mickjj Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Do any of you remember the Star Walk? it used to be held every Whitsuntide Tuesday. It started at West Bar went down to Hillsborough, up Halifax Road, down Whitley Lane to Ecclesfield, up Barnsley Road to Sheffield Lane Top then back down to finish at Owlerton Stadium. A bunch of mates and I did it in the early Seventies, it was knackering but you got a pie, a pint and a certificate for your trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheffield History Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 As a kid it's one of the strangest sites watching people running like they've smashed their hips in. Like an old movie playing too fast.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nosy nellie Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 :P nosy nellie Do any of you remember the Star Walk? it used to be held every Whitsuntide Tuesday. It started at West Bar went down to Hillsborough, up Halifax Road, down Whitley Lane to Ecclesfield, up Barnsley Road to Sheffield Lane Top then back down to finish at Owlerton Stadium. A bunch of mates and I did it in the early Seventies, it was knackering but you got a pie, a pint and a certificate for your trouble. i think i remember the star walk originally starting outside the star building in town that was the mens start and the women started at leppings lane. i entered it twice in the eighties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dex Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Do they still do the Sheffield Star Walk? I can remember being part of it in the late 70`s . I seem to recall my best time was two hours twenty minutes. I can remember doing it one year and the weather was really hot and there was an old fellow at the bottom of Barnsley Road who had his hose pipe on spraying every walker just as they were about to tackle that murderous hill up to Sheffield Lane Top. Thank You that man. AHH the good old days. I know I have a photo in Hillsborough Park just after I finished it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syrup Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Do any of you remember the Star Walk? it used to be held every Whitsuntide Tuesday. It started at West Bar went down to Hillsborough, up Halifax Road, down Whitley Lane to Ecclesfield, up Barnsley Road to Sheffield Lane Top then back down to finish at Owlerton Stadium. A bunch of mates and I did it in the early Seventies, it was knackering but you got a pie, a pint and a certificate for your trouble. Hi mickjj Had a Google and found this, http://www.thestar.co.uk/memories/Swansong...Walk.3719347.jp Every One A Winner Little did I know as I lined up that day That this was the last Star Walk As we were sent on our way. Twenty-five times in The Star Walk It's been a part of me, A wonderful spectacle for all to see. Start at The Star and down High Street we go, Keep your back straight, don't forget to heel and toe, Infirmary Road on to Middlewood Road. A few miles into the race, Trying so hard to keep up with the pace. On to Leppings Lane Past Wednesday's ground with a new Burst of energy you've suddenly found. Halifax Road and we are going flat out uphill But the leaders have gone past as if We were standing still. Turn at the Norfolk Arms and down Whiteley Lane we go Keep the tempo high, can't afford to go slow. Church Street at Ecclesfield we are now at eight mile Keep going, keep going, never mind the style. The great crowds in Ecclesfield Cheering all the walkers on Even though the leaders have long since gone. On we go now we've got to get this right As the dreaded Barnsley Road hill comes into sight. With lungs bursting as you go over the top No time to catch your breath or to stop. Longley Lane, Herries Drive, you are going well How will you finish? Only time will tell. Herries Road, Penistone Road turn into Hillsborough Park And you've tried so hard to make your mark. Onto the athletics track and your senses are reeling But you've finished The Star Walk, a wonderful feeling. John Burkhill (Super John, Sheffield's mad walker with the pram). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1SteelCity2Another Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 My family had a rich history in the Star Walk. Two of my great-Uncles won it, and one represented the UK at an Olympic level. His daughter, my second cousin, also won the ladies race. We always watched the walk go down Hillsborough, and occassionally nipped up to Lane Top, then back to the park for the finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickjj Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share Posted March 21, 2008 My family had a rich history in the Star Walk. Two of my great-Uncles won it, and one represented the UK at an Olympic level. His daughter, my second cousin, also won the ladies race. We always watched the walk go down Hillsborough, and occassionally nipped up to Lane Top, then back to the park for the finish. I never realised that the "Star Walk" was an Olympic event lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tsavo Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Think it's called the "Race Walk", (or something like that). This site may help. http://www.racewalk.com/PhotoStory200450KM...pics/Page01.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest howeyz Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 I used to love watching this race every year as a kid and for 4 years from 1987 i walked it.I managed to win a handicap prize in 1991 and was then barred from entering as that was the ruling.To make matters worse the winner the following year did it in a slower time than i managed. It's a real shame it doesn't happen any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I used to love watching this race every year as a kid and for 4 years from 1987 i walked it.I managed to win a handicap prize in 1991 and was then barred from entering as that was the ruling.To make matters worse the winner the following year did it in a slower time than i managed. It's a real shame it doesn't happen any more. I remember the days when the walk finished at the foot of Pitsmoor Road opposite the Corporation Street baths. Those were the days when people like Allen and Bill Allen, and Roland Hardy won the event, and in 1952 a guy called Bill Woodward won it in record time. I got to know Bill quite well. In later years he emigrated to Australia. Sadly, he died a few years ago. Allen and Roland Hardy, of course, progressed from the novices race that was the Star Walk and went on to represent Britain in the Olympics and other international events. Over the years there were some great characters involved in road walking, and Sheffield was one of the leading centres of the sport --with Sheffield United Walking Club one of the most respected organisations of its kind in the country. How sad that circumstances conspired to bring an end to the annual Star Walk, but what memories we older folk have of great Whit Tuesdays on the route! