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STEVE SHARP WON HIS THIRD MIDDLESEX CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AT TRENT PARK
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By runninginlondonAdmin @ Thursday, January 15, 200911:02 AM ::
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1507 Views :: Events
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Sharp made light of the steep hills and took command early on, going up the first big hill with David Bruce in second place, some fifty metres ahead of his clubmate Henry Dodwell, running his best race over the country for a long time. After that close at hand, was James Sumpter, James Trapmore, and Bertie Powell. The eventual order for the first eight, from a field of 137 finishers was
1 Sharpe (Belgarve) 38:13; 2 Dodwell (Highgate) 38.56; 3 Bruce (Highgate) 39:33; 4 Sumpter (TVH) 39:55; 5 Trapmore (Shaftesbury Barnet) 40:11; 6 Richard Phillips (Serpentine) 40:16; 7 Alan Wray (Harrow) 40:20; 8 Powell (Woodford Green) 40:29.
Sharp talked to me afterwards in the bitter cold "I still had plenty in the tank. I pushed it early on and it felt comfortable. I was glad the ground was hard as I am not particularly keen on the mud. I was pleased with my Sale 5 miles in 24:03 a couple of weeks ago"
Sharp, who was in Belgrave's winning National and Southern six stage teams at the end of the last Summer season said " The track season started OK but I got ill half way through because Maria and I moved up to Worcester, which took a lot out of me and stopped my track season half way in.' However there was a very nice silver lining for him. ' I was able, reasonably easily, to go down to The University to train with Bud Baldaro and then I was flying in training" Sharp is certainly one of those dedicated Belgrave men as he has been now averaging 80 miles a week in training.
JULIA BLEASDALE had not been racing in very serious races and no Championships in the last three years so, she made a welcome return. She had been plagued by two stress fractures and, two months ago, fell off a motor bike and had 25 stitches. She had only been training since the middle of November. Certainly things went well at Trent Park as Bleasdale and her Hillingdon clubmate, who runs a lot in Nottingham, Nicki Da Salle, went clear after a mile covered. Bleasdale moved away to a 27 second victory in the last mile. Rebecca Taylor and Lisa Da Silva were 3rd and 4th and in sixth place, behind Sarah Sinhoe of London Heathside came Svenja Abel of Highgate, who has had a catalogue of injures and returning to some sort of form again but, Highgate were lucky to win! Two of their 'natural' team scorers had to drop out which meant they got the same points as London Heathide but still won the team title.
PAULA FUDGE, was 17th of the 55 finishers, which was good considering she is now 57 years old. She not only coaches but has a real love of competition still "Running for Windsor today; we did not have a team but I like to support Middlesex and my club when I can and enjoy the veteran scene. My daughter Abigail has had glandular fever but she is getting back by training at Copthall stadium.'
I said to Paula 'Doesn't time fly in athletics when you think about it?'
"Where have all the years gone?. You look back at winning the Commonwealth and doing a World record and you think 'Was that really that long ago!' She added 'I have met so many people like the officials and all that, they are such great people"
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