Men take Essex 10K bronze; Dave Cox 4th for England
On Sunday five of our men's distance squad contested the Chelmsford 10K, which incorporated the Essex 10K Championship, and the first three of them came away with bronze medals. The trio were Robbie Cox, Joe Everitt and Tony Russell. Rob Wilbraham was just behind Russell, and Louis Clark around 20 seconds further back.
All the guys went off at a sensible pace before accelerating. Cox and Everitt ran together, going through the first mile in 5.44, and then increased the pace to around 5.30s. Russell ran a 5.51 opener and then 5.40s and 5.35s. With a mile remaining, Cox accelerated again to clock 34.15 for 10th place in a race which was won by Springfield's Scott Cousins in 33.14. Though Cox ran 33.27 for 10000m on the track in June, Sunday's race concluded a 92-mile training week, including 20 the day before.
Everitt's 34.30 for 14th place knocked 75" off his PB, set in this race 12 months previously. As recently as October 2012 his PB stood at just 39.49.
With 35.13, Russell was a little disappointed not to duck under 35 minutes, but he improved his 14-month old PB from 35.57.
Springfield Striders took the team gold, with Orion Harriers winning silver. For all three of our men, it was their first Essex medal, and we know it will give them a hunger for more.
Just paces behind Russell, Wilbraham crowned an amazing comeback from a debilitating thyroid condition which was diagnosed in June. His training output has improved recently, but he was merely aiming for a sub38 run so was stunned to run 35.20. His only other 10K was a 41.25 clocking over 3 years ago.
Our 5th man home, Clark, was 28th. He was satisfied enough, his 35.42 being just 2" behind his PB set in July 2013. He also knows that he has the ability to dip below 35 if he puts some intensive sessions into his lungs.
All 5 men were on the same quiz table at President David Hollingworth's General Knowledge Quiz on Friday night and vouch for the benefits of a strong team spirit.
Also at the weekend, on Saturday, Dave Cox (see above, Robbie's dad) was representing England M60-64 with great credit in the British and Irish Masters' International CC in Nottingham. He finished 4th in his race, but was first Englishman home behind an Irishman and two Scots. Club life member Dave has, in the past, worn the English vest in both the M50-54 and M55-59 categories, and has run for the club since his early teens.