Sad loss of international race walker Noel Blatchford after winning a silver medal at Pescara.

*Noel Blatchford (*pictured above) won a silver medal at Pescara.

Sad loss of international race walker Noel Blatchford after winning a silver medal at the Pescara Championships.

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*Ian Richards reports on the sad and unexpected loss of European Masters silver medal winning veteran race walker Noel Blatchford after the Pescara T&F Championships.

 

It is with much sadness to have to inform you that race walker Noel Blatchford passed away on Friday 20th October in Pescara. 
Noel competed in the 5000m walk W75 on the first Sunday of the European Masters Championships winning a silver medal. She took ill that evening and was admitted to hospital the next day where they discovered that she had suffered a stroke. She remained in hospital in Pescara during which time she suffered further strokes.
Noel has been a regular at the International Masters championships as part of the Great Britain team, winning numerous medals over many years. She was a most friendly person, fiercely competitive, determined, and dedicated to her sport overcoming many setbacks during her career. She was also a qualified athletics’ official, regularly flitting between races and officiating duties. She will be sadly missed!
Noel, ironically, is to be featured in an hour-long film documentary made by Danielle Sellwood of Find It Film in collaboration with photographer Alex Rotas about four British female masters athletes, which is due to be released sometime in the next 6 months. Details of where the film can be seen will be announced in due course.

Ian Richards.