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Grice takes Euro Bronze Team medal

Friday 25th January 2013

Just off the plane from training in Kenya Charlie was straight into the Euro trials race on a very muddy Liverpool course. After having some time off to adjust to university life he was not sure if he had, had enough time to train in Kenya to make the British team for the European Championships, after so narrowly missing the team last year. This was made even harder when he saw the course, his least favourite surface sticky mud! However this was one year on and Charlie has grown in strength. He set off conservatively sitting in the pack and weighting to make his move in the closing stages. Doing just this he moved though the field to come away with a fantastic 2nd place to book his place in the team and gain his first Cross County GB vest. Also in action and making the long trip up north was Finn McNally (U23) 29th and Robbie Fitzgibbon (U17) 41st.

From the thick mud of Liverpool Charlie was thrown into the arctic freezer of Hungary, where a hard snowy course greeted him. Traditional the British team normally do very well in these championships and this was no different for Charlie as he went with the pace from the gun knowing that with the fast underfoot conditions it would be hard to make up the ground latter in the race. Digging deep in the last 2k he came away with a very classy 8th place finish (2nd Brit) and Euro team Bronze, not bad for someone who feels more comfortable over 4 laps of the track. Both Coach Jon Bigg and Coaching Mentor Joel Kidger braved the icy conditions to see him pick up his medal.
Videos

Liverpool Euro Trials 2012 Junior Men
http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/249964-2012-McCain-Cross-Challenge-Liverpool/video/663734-U20-Mens-2nd-Place-Charlie-Grice

Euro Champs 8th place individual, 3rd team Junior Men
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxKUKPzqGbA