Move over Grand National, the London Marathon, the Boat Race: a new event is about to take its place on the great British sporting calendar. On the morning of Tuesday 18 June, barristers will compete with judges in the inaugural race around the route of the 10-kilometre London Legal Walk. 

We suspect the two teams of five won’t be breaking any world records. The judges are led by The Honourable Ms Justice Constable, called to the bar in 1999 while the bar is led by Sam Townend KC, also called in 1999. 

The race - which begins at 7:30 am - is just one of the special events being organised to mark 20 years of legal walking. Since it began in 2004, the walk has raised a staggering £10.5million. Last year alone saw 16,000 participants from 1,000 organisations take to the streets and raise a record £965,000. In this milestone year, organiser the London Legal Support Trust hopes to raise more than £1million for the first time. The latest estimate is that 18,000 walkers are expected. The Gazette will be there as official media partner. 

Among those cheering the race will be the lady chief justice, Lady Carr. She said:  ’This is another initiative that will boost the fundraising for this important annual event – I shall be cheering on the early morning bench running team as well as leading the Royal Courts of Justice walking team later in the day. We must all, as a profession, continue to support this charity and the vital work that supports the drive for access to justice. Please dig deep in your pockets to make donations, as you feel able, and support for this event.’

The bench team in the race will be: The Honourable Mr Justice Constable; The Honourable Mr Justice Linden; The Honourable Mrs Justice Steyn DBE; The Right Honourable Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and The Honourable Mrs Justice Joanna Smith DBE.

Giving their all for the bar will be: Sam Townend KC (Keating); Abigail Bright (Doughty Street); Nargees Choudhury (Rose Court); Neil Hext KC (4 New Square) and Michael Lemmy (Byrom Street). 

For more information about the biggest fundraising event on the calendar, see: https://londonlegalsupporttrust.org.uk/our-events/london-legal-walk-2024/

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