, wear nylon (not cotton) socks and put Vaseline on your feet. It feels a bit squelchy between your toes for a while, but does prevent blisters. Best Bit of the Course - Doarlish Cashen to Glen Maye - spectacular views. Worst Bit - From Ballabeg to Rushen. Parish's Best Feature - The contrasts. Hustle and bustle at the start to the sometimes eerie solitude of the night shift. Could it be Better? Champion Chip timimg system could help the organisers as the entry increases. |
| STEVE GARDENER walked twelve times. Finished ten times. Winner (and only finisher) in 1977. Top Tip - Make sure you enjoy it. Potter round to Port jack Chippy, glance over at the War Memorial and I guarantee a better 'high' than any drugs can offer. (Steve was walking during the 'hazy' days of the early 70's, remember). Best Bit of the Course - Douglas Promenade. Worst Bit - Two worst stretches for me - Jurby to Bride and Maughold up to the Hibernia. Parish's Best Feature - The challenge that it provides to all types of local people - right on their doorstep. Could it be Better? With the numbers now involved, I think that the organisers are doing very well. And Another Thing - Although Steve hasn't walked in the Parish since '92, his daughter had said that she's going to do it when she's 18, and he'll have to walk with her to show her the way round. Six years to go... |
| SIMON COX walked eight times. Finished three times. Top Tip - Build up your training gradually. Make sure that you ease off the training in the two weeks leading up to the Parish. Best Bit of the Course - Once you are past Maughold, it's all great. Worst Bit - Jurby to Bride is always a slog. Parish's Best Feature - It brings people of all backgrounds and sporting abilities together in a spirit of friendship . Could it be Better? The section from Sulby Bridge into Ramsey is dangerous. It's very dark and the cars (especially taxis) drive so fast. I'm not sure what can be done to alter it though. |
| ALLAN CALLOW walked to Peel many times, but on his one attempt, finished in 1982 Top Tip - Practise and talk to someone who has done it. Best Bit of the Course - Into Glen Maye. The worst bit is over. Worst Bit - From the Round Table down to Glen Maye - I hate the downhill. Parish's Best Feature - the fact that everyone, regardless of their standard, is in the same boat. Could it be Better? No, not really. However, it is vital not to lose the 'anyone can take part' ethos and I feel that the organisers should endeavour to protect the Parish from any change that may endanger this. |
| DEREK HARRISON walked 13 times. Seven finishes. Five wins. OUTRIGHT COURSE RECORD_HOLDER Top Tip - There is no substitute for time on your feet. It is not enough to simply be fit. Best Bit of the Course - Haven't really got a best bit. Worst Bit - Maughold to Ballajora. Parish's Best Feature - Not too sure. Whatever it is, it's certainly captured the public's imagination! Could it be Better? I don't think so. And Another Thing - When I asked about his pre-race plans for the race in 1979 (when he set the record time), Derek said that he 'just went along at a comfortable pace', adding that 'I was quite fast in them days you know'. |
| GORDON VALE walked once. Winner in 1990. Top Tip - Always aim at the Church beyond the one that you are approaching. Best Bit of the Course - Ballajora. I was living in Laxey at the time, and did a lot of training around there, so once up Ballajora, I felt that I was heading for home. Worst Bit - Jurby to Bride. I'm sure that I passed the '3 miles to Bride' post three times. Parish's Best Feature - The atmosphere. Could it be Better? No, not really. |
| MARTIN LAMBDEN walked three times. Winner in 1988. Top Tip - Have a time target. Set a schedule for when you want to reach each church and try to stick to it. Best Bit of the Course - Douglas Prom (of course), but also the drop down into Dalby. Worst Bit - From Ballajora to the Hibernia. Parish's Best Feature - The atmosphere and the cameraderie. |
| SUE PARTINGTON ten starts. Reached Jurby in 2001. Top Tip - Walk your own race. Don't get sucked along at someone else's pace - especially at the start. Best Bit of the Course - The start. Worst Bit - the point that occurs in each Parish where I feel like sh*t. Parish's Best Feature - The atmosphere and the mutual encouragement of competitors and supporters. Could it be Better? No, it's perfect. |
