Michael Perrio

Mick Perrio 1978

Mick Perrio had a relatively short race walking career as he mixed his time in the sport with running at which he had wide local success.

Possibly his first walk was in 1970 in the Church to Church 19.4 miles walk in Guernsey at the age of almost 13 years. He completed the distance in 3.49.58.

Mick took part in a Series of short walks later on that year over 2 and 3 kilometres, organised by the Sarnia Walking Club and the late Wyndham Mann. His best performance was a time of 10.25 for 2 kms.

At this time he was not afraid of the longer distances and continued to walk the Church Walk until his last appearance in 1980 after 11 completions of the course.

In the Upper Parishes 1980 Church Walk Elliott (45) and Perrio (34)

He won the event 3 times, dropping his times down as he went from a 3.09 in 1975 to his first win a year later in 2.59.09. The month previous he had recorded 3.02.03 to win the Guernsey 20 miles West Show Walk.

By 1978 he was not a year round competitor but used his running fitness to convert to walk training a few weeks before the Church Walk with success. He had no technique problems to worry about so converted quite easily.

After losing to Rob Elliott in 1977, he reclaimed his title in 1978 after a close battle with Dave Dorey in the closing miles, to move away to a win in 2.51.06, some 17 seconds ahead.

As a Guernsey Island Amateur Athletic Club member, for whom he competed for at running, he again beat the best that Sarnia Walking Club had to offer the following year. He closed down Rob Elliott`s lead at 13 miles to win by over two minutes in 2.47.43. This was to remain his best time for the course.

1979 Church to Church finish

He publicly stated he was going for his “three in a row”  in 1980, but came unstuck as Elliott changed his usual tactics and stayed with him for the first third of the race before moving away easily to a thirteen minutes win, as Perrio recorded 3.00.23.

Mick Perrio Personal Best walk times

1 mile road 7.40

5 kms road 25.02

7 miles road 59.03 (1976)

10 miles road 85.21 (1976)

20 kms road 105.38 (1977)

30 kms road 2.44.02 (1978)

Church walk 19.4 miles 2.47.43 (1979)

20 miles road 2.57.21 (1977)

As a runner Mick was amongst the best of his day in Guernsey. He has a claim to fame in that he is the only male athlete to have won both the Church to Church Walk and Run. He has run the course in under 2 hours.

He has also been victorious in other Guernsey Classic runs, namely Milestones 6 miles, LIberation Day 7 miles Pessimists AC Trophy and Beaulieu Cross Country winner.

Personal Best runs

Marathon 2.42.47 (1981)

Half Marathon 71.19 (1984)

6 miles Milestones (lot of uphill) 34.36

7 miles  37.13

(Photos local Press.)

By Rob Elliott March 2008