Congratulations to Germany’s Wolfgang Schwerk for winning the recent Balaton 6 Day race in Hungary.

His winning distance of 543.62 miles/874.864km, represents his 4th best ever 6 Day performance, as well as a new M55 World Age Group Record, adding a hefty 25.28 miles/40.68kms to the record I set 12 months earlier.

The M55-59 age group has become a fantastically competitive grouping with performances at 1000km and 6 Days having been repeatedly improved, initially by myself and now Wolfgang, who is almost 21 months younger than I.

The bar has now been set so high, that if a new record is set, then that performance will almost certainly win the race outright.

It may not be appreciated that Wolfgang has demonstrated an incredible longevity in the sport and at the highest most level.   As far back as 1987, he recorded 6 hours 44 minutes 38 seconds for 100km and in a 24 hour event he recorded 171.63 miles/276.209 kms .

I have certainly got my work cut out to regain my M55, 1000km and 6 Day road records again!