Harrier Gary Rowlett shows true Grit in Benfleet 15 (From Thurrock Gazette)

Westher plays havoc with athletics programme

7:00pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in Sport

ATHLETICS: THE arctic conditions have played havoc with the athletics calendar with almost every event due to be held last weekend cancelled.

Thurrock’s team preparing for the Essex Schools Cross-Country Championships at Basildon’s Gloucester Park were told last Friday that the event had been postponed, while those thinking competing indoors would not be a problem were proved wrong when the Southern Indoor Championships were also called off.

But there was one event that did go ahead, the Benfleet 15, where Thurrock Harriers’ Gary Rowlett was one of 373 hardy souls who competed in the race that is gruelling enough in the best of conditions, but with the snow falling for the entire race, it became a war of attrition.

Rowlett finished in 167th place in a time of 2h 13m 2s. The race was won by Crispian Bloomfield, who has run for Thurrock in the past, in 1h 33m 50s.

And it seems as though the weather will continue to hit the racing calendar as, early this week, the Southern Cross-Country Championships at London’s Parliament Hill was postponed on the advice of the City of London.

The Southern Athletics Association has said it is struggling to find a replacement date for the race and was almost certain Parliament Hill would not be the venue.

The Essex Schools Cross-Country Championships, meanwhile, has been re-arranged for Saturday, February 2. It will still take place at Gloucester Park.

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