The England team made its second consecutive visit to the city of Burgos in Northern Spain. Having deemed the 2011 trip a great success with 7 out of the 16 athletes making the GB team in the UK Trials 2 weeks later.

The men were always going to be up against very strong opposition with numerous African athletes including 2011 winner Imane Merga and the best of Spain competing for their European places and many Portuguese also included.

The course was fairly flat consisting of 5 laps with numerous twists and turns making positioning early on in the race quite difficult there were a small set of jumps every lap. The weather was cold with rain prior to the men’s start making it seemingly the coldest part of the day. Underfoot conditions were firm making the going generally fast and probably ideal preparation for Liverpool in 2 weeks’ time.

The England men got away well and Jon Taylor was particularly to the fore inside the top 10 with the leaders and closely followed by Peter Huck and Dan Studley with Adam Hickey at the rear of the England runners.

A seemingly steady pace ensued with Taylor looking very comfortable in this class of competition and still holding a top ten spot after 1 lap of the 5 lap course. The pace continued and Studley had now got himself ahead of Huck in about 20th with Huck just behind but dropping after a tenacious start and Hickey now further back but looking settled on the pace. By lap 2 Taylor was holding his own and was battling amongst 4 athletes vying for 10th place with the leading 9 some 50 metres ahead. Studley was running solid on his debut in about 23rd place with Huck dropping into the 40’s with Hickey now breathing down his neck a few places behind. The pace at the front was increasing a and Merger never looked anything but in control. By the end of lap 4 Taylor was still battling for 10th amongst 4 but was now some 150m behind the leaders but still having a great run and looking like he will be close to making the GB team for the Europeans if he runs with this commitment..

Behind that Studley was battling with all he had in about 37th place with Hickey now in 41st place and looking likely to pass him during the next lap. A very unfortunate Huck was really paying for a slightly over zealous start and was now further back in 60th place. As the last lap began the pace at the front picked up and the battle was still any permutation of 1 from 8 athletes. The England team was showing few changes although Taylor was showing some great qualities to dig in and do battle still in with a chance of 10th. Studley was now looking highly likely to hold off Hickey as the gap had grown again between them both. Huck was now well down the field and just battling for survival when of those runs we all know about but wish they were over quick so we can move on.

At the finish Merga retained his title from 2011 and Taylor had battled well to a real solid 12th following him home in 38th place was Dan Studley the 20 year old debutant who runs for Bristol and is currently studying at Oxford. Then it was Hickey 43nd with Peter Huck continuing to go through the motions in 75th . Overall a solid run from Taylor who is growing in experience and more important belief with every England race. Studley ran very well for a debutant and the minor breakthrough and is very encouraging for him with the opportunity to make the GB U23 team his drive in 2 weeks’ time.

Results Senior Men

— Eamonn Martin