Despite the London Youth Games cancelling their event at Parliament Hill for all age groups from U11s to U17s late on the Friday night, the SEAA are obviously made of sterner stuff, or as some remarked in comparison to the kids: ’It doesn’t matter if we die!’ and ‘We’re expendable!’. In any event, the senior mens race started at 2pm and was rain-free – instead we enjoyed balmy 15 degrees weather!
The day didn’t seem quite as much of an atmospheric event without all the age group races preceding ours, but there was still a deep field of 445 runners competing as individuals and teams.
Continuing a recent good run of XC form and leading the team home in 20th place overall and 2nd M40 was Micah Evans in 40:32. Our second man home, only just back from a recent trip to South East Asia having admitted to enjoying plenty of the local cuisine, was our Bostonian Kevin Fini in 35th place in 41:11.
Alex ‘Gibbo’ Gibbins in his first XC club race of the season was our third man, 52nd overall and 7th M40 in 42:07 and completing our 4 to score was Will Senbanjo in 95th overall and 18th M40 in 44:12 – it was only Will’s second race for us since joining 2nd claim from PWR so we’re trying hard to convince him to come across 1st claim!
In order thereafter:
Luca Ercolani 101st in 44:39
Dave Adams 117th in 45:09
Greg Bull 119th in 45:12
Ryan Ali 180th in 47:35
Ted Marston 182nd in 47:40
Ian Scott 224th in 49:23
Josh Dowling 231st in 49:37
Greg Firth 252nd in 50:51
Phil Bunn 265th in 51:35
Jason Meers 286th in 52:30
Luigi Arcuri 380th in 58:27
Chris Martin 385th in 58:42
So all 16 of our runners finished safely within an hour having tasted the best mud North London had to offer, then going to the pub to wash it down with a drink or two before the train journey home to Bromley and surrounding areas.
A good day out with the team, another improved turnout from previous years and a 10th placed finish for our 4 to score out of 36 complete teams (plus other incomplete teams).
Also special mention to our ladies team who came 7th overall with an excellent 3rd place medal for
Morgan Squibb – Congrats!
– Micah Evans
