Beryl Randle | |
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Born | 16 December 1928 |
Died | 28 November 2023 | (aged 94)
Nationality | English |
Organizations | |
Known for |
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Beryl Randle (16 December 1928 – 28 November 2023) was a British race walker and an athletics administrator. [1] [2] [3] She raced for Birchfield Harriers.
Randle took up competitive walking in 1946, after coming last in a 100-metre sprint, [1] and was coached by Doris Nelson Neal. [4] To train, she would walk from her home in Walsall to her workplace in Digbeth, Birmingham, and back - 18 miles (29 km) each day. [3]
On 29 May 1954, she broke the world record for the one-mile walk, with a time of 7 minutes 49 seconds. [4] On 19 June 1954, she shaved over ten seconds from her own record, at the White City Stadium, with a time of 7 minutes 38.4 seconds. [4] In doing so, she became the Women's Amateur Athletic Association Champion. [3] She was honoured for this achievement with a brooch depicting the stag logo of Birchfield Harriers in solid gold, commissioned by G.H. Alexander, then president of the club. [4] She later said: [4]
I remember finishing the walk with a last gasp supreme effort. I had no idea I was going to break the world record because Nelson our coach was the sort of person who would not give away any times in training which meant that I had no idea what sort of shape that I was in that day... I just went for it from the start.
Randle was a six-time Midland mile track champion, four-time British mile track champion, and three-time Midland road-walking champion. [3]
After winning £1,000 for coming in second in a 1960 John O'Groats– Land's End walk sponsored by Billy Butlin – she lost the lead to Wendy Lewis after twisting her ankle – she had to relinquish her amateur status, though it was later restored, and she resumed competing. [1] [3] During the 1980s, she coached Birchfield Harriers' girls' teams. [1]
At the age of 71, she broke the over-70s age group world record for the 3000-metres walk. [1]
Randle was Honorary General Secretary of the Race Walking Association from 1988 to 1991, and its president from 1996 to 1998. [5] She was subsequently made an Honorary Life Member, [5] and was given their lifetime achievement award in 2014. [1]
In 2009, she was elected President of the Midland Counties Athletics Association. [6]
Randle died on 28 November 2023, at the age of 94. [7]
Beryl Randle | |
---|---|
Born | 16 December 1928 |
Died | 28 November 2023 | (aged 94)
Nationality | English |
Organizations | |
Known for |
|
Beryl Randle (16 December 1928 – 28 November 2023) was a British race walker and an athletics administrator. [1] [2] [3] She raced for Birchfield Harriers.
Randle took up competitive walking in 1946, after coming last in a 100-metre sprint, [1] and was coached by Doris Nelson Neal. [4] To train, she would walk from her home in Walsall to her workplace in Digbeth, Birmingham, and back - 18 miles (29 km) each day. [3]
On 29 May 1954, she broke the world record for the one-mile walk, with a time of 7 minutes 49 seconds. [4] On 19 June 1954, she shaved over ten seconds from her own record, at the White City Stadium, with a time of 7 minutes 38.4 seconds. [4] In doing so, she became the Women's Amateur Athletic Association Champion. [3] She was honoured for this achievement with a brooch depicting the stag logo of Birchfield Harriers in solid gold, commissioned by G.H. Alexander, then president of the club. [4] She later said: [4]
I remember finishing the walk with a last gasp supreme effort. I had no idea I was going to break the world record because Nelson our coach was the sort of person who would not give away any times in training which meant that I had no idea what sort of shape that I was in that day... I just went for it from the start.
Randle was a six-time Midland mile track champion, four-time British mile track champion, and three-time Midland road-walking champion. [3]
After winning £1,000 for coming in second in a 1960 John O'Groats– Land's End walk sponsored by Billy Butlin – she lost the lead to Wendy Lewis after twisting her ankle – she had to relinquish her amateur status, though it was later restored, and she resumed competing. [1] [3] During the 1980s, she coached Birchfield Harriers' girls' teams. [1]
At the age of 71, she broke the over-70s age group world record for the 3000-metres walk. [1]
Randle was Honorary General Secretary of the Race Walking Association from 1988 to 1991, and its president from 1996 to 1998. [5] She was subsequently made an Honorary Life Member, [5] and was given their lifetime achievement award in 2014. [1]
In 2009, she was elected President of the Midland Counties Athletics Association. [6]
Randle died on 28 November 2023, at the age of 94. [7]