| STEVE BRENNAN walked once. Finished in 1986. Top Tip - If you are serious about finishing, don't get carried away at the start. Minutes you gain (at considerable effort) in the early stages will inevitably be lost during one of the lengthy pit stops you have to take later. Have understanding, sympathetic and committed support. Walk with someone of your own pace. Best Bit of the Course - The walk down from Port Jack. You can see the thing that has consumed your thoughts (in my case) for the last 23.5 hours - the finish! Worst Bit - Leaving Peel and the carnival atmosphere. Loads of people watching and shouting, many finishing therefore making the trek up to Kirk Michael very lonely and isolating for those who carry on. Parish's Best Feature - The organisation and support is getting better each year. It is a very professional event and is now a national institution on the Island. Who hasn't had a go at the Parish? Could it be Better? Difficult to criticise - I haven't raced it since'86. |
| STEVE TAYLOR walked once. Finisher in 1986. Top Tip - Walk walk walk - or is that three pieces of advice? Best Bit of the Course - The finish. Difficult to describe how I felt - I was nearly crying but I was so happy. Worst Bit - Jurby to Bride - if it wasn't for Brenny walking with me I'd have jacked in. Parish's Best Feature - Anyone can do it, and you even get a certificate if you don't finish! Could it be Better? I belive that it has improved since I competed and yes there is more to come, bigger and better. And Another Thing - Having finished in '86, Steve happily announced 'never again'. However, that was before Ralph Martin eclipsed his time... Surely he'll be back? |
| MARK STEWART walked three times. Reached Kirk Michael in 1999. Top Tip - Don't get sucked in and try to go quick early on. On my first Parish Walk I was knackered before Malew and packed in at Rushen! Best Bit of the Course - Rushen to Peel. Worst Bit - Peel to Kirk Michael. Parish's Best Feature - the amount of time the organisers put in before, during and after the event, which I don't think most people appreciate. Also the change of start venue, although enforced. What a sight it was last year! Could it be Better? I can't think of any improvements... apart from peoples' back up need a kick up the arse sometimes. |
| DAVID GRIFFITHS walked seven times. Finisher in 2000. Top Tip - Make sure that your shoes (and clothing) are comfortable and get used to wearing them well in advance of the event. Then, just enjoy every moment of the event! Best Bit of the Course - When I'm plodding (as opposed to racing) - the Sloc. Great scenery and an exciting part of the walk. But for sheer atmosphere, the couple of laps round the NSC at the start with hundreds of walkers all together is brilliant! Worst Bit - The stretch from Jurby to Bride - it's endless. And it also coincides with nightfall which is psychologically difficult. Parish's Best Feature - The camaraderie and fun amongst both competitors and spectators - and the huge amounts of money which are raised for charity every year. The majority are in it for an enjoyable day out and a wonderful sense of achievement. Could it be Better? The main complaint I hear, is the absence of proper toilet facilities on the course. I think this is something that has to be addressed by the organisers. |
| GRAHAM YOUNG walked three times. Winner in 1971 & 1992, 2nd in 1965 Top Tip - Get a decent pair of shoes. 'A good pair of shoes will look after a poor pair of feet, but a poor pair of shoes will ruin a good pair of feet'. Best Bit of the Course - Port Jack. Worst Bit - Ballajora hill after Maughold. Parish's Best Feature - The cameraderie and the tradition. A reason for it's sucess is that the route passes close to virtually all the homes on the Island. Could it be Better? No. The Parish is progressing nicely. The organisers have an open mind and will adapt the event as and when needed. And Another Thing - Graham's 1971 win was in the closest ever Parish Walk. His winning margin over Derek Harrisonwas was less than a minute. |
| PETER KANEEN walked five times. Winner in 2000. Top Tip - Share a tub of Vaseline with your best friend at the start, making sure they don't miss any vital bits. As any half decent mechanic will tell you 'Make sure your nipples are well greased'. Best Bit of the Course - Port Jack to the finish. Worst Bit - Don't have a worst bit. Parish's Best Feature - The atmosphere at the start. Like any big event there is a real buzz of excitement. Could it be Better? A big finish gantry with a timing clock aloft and maybe some lights. It would give the walkers something to aim for - especially in the dark. |
| MAUREEN COX walked twelve times. Finished in 1991. Top Tip - Train. Eat and drink while walking - to see what your stomach can handle. Best Bit of the Course - From the Round Table to Peel - especially on a sunny afternoon. Worst Bit - Ramsey. It's always nightime, dark and scary. Parish's Best Feature - The amazing cameraderie. Everyone is willing you to keep going. Could it be Better? There is so much traffic - especially early on. It would be great if there could be more roads made one-way. The loop down to Rushen Church is always bad. If there were drink stations every five miles or so, walkers wouldn't need as much support (from cars). |
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