In just behind was James Stockings in 21st. James is settling into life at Durham Uni, and was looking to make it into our first six, but it was only due to the strength of our top 6 that he did not manage this, as he started with this aim in mind and found the 3rd lap tough. On the upward curve as James's fitness is coming back from his travelling in the summer, this manager was delighted when James said he had chosen the senior race rather then the U20's and shows that if training goes well, James could set some good markers in the big races coming up. In next was Tony Russell in 25th. Tony had more reason to have a good festive period as he became a father for the first time, which has meant in the last week he has got used to having little sleep! So it was great to see him go so well and get into our medal winning teams. Closing the team was Daniel Steel in 30th. It was a very composed run by the marathon man, each lap that went past, Daniel was one of the few athletes who looked stronger, and it makes this manager think that when he has had a season on the mud, learning the tricks of the discipline, we could see some very good results in the future, the results are already excellent!
This closed our second team in 30 with 126 points, and gave us second in the team event as well. To have a second six that was as strong as it was, was very pleasing and this manager was very surprised to have beaten Orion into third as they looked like a very good unit on the day and showed how high our performance level had been. To get two teams, first and second is a rare, if ever done, achievement at these championships, and highlighted well how strong now our Essex base is.
In our third team, was Joe Everitt in 39th. Joe must be cursing his luck, as injury in recent weeks has held up his training slightly, and to miss out on the medals again is a tough thing. But Joe in a relatively short time has become a great club man, and his progress has been steady and excellent, as shown by him coming 48th in this fixture last time in not such a strong race. With each season Joe is improving so that next season it maybe impossible to keep him out of the scoring team. In next for the team was Robbie Cox in 44th. Robbie had a heavy cold that had come on and refused to move over new years, so the fact he came out to run was deeply appreciated. Even in a 12 as strong as we had, Robbie in full health could expect to be in any team, and this manager hopes he can avoid injury over the next few months to put in a performance that gives justice to his work levels and talent. In third was Rob Wilbraham in 45th. At the start of the year Rob was suffering with a thyroid problem and so a season off seemed likely. But thanks to diligence by himself and a doctor he has sorted that problem, and even better has found that unknowingly it had been effecting his training before this year, so that now even though still on the road back to 100%, is finding training easier then ever before! This has been shown by recent performances, and it is great to see Rob getting back to health and running so well.
Fourth in was Gareth Cavell in 59th. Gareth injured his ribs while fixing his taxi, and had said at the last met that he would not be able to do the Essex as the pain had been overwhelming at the end of the met race. But this manager was not too surprised when Gareth said he would run, as he seems as tough as a boxer in the 1880's and will always lace up the shoes and get round, if he is physically able to! In 60th was Adam Mead. It was good that Adam could come out and race as duties over the festive period meant he was not 100% sure that he could, but to get round your first 12k mud bath as he did, leaves you in very good stead, as suddenly training and even the met seems that bit easier, and I hope Adam will be feeling well set up as he builds up for the marathon. Closing the team was Pete Caton in 61st. Pete has been going well this season, and has signed himself up for the 15k southern then the 12k national, for a man whose fast finish is well known, the willingness to do these longer distances shows a great team attitude and Pete should expect to see his times fall when he comes back to racing on more solid surfaces.
This closed our third team in 61 for 5th in the team race. Our third team did as well as our first team last year in this fixture and shows in running good fortune ebbs and flows. It also highlights the effort made by many to come out in some awful weather and represent the club even if not 100% or with family commitments, and to close a third team as strong as this one really emphasises how well we performed.
Our fourth team was started by Alan Rugg who was just a step behind Pete in 62nd place. Alan would probably not care to count the number of laps he has done around claybury, and used all that local knowledge to the maximum as he tried to navigate the mud and his performance showed that he is getting back to some fine form in this new year. In just behind was Dave Cox in 63rd. It was great to have the Essex M60 Champion in the team, who had done a 10k only two days earlier recording 36.28 in the Hyde park 10k new year day run! In third for the team was Julian Russell in 85th. Slightly down on where he may have liked to have been, this manager feels that the mud may have been involved as the stylish Julian is more at ease on a firmer surface, as all good cricket players should be!
