SMP Partners is delighted to be sponsoring two local race walkers who have been invited to compete in the prestigious Paris Alsace race walk in June.
Karen Lawrie and Tony Mackintosh, from Douglas and Colby respectively, will be the first Manxman and Manxwoman to take part in the race, which replaces the renowned Paris Colmar race walk this year. They will each be accompanied by a support team including previous Parish Walk finishers, Paris Colmar finishers and Centurions. The sponsorship provided by SMP Partners will help cover costs of transport, food, kit and equipment for Karen and Tony and their support teams.
Karen and Tony were honoured to receive their invitation immediately upon finishing the gruelling Chateau-Thierry 24-hour race walk in March, particularly as just 30 men and 15 women have been selected to compete in the event. Male and female competitors will cover an astonishing 442km and 306km respectively over the three days of the event, which will see Karen and Tony burn between 36,000 and 46,000 calories each.
Karen said: ‘Tony and I met during the 2013 Parish Walk; we got chatting, and haven’t stopped since! We are already keen participants in the local race walking circuit, but we’ve really stepped up our training in preparation for Paris Alsace, both averaging about 90 to 100 miles each week and undertaking a long 30-mile walk each month. We’re really thrilled to be taking part and representing the Isle of Man in the race this year which, thanks to the support of local companies like SMP Partners, has been made a lot easier to organise.’
Tony added: ‘We are hugely grateful to SMP Partners for its sponsorship, which has helped us enormously with our preparations. . There is so much planning to be done for competitive race walking events such as this. We have hired a motorhome for each of our teams, and will need to provide food and allow for travel costs of all 10 team members, as well as purchasing essential kit and equipment.’
SMP Partners’ Managing Director Mark Denton said: ‘SMP Partners prides itself on its involvement with the Island’s community and local sports initiatives, and it is very exciting for us to be able to lend our support to Karen and Tony as they take part in this esteemed and incredibly challenging international race walk.
‘I’m delighted that our sponsorship has been of benefit in making sure they have everything they need for the event. It is fantastic to have representatives of the Island competing at such a high level, and we wish them both the very best of luck as the first Manxman and Manxwoman to compete in Paris Alsace.’
Photo- (L-R) Tony Mackintosh, Karen Lawrie and Mark Denton.
