Dave Dorey

Dave, who was twice the Sarnia Walking Club Champion  (1983 1988), the second time sharing the honours with Kevin Le Noury, started race walking in the mid sixties, quickly establishing himself in the Sarnia Walking Club. He was a member of the SWC team in the prestigious “Garnet Cup” in 1967, helping the club to the team title.

Also that year he finished the tough 20 mile West Show walk in just outside 3 hours, followed later in the year with a 3rd place in the Church Walk.

Improvement came the following year showing long distance form when finishing 2nd to Paul Nihill in the Church beating the favoured Len Duquemin in the process. Losing out in the shorter events to Rob Waterman he stole the show in the 50 kms walk winning in under 5 hours, a title he went on to win 4 times.

Dave was a member of the Guernsey Commonwealth Games team in Edinburgh, Scotland for the 20 miles walk recording 3 hours 03 minutes 41 seconds for 16th place.

On return to Guernsey he strove for improvement walking in National Championships in England as well as locally, again coming 2nd in the Church to a visiting Duquemin with a personal best 2 hours 49.31 only one and a half minutes down on the winner.

Trying for a place in the team for the New Zealand Commonwealth Games Dave went to the English trial in the October of 1973, where he was the sole islander competing, although expecting others to be there.

Dorey said that didn’t effect him but onlookers thought otherwise as he finished 23rd and last in 3 hours 02 minutes 11 seconds to add to his “did not finish” in the earlier 20 miles National where he succumbed to heat exhaustion.

He scored his first win in the 1974 Church Walk, some what controversially as the local Press printed a picture of Dave marginally off the ground in the finishing straight with some SWC members wanting him stripped of the title but after much thought at committee level he was given the trophy. The photo nowadays would hardly warrant a second glance!

Dave won again the following year easily beating Mick Elliott who almost unbeatable at short walks but never got to grips after 20 kilometres and this was the case as they walked almost together for more than half the race before powering away.

Two years later an Elliott got revenge as Micks son Robert beat Dave by 10 seconds with Dave pulling back 3 minutes in the final 4 and a half miles to draw level with Rob within sight of the finish, until Elliott dug into his reserves to sprint home.

The following year Dave lost out to Mick Perrio, again in the late stages. Dave has a fine record in the Church event finishing in less than 3 hours 14 times, finishing in 2nd place 11 times.

At his best Dave walked the following times:

1 mile 6.59

3 kms 13.58

7 miles 55.22

10 miles 80.15

20 kms 102.28

30 kms 2.42.38

20 miles 2.50.54

Church to Church 19.4 miles 2.46.47

50 kms in 4.42.10.

 He has also finished 6th in National competition at 50 kms and has been in winning teams at “Garnet” and Chippenham races in England.

He walked well in the 1968 25.5 miles Birmingham Outer Circle race in 4.09.12 for 7th place, which in its day was a popular walk amongst the British distance men.

He is currently the Sarnia Walking Club President and has worked hard for many years for the club, spending time and money throughout, sponsoring many awards over the years, including one unique one involving walkers, runners and cyclists each doing different distances but all finishing at the same point, alas no longer competed for.

Now in his 60`s Dave still walks at the shorter events of 7 miles and under.