EKIDEN relays and GB teams

I acknowledged he has put in some cracking performances and I fully respect what he has done for british distance running but in terms of your arguments why he should be funded NOW (not 4 years ago):

1. how many major champs has he represented GB in since 2004 and sacrified majoy big city pay days? Zero, but he has ran New York, London and Fukuoka.

2. xc is not funded nor does being good at it help your case for funding as its not an olympic sport, otherwise Hayley (and maybe Liz) Yelling would have as much of a shout as JB for funding (and certainly in the last 4 years).

3.I don't see JB running 28.18 again soon never mind 27.18.

Therefore, 3 reasons you put forward for him representing a good return on investment are based on false ground in 2007/8.

he must have lots of great knowledge to pass down to the next generation, but people that have been on GB teams with him tell me he is very quiet and not forthcoming (I know how many people have actually asked him for advice...), but if his attitude is to sulk about how rubbish he's been treated by UKA then what lessons is that giving to the yoof.

Also, I do give a toss about Mo because he wants to represent GB and is proud to wear the vest- see the difference there. Finally, I'd love JB to get a job at UKA to be a 'mentor' so its not my attitude that has made him bugger off to Canada.

I never said he should be funded or not (now). I simply stated that for the funding he has had in the past he has delivered more than a lot of others. Whatever he does from now on you can't say he hasnt been far and away our best distance runner for the last 10 years, and would no doubt still be a valuable marathoner if fit.

I havent seen anywhere that states he has declared himself for Canada because he was dropped from UK lottery - theres a lot of asumption about this on here. People are assuming a cause / effect situation that doesnt necessarily exist.

I recall the canada issue has been raised before so maybe he just felt the time was right.

You stated about people 'representing the land of their birth' not me, hence why I reasoned you wouldnt view Farah as British - however you do so fine. Your assertion is that Brown was not proud to wear the British vest, I doubt this is true as he has done it with distinction many times. He's hardly 'buggered' off to Canada either, having lived there for years.

Saying JB is "not forthcoming" is crap.

Simple ... if you dont ask him, he won't answer. You do, he will answer, in great detail, and he actually explains his reasoning each time. It's quite odd really.

Oh yeah ... that's my experience based on spending a week with him at last year's Ekiden. Ok.. he talked to nobody for 2 days, but that's just how he was... quiet. Not to be confused with "not forthcoming" or "sulking".

Anyone else remember all that nonsense when he wanted to represent Wales?

Maybe Brown realised that his chances of qualifying for Beijing were becoming shorter because of Abyu's Dublin performance (ironically an athlete who has chnaged nationallity TO us. It will be interesting to see how soon he is signed up to Lotery funding if he continues to improve.

Brown poised for Wales homecoming

British distance runner Jon Brown is set to compete in his country of birth for the first time in 20 years.

Brown, who has finished fourth in the last two Olympic Games marathons, is returning to Wales to run in the 10km BUPA Great Wales Run on Sunday 29 July.

The Canada-based athlete, 36, said: "I was born in Kenfig Hill near Bridgend, and lived there until I was 10.

"My mother was Welsh so I had lots of family there. My dad is still living in Kenfig Hill."

He added: "I have run in Wales before - the last time was over 20 years ago when I was a kid.

"I ran a schools international there once (for England) and also the Welsh Cross Country Championships when I was around 15, which I won."

After leaving Wales as a youngster, Brown was raised in Yorkshire and chose to represent England.

He gained Canadian citizenship in 2005 but continues to represent Great Britain, and has already been selected to run in the marathon at this this year's World Championships in Japan (25 August to 2 September).

"Some years back I did express an interest in running for Wales in the Commonwealth Games at 10,000m," he revealed.

"But they weren't interested as I hadn't run their championships for the two previous years - even though I was the fastest in the UK that year."

Despite turning his back on his Welsh roots, Brown argues his 10,000m time of 27 minutes 18.14 seconds should stand a Welsh record as it beats Steve Jones' time by some 20 seconds.

"Steve Jones would dispute that, but the fact is that I am Welsh," said Brown, whose time remains a British record.

Yeah, right

forget about the national 10km because a lot of the better athletes didnt run.the so called ekiden selection has always come from the national 6 stage.hepples was 18th fastest.so why has he jumped the queue.uka just get better.oh well none of us will be making GB teams soon.by the time london 2012 comes it will be an african distance team ayway.come on lads lets get out and train harder.uka are doing a great job in getting kids involved.going to end up the same as english players in football.getting pushed out by the foreigners.

Think there is a case of the green eyed monster going on here.

Why don\\\'t you expect he is in good form. Did you finish infront of him in the southerns, national or national 10k?

Think you have to go back and look at the results of the southerns for a start, equal 2nd quickest time with Bowden. Was quicker than Wicks who is flying, Sharp, Blackledge, etc, etc. He followed this up by a solid performance at National 10k (which had equal consideration for Ekiden selection) only Mays, Thompson out of the Brit\\\'s were infront of him. Beat Chris Davies, Sharpe, mitchinson etc.

Ok his road relay performance wasn\\\'t as good but still performed well, second quickest time on his leg I believe.

If you don\\\'t like it get your own arse in gear and kick his arse then you will be wearing a GB vest insteasd of him.

Get over it!

i have kicked is arse.And would do at the moment.and did at national 6 stage.must be in with the crowd at the uka.

ben tickner should be the travelling reserve!

i agree with that.Ben ran well at the national 6 stage.obviouusly Ben wasnt asked either.

if the likes of tickner,wicks and nichols were left out because of liverpool,here is another name, and a better choice than hepples, ADAM BOWDEN. Adam ran good times at the southern and national 6 stages, and his ran at mansfield was even better,like wicks 0n leg 4, adam on leg 2 also ran on his own after being given the lead,and put on a strong sub 15min performance.

RE: hepples 11/15/2007 9:16AM - in reply to franky Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

i have kicked is arse.And would do at the moment.and did at national 6 stage.must be in with the crowd at the uka.

WHATS YOUR NAME THEN AND WHEN DID YOU BEAT HIM LAST.

You put forward Bowden but he didn't run the National 10k which was p[art of the selection process to. Ran equally as fast as Bowden in the southerns to.

Have some balls and put your name forward!!!

Im Tiger Woods - who are you?

Humm the response I expected, full of shit !

You are a little GIRL!!!

No last time i checked i had a willy.

Yes on your head

Bowden would have been a much better proposition than Hepples.At the end of the day BOWDEN is an international, where as HEPPLES is, and allways will be just a good club athlete.Who also is very inconsistant with his performances. Hence, sorry to say but a very poor choice, which seems par the the course with UKA.