Mrs J H Robert 1950`s mementoes

Sarnia Walking Club member Mick Le Sauvage, himself a stalwart Church to Church Walk competitor, has recently been given two trophies that the late Mrs J H Robert won in 1950 and 1955 for her Church to Church victories. Probably destined for the bin the silver trophies were gratefully accepted for the club archives. Pictured below they stand around six inches tall and were given to her as a permanent memento of her achievement. Mrs Robert (100) pictured above at 17 miles encouraged by sister Gladys.

Winona Robert or Mrs J H Robert, as she was known as in all the results, walked the Church to Church 19.4 miles walk 19 times, winning ten times.

Her first appearance was in 1936 as Miss Peters, finishing as second woman in 3.53.30, then a long gap before she donned her race walking shoes again in 1946. From then on she walked annually until 1964 (except 1956 when there was no race). When not winning, she was usually behind her sister Gladys Leeder, who was another dominant force in the Church to Church with seven wins.

Mrs Robert is still 3^rd in the All Time Guernsey Womens lists with her 3.38.11 clocking in 1963, just over a minute behind her sisters best time, with Jenny Tostevin heading the list. On the Allcomers list Mrs Robert is in 6^th place, almost fifty years on from her last Church performance.

With the formation of the Sarnia Walking Club not until 1965, she, then aged 50 years old, only walked a small number of times outside the Church to Church but still created best times at the following distances in the few walks held in the island.

5 kms 34.13 in 1965

5 miles 56.22 in 1965

7 miles 79.32

10 miles 1.48.19 in 1963

20 kms 2.30.17 in 1965

15.3 miles 2.55.33 in 1964

20 miles West Show 4.11.28

Church walk 3.38.11 in 1963

As a founding member of the Sarnia Walking Club, she was made Vice President and became a Life Member for her services to walking.

 Pictured (16) with her mother in 1936 walk.

Mrs J H Robert Church to Church Record.

Personal Best time is still the Guernsey W45 Best time

1936 3.53.20 2^nd 

1946 3^rd

1947

1948 4^th

1949 3.51.00 2^nd

1950 3.56.32 1^st

1951 3.53.20 2^nd

1952 3.48.32 2^nd

1953 3.50.00 2^nd

1954 3.52.?? 2^nd

1955 3.42.?? 1^st

1957 3.46.26 1^st

1958 3.46.45 1^st

1959 3.41.00 1^st

1960 3.48.04 1^st

1961 3.47.37 1^st

1962 4.00.00 1^st

1963 3.38.11 1^st

1964 3.54.13 1^st

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