2015 National CC: Seniors: Men 10th
It is 139 years since the first runners lined up to compete for the English National Cross Country Championships, and on Saturday 21st February it was time to contest it again, as runners from all corners of the country descended on the capital to complete the 12k at the historic Parliament Hill course. The weather on the day was kind to the runners and spectators, but the torrential rain for the two days beforehand made sure that this was a true cross country test as 25 of our runners lined up at the start. 3 women also completed the race.
Photos (by WGEL's Dave Barrett: mostly, but not all, of the Senior Men)
Photos (1,000 photos of all the races courtesy of top athletics photographer and former 27.47 10000m man Adi Royle)
Men
First man in for the team was Tom Phillips in 88th. This was the first time in the top 100 for Tom, and to do it in conditions at the opposite end to what a track man would prefer, highlights his talent and shows that if he does turn his attention to the 5k this summer, there will not be too many who will be able to match the modest Woodford man. Just behind, with a season best run, was Harold Wyber in 93rd. This manager had an inkling that Harold may go well as, returning from his warm up, with most looking like they had waded through swamps, Harold declared the mud to be 'not that bad' and parts were definitely 'fairly firm and good'! Our next runner in, who would have liked to have known where these fairly firm and good parts were, was Martyn Cryer in 123rd. Martyn, since getting back into running since Christmas, has been training on firm ground with his main goal of the marathon in his sights, so to meet these kinds of conditions completely nullified some of his training and, as he said afterwards, he could never really get into the race. The fact he only finished 50 places down on the previous year highlights how well his training is going and means he should be looking forward to the marathon if training goes to plan.
Fourth in for the team was Tom Beedell in 143rd. Tom had twisted his ankle two weeks ago and had been forced out of racing the previous weekend, so the fact he was lining up at all was testament to his fortitude. At the end of the first lap, if Tom was a boxer it would be said he was biting hard down on his gum shield as he drove himself on, as he never looked comfortable, and at the finish he had a slight limp from his ankle but, as always, he shrugged it off saying 'it will go when it warms up a bit'! Fifth in for the team was our new Doctor, Angus Holford in 185th. It was a great run from Angus who although still a young man, thanks to his efforts in Woodford's excellent junior teams (Angus was 19th at Parliament Hill in U20's race) is a very experienced team player and this again has showed this season as he has got himself into great form for this race as he posted his highest Senior position since the national in Alton Towers in 2011. Closing the 6-man team was Donatas Tumaitis in 237th. Donatas has had a difficult fortnight having to return to Lithuania due to a family bereavement, so that training had to be put on hold for almost a week, but the fact he beat last year's position by 63 places, despite there being 2005 finishers this year compared with 2014's 1697, shows how well he is running at the moment, and it was excellent to see Donatas make it into our six man team.
This closed our 6 man team in 237 and gave the team a fantastic 10th place on the day out of 145 completed teams. To make the top 10 in this prestigious competition is a fantastic performance by the team, and is fully what the team deserve for the effort put in so far this season. Well done to Notts AC for winning the team 6-man trophy. Highgate finished just outside the medals in a very fine 4th, and Serpentine finished in 6th. But we still had our 9-man team to complete.
In seventh was Simon Beedell in 303rd. This manager is getting used to runners asking him not to include them in his predictions in the reports, as the reverse generally happens, so it was pleasing to see that the prediction that, as it got longer and muddier Simon's natural strength would come to the fore, came to be accurate. Simon has been in heavy training for the marathon and he said that he had to take three days off and since then had felt better, and this showed as he had his best run so far in a Woodford vest. In eighth for the team was club life member Kevin Murphy in 322nd. Balancing work, a young family and injuries this season, Kevin has done very well to maintain form, and his determination meant that this manager always felt that Kevin would feature in our scoring team. In just behind was Bertie Powell in 328th. For the first time this season Bertie felt that his leg trouble was ok before the race, and it was good to see Bertie get round and it was fitting that he made it into our 9-man team, as he has been an ever present in all of Woodford's recent successful years.
This closed our 9-man team in 328 and gave us 8th on the day, which again was a fantastic result for the team. It also bodes well for the relays coming up, but it should be noted that 5 southern clubs were ahead of us, which means that it will again be a tough battle for medal positions. Congratulations to Notts AC, who added the 9-man team trophy to their win in the 6-man team competition.
Opening our second 9-man team was Tommy Bower in 345th. Tommy joined the club in the new year, and has already turned out in a Met and the National, and has shown good quality as he is getting back into his running. He was in our scoring 9 for a long time, only being edged out in the final couple of kilometres, but it is clear that if he trains consistently and keeps enjoying it, Tommy could cut his position in half by next year. Just behind was Tony Russell in 378th. It was only the strength of our 9-man team that kept Tony out, as he almost halved his position from last year of (616th), and with him looking forward to getting in a good road season, he should be looking at posting some very good times. In next was Jim Roche in 426th. It is always great to have Jim out for us, as if Jim doesn't make it into the first team it means you have a very good team! Although Jim is usually used to being in the 200's for the National, as his training was disrupted over Christmas and the new year, and the conditions did not suit his natural smooth action, it was still a very good run.
