Southend AC'S Kevin Perry is walking on air after triumphing in the national endurance walking championships at Blackpool.

The 53-year-old endurance athlete completed an astonishing 456 laps of the Stanley Park track in a non-stop 24-hour period -- a grand total of 114 miles.

That meant he finished third overall behind Dutch winner Ad Leermakers -- who completed a staggering 481 laps.

But Kevin was first British man home ahead of Surrey's Ian Slatter (449 laps) to claim his first ever national title.

The victory also gave him a call-up to the England squad for a 28-hour race against France in Roubaix in mid-September -- his second call-up to the national team.

Kevin, a heating engineer, said: "The England call-up is what has pleased me the most. It's the thought of that which kept me going throughout the 24 hours."

Published Friday August 16, 2002

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