NICK BALL shattered the all-comers’ record in the Sarnia Walking Club’s 3,000m road race held over two laps of a course at Les Amarreurs. In a field swelled to 21 by those using it as a warm-up for the Church to Church two days later, Ball’s even-paced walk brought him a new personal best of 12min. 13sec., which broke Rob Elliott’s previous Guernsey standard set in 1983.

The record came 20 years almost to the day since Ball’s father, Jim, broke Elliott’s 5,000m all-comers’ road record.

Andy Penn, the other class act in the field, finished close behind in 12-31.

Third place went to Trevor Jones, who outlasted the first local walker home, Mark Elliott, in a time of just over 14 minutes.

The next eight walkers were covered by only 35 seconds in a mid-race battle, with Stuart Le Noury edging out Chris Ball by four seconds. Both were rewarded with personal bests.

Ron Powell set a new men’s over-70 all-comers’ record further down the field with 18-01, finishing just ahead of Jenny Elliott.

Other all-comers’ age bests were recorded by Ball, Penn, Jones, Terry Bates and Ed Shillabeer, with Bates and Rose Druckes setting new island standards.