European Cross Country Championships - Brussels 14 Dec 08
CHRIS VERNON, now a resident of the fair Gulf state of Abu Dhabi, flew back from the sunshine of the Gulf to a bitterly cold Belgium to watch son Andy claim a silver medal at the European Cross Country Championships.
It was a great achievement for Andy, who remains a second claim runner for Stubbington and who earlier this year helped the men's team to victory in the Test Way Relay.
Here's Chris's report on an amazing weekend for Britain's runners in Brussels where there were more athletes representing Team GB from Hampshire-based clubs than any other area of the country.
"A cold Brussels day was set ablaze by the magnificent sight of the whole of the British Junior ladies team filling the first six places in the opening event of the day. Steff Twell (Aldershot Farnham & District) made history as the first Junior ever to win three successive Championships. She was followed home by Charlotte Purdue, also AFD, Lauren Howarth (Leigh Harriers), 4th was Emily Pidgeon (Stroud & District), 5th Emma Pallant (AFD) and 6th Laura Park (Ellenborough).
The Junior men's race was the closest of the day with the top three teams having 50 (France), 51 (Norway) and 52 (GB).
The under-23 women came away with an individual silver in Sarah Tunstall and team gold.
The under-23 men delivered in style led by Andy Vernon with an individual silver medal and the scoring contingent of the team home by 7th place. Ben Lindsay (AFD) came from a long way back to take 4th passing John Beattie (Winchester & District) 6th and Keith Gerrard (Newham & Essex) 7th in the final 200m. Andy was 8 seconds adrift from the winner, Andrea Lalli of Italy, but 13 seconds ahead of pre-race favourite Ethiopean born Selim Bayrak of Turkey.
The senior women had to work very hard for their team silver and Hayley Yelling a past winner of this race did not look her best, but with grit and determination held onto 19th Place. After the race she announced her retirement. At 35 she is past her best, but will be sorely missed, particularly given her customary brave style of racing from the front.
The Senior men put in a solid performance to win team bronze with Mo Farrah losing out to 8 times winner Sergiy Lebid in the last 400m. winning individual silver.
Altogether it was a stunning performance by all concerned with coaches, managers and fans justifiably proud of their achievements. Every British athlete came home with a medal.
See http://www.ukathletics.net/media/news/december-2008/14-12-08-euro-xc/ for further details"
Kindest regards from a warm (we still need the air conditioning on in the car during the day) Abu Dhabi, Chris Vernon. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all at the club.