McCain UK CC and European Trials
14 Woodford Green with Essex Ladies athletes made the long trip to Liverpool to compete against top athletes from throughout the UK. The conditions at Sefton Park were fine and dry but windy on some parts of the course with the going underfoot soft in many places. Most fields in the younger age groups were around 110.The two highest quality fields of the day were the senior men's and women's races. The women's event over approx 8K saw Jess Sparke run her first race of the winter season, while Felicity Milton, having returned to the UK from the USA, moved onto the country after running a few races on the roads recently. Sparke finished 20th, 8" ahead of Emily Pigeon who won the Met League event at Stevenage last week, but 90" behind winner Hatti Dean. Milton was 41st, 13" behind Becky Penty of Highgate, who was 3rd at Stevenage. Georgie-Lou Sales was 67th, 3 minutes down on Milton.
In the men's race over approx 10K, Daniel Agustus was 73rd, 2 mins 30 secs down on winner Andy Vernon.
The club's best finishing position of the day was in the Under 13 boys race, which turned out to be a gripping encounter. Canaan Soloman got a good start and was with the leading bunch of 5 as they broke away from the rest of the field over 3k. Canaan, who had been advised by coach Richard Thurston not to take the lead but sit with the leaders, stuck with Dijkstra of Leicester and Milner of Derby, who had earlier this month set the two fastest laps in the ECCA relays. As the three runners came into the finishing straight, Canaan made a well timed break and had a slight advantage on his two rivals and seemed all set to win the race until a last gasp dash from Dijkstra stole the race right on the line with barely a yard covering all three runners. Canaan ran 10 mins 22 secs for the 3k course.
Rosie Poole (Under 13s girls) and Alfie Poole (Under 11s boys) were very brave in the early part of their races, being in the top 8 at half way, with Alfie eventually coming home 13th in his race over 1.9k in 7:31 and Rosie placing 21st over 3k in 12:12. Jodi Ratcliff placed a good 29th in 12:44 behind Rosie.
Perry Rowan placed a highly creditible 15th in the Under 15 boys race, running 10:10 for 3k, just over 30 secs behind the winner. Alicia McArdell, a first year Under 15 girl, placed a solid 37th in the Under 15 girls race in 12:00.
James Stockings got a good start in his 5.5k Under 17 mens race, eventually coming home in 32nd in 18:51. In the Under 20 Womens race over 4.4K, Sidnie Sales was 41st in 17:38 and Lauren McGregor, making a welcome return to racing, 42nd in 17:41. Liam Blaikie was 89th in the Junior Mens race over 6.7 k in 24:10.