Parish Walk
Introduction Parish Walk on 2006.The '''Parish Walk''' (sponsored by Manx Telecom since 2012, previously known as the Clerical Medical Parish Walk until 2009, then Scottish Widows Parish walk up to 2011) 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 on the island.The Parish Walk is so called because the route passes through all of the island's seventeen parishes, covering a total distance of . Originally, walkers had to touch the door of each of the seventeen parish churches, which are all still visited 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. The entry fee for the 2018 race was quoted at £40 or less dependent on discounts.
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. The outbreak of war interrupted the event, and it was revived in 1923.
Fundraising It is believed that the Parish Walk may be the largest annual fundraising event in the island. However, as each participant is left to raise money themselves and for a charity of their own choice, no figures have ever been compiled. Participation involves a chargeable entry fee.
Course The Parish Walk starts at 8am at the National Sports Centre in Douglas. From the start line of the athletics track, competitors must complete one lap of the 400 metre track before leaving through the Marathon gates, negotiating the TT Access Road before doubling back to the first of the Parish Churches (Braddan), proceeding 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  Men's Winner  Time  Women's  Winner Time  Overall Position 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    1966    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 Jill Green   20:29:08  7th 1996  Lee Cain  17:26:29 Winnie Callister   22:59:02  17th 1997  Chris Flint  17:36:40 Jill Green   18:39:57  4th 1998  Richard Brown  15:59:44 Sandra Brown   16:16:36  2nd 1999  Chris Flint  17:07:46 Karen Marie Brogger   17:48:40  2nd 2000  Peter Kaneen  16:59:54 Karen Marie Brogger   18:04:35  4th 2001  Robbie Callister  16:59:27 Rosemarie Crellin   20:04:54  15th 2002  Robbie Callister  16:34:30 Rosemarie Crellin   18:34:07  5th 2003  Peter Kaneen  15:26:07 Rosemarie Crellin   17:12:19  4th 2004  Robbie Callister  15:26:31 Sue Biggart   16:48:32  3rd 2005  Robbie Callister  15:24:24 Sue Biggart   16:53:54  3rd 2006  Sean Hands  14:47:36 Sue Biggart   16:23:14  4th 2007  Robbie Callister  15:36:47 Sue Biggart   16:49:46  7th 2008  Jock Waddington  15:44:43 Sue Biggart   16:42:09  5th 2009  Jock Waddington  15:45:56 Janice Quirk   15:58:35  2nd  2010  Jock Waddington  15:18:06 Susan Moore  17:44:13  12th  2011  Jock Waddington  15:01:48 Maureen Moffatt  18:19:21  16th  2012  Vinny Lynch/Richard Gerrard  14:42:32 Sue Biggart   17:03:53  8th  2013  Michael George  14:44:49 Janice Quirk  16:16:39  6th    2014  Richard Gerrard  15:15:20 Janette Morgan  16:48:14  6th   2015  Richard Gerrard  14:40:08 Janette Morgan  16:38:14  9th 2016  Richard Gerrard  15:31:43 Karen  Chiarello  16:00:03  3rd 2017  Liam Parker  15:36:59 Karen  Chiarello  15:53:44  2nd 2018  Greg Rotheram  15:25:09 Alex Johnston  17:37:17  12th 2019  Liam Parker  15:44:06  Emma Shilling  17:47:09  7th 2020    2021  Paul Atherton  15:23:41 Samantha Bowden  16:38:51 6th 2022  Paul Atherton  15:23:39 Samantha Bowden  17:20:26  2023  Dean Morgan  15:27:03 Lorna Gleave  17:27:31
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. This sponsorship ran up to and including the 2011 event. On 12 October 2011 the organisers announced that Manx Telecom would be taking over sponsorship. Manx Telecom had provided the on-line timing systems for previous years but the 2012 event was their first as title sponsors.
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.=== The mass race ===In 2017, the Mass Race was won by Liam Parker in hot conditions in a time of 15:36:59.At 26, Parker was the youngest winner for two decades. He was followed by Karen Chiarello in second place and Adam Killip was third overall and second man to complete the 85 mile course.=== Ladies race ===The Trophy for the Best Lady Finisher went to Karen Chiarello in 2017.She completed the 85 miles in a time of 15:53:44, placing her 2nd overall. She broke the women's course record (set in 2009 by Janice Quirk) by 4 minutes 51 seconds. The second woman to finish, Karen Lawrie was in 4th place overall.=== U21 race ===The event is open to anyone with an age of at least 18 and under 21 on the day of the race, and finishes at Peel (32.5 miles).The 2016 U21 winners were Alex Eaton (Men - 06:16:29) and Rebecca Greatbatch (Ladies - 06:58:40).=== 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 2016 the overall team winners were Organ Donation Isle of Man (Richard Gerrard 1st, David Walker 2nd, James Quirk 15th, Paul Clark 113th). Family with the hat on (Maureen Moffatt =98th,  June Melvin =98th, Jessica Hatton =98th, Rebecca Moffatt =98th) were the quickest of the ladies teams. The 2018 ladies winners were 4SW, made up of Jessica Kitchin , Nikki Taylor , Thenral Anand and Sharon Blackley.
References
External links * Google Map of the course* Parish Walk Information