Just over 5 hours after Easyjet flight EZ3225 took the sky the team arrived in the sleepy town of Venta de Banos, Central Spain. The town had once been a major train junction enjoying the same sort of iconic status as other great railway junctions of the world, such as Crewe in England. The village has a lot of new development which includes the high speed train link to Madrid thus opening up an interesting alternative to coach travel to this event.

After a day to recover the team rose early and headed to the course for a 10.20am start.

The race started on a cinder track under grey and threatening skies. The first 200m of the three lap course sore the athletes’ circumnavigate the running track before mounting a ramp which took them out of the track area. The course then consisted of a large lap of a series of heavily muddied fields with two small ramps strategically placed to act as barriers to break up the rhythm of the field.

As the field re-entered the track area to begin the second of the three laps Ben was leading with Jonathan and Tom in close attendance. A short way behind but still clear of the chasing pack was Calum.

The next lap sore a straight tussle between Jonathan and Calum. Ben and Tom had slipped back but they still held 3rd and 4th. The final lap of the fields sore Jonathan make a decisive and move clear. As he entered the track for the final lap to the finish line he held a comfortable lead from fellow team mate Calum.

Calum had chased hard and ran himself into the ground, collapsing just after passing the finish line in second place. I’m pleased to report that he recovered quickly to take his place on the podium. The final podium place went to Bed who won his personal battle with Tom with them finishing 3rd and 4th respectively.

A clean sweep sounds good but I must say the standard of the opposition was not as strong as we would have liked. Having said that I do feel all the lads gained a great deal from the whole experience. It was pleasing to see that Jonathan had learned from his Burgos experience and had worked out how to win.

1st Jonathan Davies – 22.03
2nd Calum Johnson – 22.15
3rd Ben edict Westhenry – 22.21
4th Tom Cox – 22.44

Keith Holt
Junior Men