In fourth was Rob Wilbraham in 534th. Rob may not be delighted to hear that he was this manager's prediction to sneak into our scoring 9, as that usually puts pay to the athlete's hopes, and when Rob said he'd been bit under the weather, the manager's prediction had struck again! With Rob going so well it is easy to forget that it was only a few months that he was suffering with a bad thyroid problem, and to think back to the start of the season it is great just to see Rob out and finishing. In next was Joe Everitt in 552nd. The National is never a great race to have a tough race as 100 places can be separated by less than a minute, and Joe at the end intimated that this had been a tough race. But the reason the English cross country season works so well is that if you do it all, by the end of this race you are usually sick of the sight of mud, and so this puts an extra spring in the step when you start racing on the road or track, so I hope Joe finds this to be right! In next was Julian Russell 694th. He enjoyed the experience of his first National, and in only losing 1 and half minutes to Joe over 12k, which he would have lost to him over 8k last year, shows how far he has progressed.
In seventh was Adam Mead in 729th. It was great to have Adam run after the email for this race got lost in the Christmas melee where a whole host of races have to be entered or thought about. Adam is looking to run in the marathon, but has had a hat trick of injuries recently and with training missed he showed his mental strength by choosing this race to come back into. By the end of the first lap he said he was feeling fairly done in, but stuck to the race well, only finishing 18s behind Julian. In next was Pete Caton in 847th. The last month for Pete has been new experience after new experience, with 15km being done for the first time and now the National. And with so many miles added to this new runner, this manager feels that the end of winter break cannot come too early for him and a well deserved rest, making him recharged for the relays and the track season ahead. Pete was also buoyed by the upcoming curry challenge issued by managering legend Tel McCarthy who claimed, in post race celebrations, that him being a Birmingham lad he could take a capital Phall any day of the week, Pete looks forward to Terry having to prove this boast. Closing our second nine was Nick Andrews in 1063. Nick's excellent attitude has made him a great person to have in the team, and although battling injury again recently, when this manager emailed Nick to see if he wanted a run at the National, it was no surprise that there was a positive answer and it was great to have Nick out.
On rough calculation this gave our second 9-man team 35th position in the 9-man teams on the day, which means this team by itself beat 39 A teams on the day, which is a great effort and underlines the talent that is in this team and the squad as a whole. And we still had 7 runners left.
Tony Pamphilon was 1148th. Tony, getting back into training well, knew this would be a tough race as not at 100% but you don't win Vet 50 titles by folding easily, and as usual Tony stuck his head down and got round the course, but with his fluid style he will be pleased when the races return to more solid ground. In just behind was Richard Hogg in 1166th. Richard had started the day very early as he had been at the course just after 10am as his son was in the first race of the day, and so for him to still go well said a lot about his stamina. I hope he has had his feet up on Sunday! Usually this season, to beat Richard has been the aim of our two next runners in, Mark Cambridge and James Perry, but this time injury had struck both of them so to see them turn up and race showed fantastic commitment by both of them as they got 1329th and 1340th respectively.
In next was Paul Stockings in 1486th. Paul may not care to remember how many of the 128 Nationals he can remember as a Woodford ever-present but, not sure if he'd finish this one, it was good to see him get round, and he'd be pleased to beat Alistair Holford in 1698th. Alistair, due to a memory lapse, had been written out of this National by this manager, but rightly showed that he would always try to get round and was pleased to find that the injury made no complaint during the race and allowed him to finish his tenth consecutive National. Seeing the team in was the good Doctor, Trevor Powell in 1808th. Going well, he beat in nearly 200 other runners and, interestingly, in time terms he was closer to winning then he was to last place.
This meant we had 25 finishers on the day which, given the conditions and the fact that the National can be an intimidating race, shows the team spirit that is in the squad. The atmosphere in the squad and the results were excellent and it was a very good way to end the cross country season. As always the amount of support that came out to cheer on the runners added greatly to the team spirit and the whole day. The next team event is the Southern Road Relays on Sunday March 29th.
Women
In a whopping field of at least 865 Women at the legendary Parliament Hill Fields (650 finished in 2012 - the last time at this venue) it was once again a Vets-only affair for Woodford’s Women. With a combined age of 144 -enough years for a team of half a dozen runners by most Club standards -Essex’s own Witches of Eastwick took their places in Pen 122, muttering last minute incantations intended to visit all manner of mischief onto 862 rivals. But not even the combined spell power of these season-hardened Vets was enough to spare them the mire; so into the muddy mess they ran.
First home was V45 Jenny Thomas (365). Enjoying a consistent off-road season and pleased to be just outside the top 40% of finishers in this much bigger field than her previous Nationals outings. Next in green and white was V50 Karen Balcombe (551), race fit and enjoying her best form in some years, and as a serious contender for this year’s Brenda Bray Trophy, delighted to have been cheered on by that coveted trinket’s eponymous sponsor. Closing for Woodford, if not closing the team, V45 Alex Wardle (654) made it three; pleased to be back into racing, albeit at a conservative pace. Elsewhere, second-claimer Suzanne Turvey, in first claim Croft Ambrey’s sky blue, ran very strongly for 121, a top 100 placing within her sights.
The Women didn’t field a team at all in 2014 so it was great to have a showing from the Women this time, albeit disappointing that we couldn’t close a team having been 16th in 2013’s freezing Sunderland race and 12th in 2012.