Nationals XC 2010 - Part Two - Richard Goodman Again

Shaftesbury's Richard Goodman, continues to impress by winning the Under 17 title at Leeds. A third in the Southern and a second in the National last year did not specifically point to his future greatness but Alastair Aitken of Runners Digest  remembers that early in 2009 in North London that he told him  "The English Schools are what I am aiming for" He duly won that.

In the Summer, after winning a Middlesex Track Championship at Copthall he remarked " I would like to run for the UK in the World cross country Championships." He is certainly close to doing that.

Leeds- 1 Richard Goodman 19.21, 2 Tom Curr (Stroud) 19.55 and 3 Robbie Farnham-Rose, from the winning Tonbridge team 19.56.

Goodman leads 2nd placer Thomas Curr of Stroud & District. Xman2010

U17's flying down the hill.........

 

                            NICK GOOLAB TAKES HIS SECOND UNDER 20 JUNIOR TITLE 

Goolab ran to U20 victory. xman 2010

 

Leeds and Belgrave are good rivals so, the Junior cross country Championships between Nick Goolab and James Wilkinson of Leeds City was destined to be a hot race.

    Straight after the event Nick Goolab said " I realised that only five people before me ever defended the title (Mike Tagg 1966/67; Neil Coupland 1973/74; Nat Muir 1976/77; Andrew Pierson 1991/92 and Chris Thompson 2001/02.).

Nick had a good run coming second in the Junior race in the European cross?

     " I had  a stormer" was his short reply.

      You had a mixed Summer when I talked to you after the Southern six stage relay!

     "I had to take two weeks off in the middle of the Summer, just because of tiredness, following on from the cross countries but later I still ran a 1500 and 3k PB so it was not a total loss, as I walked away with PB's!'

It was alright but I want bit more this season.'

Steve Sharp must be a great help to you?

'I am the first athlete he has ever coached. He does not have any coaching qualifications. He has never coached before and he took me on from the generosity of his heart. I was going to quit but he took me on and started coaching me. It is not rocket science. He has been in the sport 15 years. He has been around a long time. He has been coached by people like Alan Storey. He is now with Lindsey Dunn so, he has got a lot of experience along the way. With no qualifications he  got me to be what I am today.'

                   

The Race

 

' To be honest I did the first lap and I felt terrible. I did not think I would win and, I thought I would struggle . I was in the leading group of three. I kicked at the start of the second lap. They all went to the side and I was running in the middle by myself. I put my foot down. Some people tried to come with me. I opened up a gap and 'Wilko' caught it up again and then I managed to drop him. but the first lap was horrible for me with the lactic acid and I thought this is going to be a hard race. Steve said I was to go of in the top 20 or so and come though the group and then, hit the front and make it hurt so, I really pushed myself. I noticed the hill but it was my last race as a junior!'

Plans

' I don't have any races lined up so March is free. I think that is a blessing in disguise. I might be a bit rusty for the Southern 12 stage." 

 

RONNIE SHARP

 

Ronnie Sparke was 4th in the Southern and he was 4th again in the 'National' which showed he was coming back to form a bit.'

"I was injured at the AAA's Trial with a stress fracture to my shin so, I was out for about six months. It was my third race back since injury and I am getting better with every race. I found the first lap at Leeds was pretty easy. Me, Goolab and 'Wilkie' running next to each other and in the second lap Goolab started picking up the pace. I tried going with that but by the time of the third lap it felt a pretty long way so, when I got to the last lap I was pretty tired but was pleased to carry on and come fourth." 

RICHARD THURSTON A COACH WITH CREDENTIALS

 

Ronnie Spark's coach is Richard Thurston, who had been well up in cross-countries like the North of Thames some years ago. Third or Fourth in that he says and ran 2.28 in one of the five London's he ran in the 80's.

What did he think about his charge " He has got a lot of qualities. He is a good steeplechaser. We stayed away from it last year because we concentrated on the 5000m for the Europeans but unfortunately he got injured which curtailed that. This year we have not quite mapped out what we intend to do. It could be we would go back to the 5000 or 3000. Getting him back to good form, injury free and that is what we are doing now. Getting back was very hard for him . Over the 1500 steeplechase he was ranked fourth in his age group. He has got technique, speed and stamina and I know he would like to have another go at it."

First six in the National Junior. 1 Goolab 33.07; 2 Wilkinson 33.23; 3 Ben Norris (Notts) 22.29; 4 Sparke (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) 33.36; 5 Jonathan Hay (Aldershot, Farnham & District) 34.07; 6 Mathew Jackson (of the winning team Warrington) 34.11. (204 completed).

Sparke takes 4th in both Nationals and Southern . Xman2010