DOUG FOTHERINHAM now 78 years old won the M75 3000m walk in the British Masters Championships in Alexander Stadium, on the 5th of July 2008 in 19:39:89.

That may not sound startling for a man who has won World, European and National Masters titles since becoming a veteran but the performance has some weight when you hear him talk "That was only half a minute slower than last year.

I pulled out of doing the European Masters Championships this year as I was not very fit. I had pain and have pain now through arthritis in my knee'

He added ' 20 years ago I had plastic cups put into my shoes because my heels were spreading and will soon have to have new ones because they are spreading more. You see I am too old to have an operation'

His enthusiasm for race walking has never really diminished. 'Personally I don't think I would be here today if I had not continued race walking. My family are not long livers. My Father died at 60. If I had not done walking over all those years I don't think I would be here honestly!'

When did it all begin for Doug Fotheringham. 'I joined the Police in London in 1950. My Sergeant was a Police walking Champion. He said 'Young lad you can do a bit of race walking, which got me going. When he retired I made a special request that he would be presented with a special medal, especially as he encouraged me to start race walking.'

   Doug Fotherinhgam was not really able to train much for race walking because of work. In fact he used the races, which could be two in a week, as training in themselves.

It was when he became a veteran the heavens opened for him and as he found he could do well at Masters athletics, he started to train hard for the events and rewards came thick and fast. One of his latest high achievements was as an M75 and at the time of his twenty fifth wedding anniversary in 2005, he won the M75 5k title 30:47:25 and the 20k title in 2:17:37:00.

       Most athletes would identify with his summing up about competing in Championship races. 

                                 "I don't enjoy doing it but I enjoy having done it"