RONNIE SPARKE
 
AA ' You took off half way through the race '
RS ' I got to the hill and felt really strong. I thought I might as well go. I knew Ben was strong down hills. I'll get a gap going up the hill'
AA ' What would you like to do in the future'
RS ' See how it goes and hopefully my athletic career can go as far as it can. Start going around the World. Next week I am running for England in Italy. Then there is the 'National' cross country. Seeing as I won here there should be no reason I can't win that!
Eric Shirley won the AAA's 3000 Steeplechase in 1958 and 1960 and was an Olympic finalist in 1956 and here he comes into the conversation briefly " Dave Stearns and Dave Chapman from your club were good steeplechasers?
RS ' I did a bit of steeplechase a couple of years ago. I liked it and I was ranked 4th as an Under 17 (1500-4:26.1)--I never really practised'
Eric Shirley " Once you can hurdle it's like riding a bike. Once you can do it, you can do it"
AA 'Which race you have done would be special to you'
RS ' This one (The Southern 2009) would probably be special tome. To be in the bottom year it was such a shock. I thought when I was leading 'Is this reel?'
Ronnie Sparke's coach is Richard Thurston, who was a good Essex county standard runner in his time and, he had this to say about Ronnie's victory " It was fantastic. Very, very pleased. We have been working for this. You put the building blocks in place and you hope it comes to fruition. Really pleased as Ben is very good and fights all the way. He had to work hard all the time. He was really pleased.'

BEN HUNTER

AA 'Did you  enjoy the race'
BH 'It was a good run out'
AA 'You took the lead early on'
BH ' I kinda wanted to break up the group because I knew Ronnie had a good 800/1500 time on the books (1:56.65/3:54.45)- so I wanted to tire him out. It turned  out he had a strong ron on the day. I love Parliament Hill Fields. I was gutted it was here rather than Parli Hill.
I normally run quite well over the hills. I have got the National, UK Inter-Counties and the British Universites Champ's for  St Mary's coming up'.
AA ' Southend must be a nice club to belong to'
BH ' I am not training there at the moment because I am at Uni. When I was with Southend we always had some quality sessions and there are lots of people to run around with which is really good. Young athletes living in Southend should really go there because it is a really good atmosphere and for the coaches there."
  
 
Southern Senior Women 8000m 1 Katherine Sparke ( Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) 31:50; 2 Faye Fullerton (Havering Maysbrook) 32:14; 3 Nicola Sykes (Bedford & County AC) 32:20. Aldershot Farnham & District won the team award from Woodford Green & Essex Ladies, Havering and Maysbrook were third and Highgate Harriers fourth.

KATHERINE SPARKE
 
KS ' Me and my coach Mick Woods thought, as I was going well, I was strong enough to get away on the last lap. It was an indicator because I had a good race in the BUPA Edinburgh International (January the 10th) when I was sixth Brit and thirteenth overall and in Brussels I was seventh in the European Under 23 race.'
AA ' When did you find out, within yourself, that running was the thing you really loved to do'
KS ' At St Mary's really where I was coached by Mick Woods. I have always done it but at St Mary's I came along a huge amount. All down to Mick. We all run in the family too.I am looking forward to many things. 2012 definitely!'
 

FAYE FULLERTON

AA ' Did you have quite a good race'
FF ' Yes but I can't run on this ground (Thick mud)'
AA ' You have had some good races."
FF ' I am very inconsistent. I used to be a bit better when I was younger. I think if it had been a bit firmer in the Southern I would have been up with Kath. I prefer track really, My best is 4.10 for 1500. I was fourth in the Olympic Trials but trying to get the Olympic qualifying time was my main concern. I could not quite get the time. I ran alright last year on the track.'
Regarding coaching Faye remarked ' I run with a group of guys at home.Warren Roe coaches the lads but I have known him for years so he said he would take me into his group when I move back from St Mary's