In 95th was Ray Dzikowski. Ray had come out purely just to get the legs going as not feeling 100%, things had not clicked in fitness yet in this new year, but the doggedness to continue was much appreciated as by the third lap the casual spectator could see Ray was very much having to tough out every 100m. In fifth for the team was Neil Ford in 106th. Neil had been having trouble with the hip pre-Christmas, but had a good run here, making sure to stay ahead and out of the battles going on behind. Closing the team in 114th was Mark Cambridge. Mark was the leader of the battles as four woodford runners battled for this last place, and it showed how much improvement Mark has made over a short amount of time that he beat for the first time his training partner, James Perry.
This closed our fourth and final complete team in 11th place with 525 points. To close four teams and the second twelve to be not far off our met b team, was fantastic. But we still had more athletes to come.
James Perry in 117th was just behind Mark, and although just losing out to Mark this time, he is still 2-1 up for the season, and with an 8k met next, he may think that a 3-1 score line is possible, if he doesn't need a weeks rest from the mud! In just behind in 122nd was Jonathon Webster. Jonathon had been the lead of the quartet for the first lap and a half, as had attacked the race, and although slightly paying for this on the third lap, it was still a totally unrecognisable run as compared to his met league at Claybury in October, as that day he finished way behind Richard Hogg, but this race he finished one place in front of him, as Richard came in 123rd. Richard will be looking that in the next few races to use those ahead of him to help draw him through the field as he will be looking to get back to leading the group. In next was Jim Roche, who looked much more like Alun Evans, in 140th. Alun is looking to use racing to help him get back to fitness, and although effective, sometimes when in a tough 12k muddy race you can think that sitting in a spa in a gym must be easier! Closing the team was Tom Spanyol in 160th, who was delighted at the end that he only lived around the corner so he could nip off straight home to get in a well deserved shower and dinner.
The effort and team spirit of the team was excellent as it had been all season, but in this fixture the team got all the rewards that their efforts have deserved over the last season and a half. The fact that 8 of our first 12 were all Woodford juniors is a great example of how well run the club has been. To include thanks to everyone would take far too long but mention must go to Roy and Pauline Williams with the clubhouse, and Graham Pribul and Michael Murphy with the organising of the day. Our next team event is the Met league race on 10th January in Perivale.
Elsewhere in the UK, two other members of our squad won individual medals in their respective county championships. Jordan Donnelly, running for his home town, 2nd claim club Wirral AC in the Merseyside CC Champs, finished a terrific second for silver. And Ed Shepherd won a bronze in the classy Hertfordshire CC Champs - the first time he has run the senior county championship. Congratulations to both men. And in the Bucks CC Champs Simon Beedell finished a fine 8th to take a gold medal in the team competition for 2nd claim club Chiltern AC
Women
Its two years since Woodford Women fielded a team at this fixture, but not even persistent rain, gloopy mud and dry changing space as scarce as talent in an X Factor act, was enough to spurn a team from home fixture Claybury. Six lined up with the U20 men and 121 other Women for this five mile grueller as the rain came down.
First home was V35 Kat Gundersen in eighth. Another great result for the ever modest Gundo who was tentatively pleased with her run, encouraged to have been only two places and less than 40” behind Colchester Harrier Sarah Strading. Next, and more than a minute behind Gundo over this longer distance, the nonetheless indefatigable Rachel Lund made it two in thirteen, having wisely decided this time not to row on the morning of a cross country race, though still getting a thorough soaking before the start. Third scorer was V45 Bernie Pritchett in 30th making a welcome return to the fold having so far missed most of this off road season. Closing for the A Team in 43rd was “ not fit” Di Chklar (nee Kennedy), another welcome returnee to home turf, and putting in a fine performance for her first time back in green & white since the birth of daughter Sofia. Delighted to be only 3 places and 20” behind Di (fit or not) in 46th was V45 Jenny Thomas and closing for the green & whites in 58th was Anne Gombert, horrified as anybody by the deluge, but glad to be storing up triathlon-channeling strength on these tough courses.
The glory was rightly all the Men’s, who had strength as well as depth; but the Women nonetheless showed their mettle for sixth place, in what, spookily (or simply consistently), was a near identical line up and scoring profile as the 2013 Hadleigh mud-bath when Gundo (9), Lundo (14), Nicholas (27), Thomas (46) gave us 5th!
On Sat 3rd of January, Essex teams descended on Claybury to contest the Essex cross country championships. On a day where the rain was unrelenting, until the final race, everyone was very pleased to have up the new club tent. But the rain could not dampen team spirit as the men used good sense to turn up with only an hour or less to the race start, and finally when the gun went off we had 29 on the start line.