Whilst the attention of many Irish Athletics fans was diverted towards the Cork City Sports last weekend a small but highly talented contingent of Irish athletes travelled to London to compete in the British Milers Club meet at the Watford track. Amongst their number was GCH runner Gary Thornton who is also the current Fields of Athenry 10k Champion.

Gary, who is based in London these days was entered in the 10,000m, produced the best run of his career to date posting a time of 29:03:97 for the distance, an improvement of over 26 seconds on his previous best for which he has posted only a month previously. This is a breakthrough run for Gary which ranked in quality beside many of the fine performances seen in the Mardyke on the same weekend. With typical modesty afterwards Gary was heard to comment that he has “..lost concentration…” during the final stages and regretted not going under twenty-nine minutes.

Our sincere congratulations to Gary on such a fine performance and we hope to see him back in Athenry next Christmas.

Full meet results here;

http://www.britishmilersclub.com/results/bmcresults.aspx?meetingid=4980

Gary’s Result;

Posn Time Name Club

1 28:40.8 Phil Nicholls Tipton

2 28:44.3 Anthony Ford Blackpool

3 29:04.0 Gary Thornton Ireland

4 29:17.6 Ian Hudspith Morpeth

5 29:36.6 Jason Ward Altrincham

6 29:37.9 Dave Webb Leeds City

7 29:40.3 Ben Moreau Aldershot Farnham & District

8 29:44.6 Matthew Ashton Aldershot Fd

9 29:47.5 David Wardle London Irish

10 30:02.9 Dave Norman Altrincham

11 30:03.9 Phil Hinch Tipton

12 30:09.8 John Beattie U23 Winchester

13 30:15.6 Stuart Moran Brighton & Hove

14 30:18.1 Gareth Raven Sale Harriers Manchester

15 30:39.7 Russel Dessiax-chin Australia

16 30:55.9 Ben Fish Blackburn

17 31:05.1 Mark Powell Owls

18 31:10.1 Robert Russell Thames Valley