SEAA Cross Country Champs., Stanmer Park, Brighton
High drama on the South Downs
Top: Phil Wicks is in full flight - half distance and he's 30 metres clear of the field. Pictures by Steve Wicks.
Alan Mead writes:- When past cross country champion Gerry North was asked what he thought of the Stanmer Park course he opined … “this is a tough one!” … and surveying the rolling hills of the South Downs one couldn’t help agreeing with him. The going was firm but the there was nary a level stretch anywhere … and of course it was 15 kilometres in length.
Desperate for a race after missing planned outings for various reasons and slightly uneasy about a hip niggle, Phil Wicks made a decision to run on the morning of the race. The ubiquitous Cockerpillar was there, James Kelly wouldn’t miss the ‘Southern’ for all the sunshine in Madrid (although his Spanish club mates could not quite comprehend a 2,000 mile round trip to compete over 15k of English style cross country) and as start time neared Lander Eguia and Mike Trees both arrived, nursing colds but thinking that they must turn out to ensure we had a full squad. Sadly their efforts only saw our numbers reach five, one short of the team requirement.
After the charge along the start stretch the first turn saw Phil Wicks in the front rank and as the initial small lap (itself containing a substantial climb) was completed and the field headed out into Downs proper, all the leading contenders were in place. Slowly the protagonists were whittled down and at 6k three men were clear of the field: Neilsen Hall (Bedford &C), Glen Watts (Shaftesbury Barnet) and Phil tucked in behind about two metres back but picking up that small deficit as they disappeared from view onto the second large loop.
A substantial crowd of fans had climbed to a vantage point to see the runners twice on each circuit and they eagerly scanned the track ahead, waiting for the runners to emerge from woodland … “here they come,” … and “Wicks” was the name on the lips of the cognoscenti. He was 30 metres clear of the other two … and going away! Sure enough that lead did grow … 40 metres … some say it was more. In the minds of all, Phil was heading for a third win in this championship to add to his victories of 2007 (Holkham Hall, Norfolk) and 2009 (Hillingdon House Farm, Uxbridge). One couldn’t entirely disregard the opposition for those splintered chasers had slowly coalesced into a pursuing bunch of five as the last lap was begun … but no, the gap was too big now.
Down to the finish stretch, then, and wait for the arrival … and after what seemed like an interminable interlude, there he was in the distance bursting out of the coppice at the top of the hill, perhaps 500 metres to go and heading down the steep slope towards the final turn; but … gasp! … there also was Ben Tickner, 20m behind and using that last drop like a fell runner. One could see the gap diminishing; was Phil was aware of the danger? Such was Tickner’s momentum that he was on the Belgravian as the turn was made into the finish stretch and no amount of gear changing by our man could match his rival's pace. While the winner celebrated as he crossed the line, tugging at his vest to give prominence to the ‘Wells City’ logo, an already disconsolate Phil Wicks maintained his pace to take the silver medal.
Phil was fuming at the way things had turned out. “I can accept being beaten on any day of the week,” he later pronounced, “but to lose like that is hard to take. I won’t forget that for a while.”
Nevertheless, it was a superb run from a man not yet at the top of his game and whatever he thought, the general opinion was: “Wicksy’s back!”
James Kelly cannot be praised highly enough for his battling run in the twenties, finishing in 16th and up eleven spots on last year. His stress fracture now seems to be a thing of the past (touch wood) and he is planning another crack at the London Marathon.
Men’s 15k. 1 B Tickner (Wells City) 49:11; 2 P Wicks (Belgrave) 49:15; 3 J Pepper (Enfield &H) 49:21; 4 G Watts (Shaftesbury B) 49:25; 5 K Heywood (Bideford) 49:27; 6 N Hall (Bedford &C) 49:45; 16 J Kelly 51:26; 47 D Agustus (Woodford GwEL) 54:07; 70 W Cockerell 54:52; 258 M Trees (M45) 1:01:39; 275 L Eguia 1:02:25; 745 finished.
Teams: 1 Highgate H 157; 2 Bedford &C 174; 3 Shaftesbury B 259; 4 Woodford GwEL 295; 5 Kent AC 333; 6 Herne Hill H 414; 79 teams closed in.
Below: James Kelly (3094) placed a brilliant 16th. The ubiqitous Will Cockerell (3090). Pictures by Steve Wicks.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.