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukelele lady Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Does anyone reconize themselves on this picture or the year? It's at the junction of Halifax Road and Wilcox Road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Does anyone reconize themselves on this picture or the year? It's at the junction of Halifax Road and Wilcox Road. Here's a drawing of ROLAND HARDY, a Star Walk winner just after the war. He went on to gain international fame. Anybody know what happened to him in later years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukelele lady Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 More pictures of the star walk, date unknown. It could be you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 More pictures of the star walk, date unknown. It could be you. Bill Woodward won the Star Walk in 1952. He later emigrated to Australia. Sadly, he died a few years ago, but his wife Brenda is still going strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antony5378 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Roland Hardy is my Grandad, he still lives in chesterfield in newbold. His only mode of transport is still his feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveHB Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Roland Hardy is my Grandad, he still lives in chesterfield in newbold. His only mode of transport is still his feet. Hi and welcome antony5378, there is an article about Star Walk winner Roland Hardy here .. peakdistrictonline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Roland Hardy is my Grandad, he still lives in chesterfield in newbold. His only mode of transport is still his feet. Hope the old boy is keeping well. I am sure he will have a lot of memories of his heyday as a race walker and of some of his old colleagues from Sheffield United WC. You ought to chat to him, and put some of his recollections on this site for us to read about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Roland Hardy is my Grandad, he still lives in chesterfield in newbold. His only mode of transport is still his feet. You might like to show Roland this --although he may already have a copy of the original Heap cartoon of the 1949 Star Walk from The Star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ray Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Hi Antony, I remember Roland very well and hope you will pass on my regards.I was in the Star Walk when I was only 15,(should have been 16 but I couldn't wait another year) and received the 2nd Handycap prize,Les Radford won the race 1950.I carried on walking with Sheffield United H and AC and won several junior championship in the next few years. Roland won the Starwalk in 1949 and went to the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. Allen another Starwalk winner also went to the 1952 Olympics. Albert Johnson came third to Roland in the 1949 Star walk. He represented GB inthe 1956 and 1960 Olympics and was also a carrier of the Olympic Torch in the 2000 Games. Roland also broke the British allcomers record for the twenty miles race in Sheffield in 1956 or 7 The race was two laps starting at Wednesday Ground to Morehall Reservoir and back. Ray Colley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Canny Street Kid Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Do any of you remember the Star Walk? it used to be held every Whitsuntide Tuesday. It started at West Bar went down to Hillsborough, up Halifax Road, down Whitley Lane to Ecclesfield, up Barnsley Road to Sheffield Lane Top then back down to finish at Owlerton Stadium. A bunch of mates and I did it in the early Seventies, it was knackering but you got a pie, a pint and a certificate for your trouble. This is worth repeating here, I think. From the Sheffield Telegraph, May 1964. The man who won the first Star Walk in 1922 is writing a history of the competition in his spare time. Watchman Harry Hoyle, of Shepperson Road, Middlewood, Sheffield, is still collecting data and photographs, but the pen work has already begun. Comparing yesterday’s Whit Tuesday event with the walk of 42 years ago, Mr Hoyle said the roads were rougher and tougher the year he won. “But, then, I didn’t have to put up with all this traffic the modern lads have to face,†he said. Proudly displaying the gold medal he won in 1922, he said that his father, John T. Hoyle, won the sealed handicap prize in the same race. (Footnote: 45 years later, one wonders whether the history was ever completed, and, if so, what happened to it.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jamescooke Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 My family had a rich history in the Star Walk. Two of my great-Uncles won it, and one represented the UK at an Olympic level. His daughter, my second cousin, also won the ladies race. We always watched the walk go down Hillsborough, and occassionally nipped up to Lane Top, then back to the park for the finish. My father Harry Cooke competed in it several times, in later years he used to pilot the race on his bike. He was a member of Sheffield United Harriers at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukelele lady Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 You might like to show Roland this --although he may already have a copy of the original Heap cartoon of the 1949 Star Walk from The Star. I've not seen this cartoon drawing before but I do have a picture of George Harry Edge who came second it that year. This was my grandads cousin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THYLACINE Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Do any of you remember the Star Walk? it used to be held every Whitsuntide Tuesday. It started at West Bar went down to Hillsborough, up Halifax Road, down Whitley Lane to Ecclesfield, up Barnsley Road to Sheffield Lane Top then back down to finish at Owlerton Stadium. A bunch of mates and I did it in the early Seventies, it was knackering but you got a pie, a pint and a certificate for your trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worthatron Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 i have a pic of the star walk somewhere from the 50's or 60's. It has my nanan and her dad amongst the spectators Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukelele lady Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 i have a pic of the star walk somewhere from the 50's or 60's. It has my nanan and her dad amongst the spectators Hi worthatron Is there any chance we could see the picture? It would be nice to view one from the sixties , saying that I think I've got one. I will have a search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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