Centurions world wide
Race the World
Centurions worldwide
The Centurions Worldwide Community website brings together Centurion race walkers from across the globe with a common interest in ultra distance walking and we hope that many race walkers and long distance walkers will aspire to join this unique community.
We have provided plenty of tips from experienced racewalkers for those who have never walked a 100 miles before and want to join us!
And not least of all, the website aims to pull together results from the many races over the years to form an "athletic archive" of ultra distance race walking.
The Centurions, as a race walking organisation, began in the UK in 1911, and now, well over 100 years later, there are several countries around the world which hold their own 100 mile race and have formed their own Centurion association for athletes who complete 100 miles within 24 hours in a judged race walk.
Many existing Centurions take the opportunity to qualify as a Centurion in each country.
To date (2022) Sandra Brown has gained a Centurion number in all the Centurion overseas races. As the Malaysian race is no longer organised, Sandra's position is unassailable! The latest addition to the "family" is Africa which held their inaugural race in October 2016. Unless, of course, the German 100 miles is recognised as a Centurion qualifying race.
Whichever country a Centurion race is held in, our Centurion aims are the same:
to foster and encourage 100 mile racewalking events. And of course, maintain close contact with each other. Our philosophy is that all our walkers should aspire to realise their mental and physical potential through long distance walking.
the definition of a Centurion
The "Centurion" status originated in the UK in 1911 and the "official" (British) definition is....
“A Centurion is one, as an amateur, has walked 100 miles within 24 hours in the United Kingdom in a judged competition held under race-walking rules in an event approved by the Centurions.”
Of course, British Centurions are rightly proud of their heritage and hope that their standards can be be applied by other Centurion organisations.
Whilst the definition hasn't changed, there is now an agreed criteria which Centurions expect of any organiser of a 100 mile/24 hour race and that it should be approved by each and everyone one of the Centurion organisations.
The rules governing race walking are set by World Athletics (previoiusly IAAF - International Amateur Athletics Federation) and national athletic bodies.
Centurion Worldwide qualifying races are now held in the following countries
click on the links to read more about the races in each country
- Malaysia - no longer hold Centurion races
A 100 mile race was held in Germany on 1st-2nd October 2022. The organiser called it a Centurion qualifying race. (see original details -in German).
Participants (mostly existing Centurions) reported that there had been very little communication from the organiser (Charles Arosanyin). The course route was changed several times prior to race day. There has been a debate as to whether this should be recognised as a Centurion qualifying race. See report of the race
Centurion Vereniging Nederland - Dutch Centurion Association (CVN)
The Centurion Vereniging Nederland (C.V.N.) was founded on the 12th February 1966 and is comprised of Dutch and Belgian walkers who have qualified as British Centurions (and not to be confused with the Continental Centurions). They do not organise races.
It's aim is to stay in contact with each other and to represent the Dutch and Belgian contingent of Centurions. Each year they hold a reunion meal to which all Centurions are invited.
Centurions around the world
This list shows the number of Centurions in each country
follow the links to see the latest full list for each country
- British Centurions 1217
- African Centurions 39
- Australian Centurions 84
- Continental Centurions 495
- Malaysian Centurions 40
- New Zealand Centurions 29
- United States Centurions 101
- Multi Centurions at November 2022
