Men’s Surrey County Champs, Lloyd Park, 5 Jan 2019
Underbelly exposed
The incredible Phil Wicks’ mission to be crowned the greatest Surrey Champs runner of all time, with an eye-watering 7 titles, was scuppered at the final furlong, just as he was rounding into shape last month, by an ongoing calf niggle which is taking a while to settle down. So for now the boy wonder must reside “only” joint top on 6 titles, with Bob Treadwell.
With Ed Audencoming down with a virus, and then the organizers cruelly forbidding thereturning ace Steve Gardner from running, due to the TM’s nightmarish timeentering the squad that saw poor Steve get left out (Surrey can have imperfectbureaucracy on their side, but alas I can’t), we were a little short onmuscle.
But great kudos to the gang who ran splendidly. What can we say about the Lithuanian dynamo? Just another stunning run. With a K to go you felt for Andrius, as a hungry gang of ballerinas were eating into his upright, ungainly stride. Surely he’d get nicked, by Quinny for one. But no! Such is his strength the gap over his chasers was 5, 7 and 14 ticks. Such a beast.
PO is perhapsfinally feeling the soft tug of time’s winged chariot, after some 25 years ofhard, top flight running, but still a noble 17th for the Lion. Arne’s never looked better as he continueshis quiet ascent in the sport, and was hassled all day by new man Bradley. Another man who just gets better and betteris Ross, kudos indeed for breaking the top 50 in a very deep field.
Then howeverour soft-underbelly was exposed, with a nigh on 3 minute gap before Will J’sfighting run to see us home. Achampionship score for a developing athlete like him is a big deal, but it’sthat delay where our frailties lie. Butmaybe we’re exhibiting short memories. Recall the turn of the Century when we struggled to get six round foryears, only to then go on a momentous 10-year medal streak. So we must just be patient.
Good sweepingcame from Ollie, Rob and Chris, with James putting nearly 70 in his wake andloving every minute!
1 J Sanderson(GG) 38:03; 4 A Jaksevicius 39:15; 17 P Owor 40:30; 33 A Dumez 41:53; 42 BCourtney-Pinn 42:28; 50 R Finlay 43:37; 90 W Johnson 46:29; 102 O Young 47:12;116 R Norville 47:51; 139 C Warren 49:42; 172 J Morris 52:08. 240 finished
1 AFD 76; 2GG 121; 3 SLH 135;… 6 Belgrave H 236. 16teams closed in.