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A team of 9 went out to Switzerland last week to represent England in the Bern 10 mile Road Race - a very high standard race that offers a great deal to English athletes, especially those who see themselves as primarily road runners.  Team managers were Bud Baldaro and Kathryn Bailey.

The race is over a beautiful but demanding undulating course that involves negotiating several short sections of cobblestones with the runners enjoying fantastic crowd support.  It is touted as the most beautiful road race in the world, starting in the old part of Bern – the introduction to the cobbles which is difficult for the runners.

The men’s race won by Kenyan Daniel Chebli in 48.52.  In fact the first 11 positions all went to Africans so Mark Buckingham’s 13th place in 51.40 was excellent, being the second “European” home (watch his finish below - click on link at bottom of page to view others).  Mark is coached by John Buckingham and has recovered from long term injury and has returned from studying in Florida to produce some very consistent results.  Matt Clowes (coach: Bashir Hussain) has just returned from 4 weeks of altitude training which seems to have paid off with a very good placing of 17th in that field for the young athlete.  Tom Payne (coach: Nick Anderson) finished 25th with 53.58.  He was disappointed and blamed a “rookie mistake” of mismanaging his food intake and therefore suffering with a bad stomach.  Matt Proctor (coach: Stuart Walker) ran very well and finished a respectable 32nd – he had a Final at Durham University on the Friday morning, he then flew to Zurich on the Saturday morning changing planes in Belgium, and took the 1.5 hour train from there to Bern ready to compete.  Paul Whittaker (coach: Michael Whittaker) completed the men’s very creditable  performances over the day.

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• Event website (French and German)
• Watch the event finish for each competitor