Mad Jack's 5 Mile Race Report 10/11/13

The sun once again shone when Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their sixth Mad Jack's 5 Mile Race, held in conjunction with and with kind permission of the National Trust, at Attingham Park on Saturday, with the turnout of 353 runners showing that the popularity of the event continues to grow.

There was success for the Shrewsbury Club with winners in the Mens and Womens races and additionally in the Mens' over 35, 50 and 60 categories. In the Mens' race, Joe Brocklehurst  was comfortable winner in 30/16, with an impressive display around the picturesque course, made more difficult by the additional mud and flooded areas caused by  recent rain. Next, John McFarlane of Thames Hare and Hounds was second in 30/54 and Shrewsbury AC's Dom Kirby third in 31/14. The Womens' race was won by the Club's Welsh International, Anna Bartlett in 36/17, with Telford Harriers' Jessica Harvey second in 38/01 and Eleanor Hartley, unattached, third in 38/16. The Junior Mens' race won by Arthur Charlesworth of Wenlock Olympians in 32/56 in 35/37.

National Trust General Manager at Attingham Park, Mark Agnew, praised the tenacity of the  runners in taking on the muddy conditions and the many runners competing for the first time and thanked the organisers and helpers. Race organiser Kevin Francis praised the runners and the support of the race sponsors Rybrook BMW, Up and Running and Tesco. The prize of the weekend car, kindly sponsored by Rybrook BMW was won by Martin Wynn.

Category Winners:

Men: Senior Men, Joe Brocklehurst, Shrewsbury AC, 30/16, Over 35, Dom Kirby, Shrewsbury AC, 31/14, Over 40, John McFarlane, Thames Hare and Hounds, 30/54, Over 45: Mark Griffiths, SY Tri, 35/17, Over 50, Duncan Beales, Shrewsbury AC, 33/35, Over 55, Kelvin Amos, Newcastle Tri, 34/37, Over 60, Pete Savill, Shrewsbury AC, 36/04, Over 65, Andy Galbraith, Shropshire Shufflers, 40/52, Over 70, Alan Morris, Shropshire Shufflers, 43/01, Junior Men, Arthur Charlesworth, Wenlock Olympians, 32/56.

Women: Senior Women, Jessica Harvey, Telford Harriers, 38/01, Over 35: Jacqueline Macey, Wrekin Road Runners, 40/52, Over 40, Anna Bartlett, Shrewsbury AC, 36/17, Over 45, Tracey Williams, Denbigh Harriers, 40/14, Over 50, Emma Collins, Denbigh Harriers, 38/33, Over 55, Menai Baugh, Denbigh Harriers, 41/02, Over 60, Sue Johnson, unattached, 52/03, Over 70, Kathy Ling, Wrekin Road Runners, 82/29. 

Shrewsbury Athletic Club are staging an exciting new running event in 2014. Set in the stunning Shropshire countryside, the Eastridge Trail Half Race will take place on Saturday 5^th July 2014 (10.30am start), a multi terrain hill race of 13.1 miles and with 2324 ft of ascent, starting from the historic mining village of Snailbeach, the route is predominantly over Forestry Commission land, mainly forest tracks and paths, taking in the Eastridge Woods and Stiperstones areas of the county. The race limit has been set at 300, with the first 100 runners to enter the race, getting a free T-shirt. Information and entry forms can be accessed on shropshirerunnersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk and online entries are available at www.runbritain.com.

  

SAC Running Report 23/10/13

Shrewsbury Athletic Club commenced their North Wales Cross Country League campaign, competing in the first two fixtures at Bangor and Llandudno. At Bangor, in fine weather and uncustomary firm conditions underfoot, the team produced a solid performance, spearheaded by an outstanding run by Ian Haworth in 3^rd place, followed by Steve Turk in a personal best placing in 36^th place, Club Captain Graham Jones 41^st, Steve Waters 46^th, Kevin Francis 56^th and Haydn Jones 61^st and sixth team scorer in his debut cross country for the Club. Chris Wakeman was 106^th and Derek Owen 119^th. The team placed third in both the Senior Mens' and Masters' team events.

At Llandudno, in the absence of Ian Haworth, away on a school trip in Kenya, Dom Kirby rose to the occasion to lead the side home in 28^th place, followed by club debutant Richard Jones 38^th in his first cross country for the Club, Steve Turk 46^th, Graham Jones 48^th, Steve Waters 54^th ,Haydn Jones 81^st and Derek Owen 131^st.

The Womens' team were represented in both events by sisters Anne Byrne and Sheila Richards, finishing 75^th and 81^st respectively at Bangor and 95^th and 98^th at Llandudno.

On the fell running scene, Dom Kirby won the Brown Clee Burn, a tough multi terrain 10K race in South Shropshire with steep climbs and long descents in a time of 42/15. In the Breiddens Fell Race, the first race of the Shropshire Hills Winter Series, Ashley Gray finished 18^th and 7^th Veteran over 40 in 64/10, Steve Turk was 23^rdand 2nd Veteran over 45 in 64/57 and Gill Evans 110^th and 4^th Female Veteran over 50 in 85/07.

Team Photo Llandudno:

Back: Derek Owen, Graham Jones, Richard Jones, Haydn Jones, Chris Wakeman, Dom Kirby, Steve Waters, Luke Butler

Middle: Sheila Richards, Anne Byrne

Front: Steve Turk

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The Club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Wednesday 27th November 2013 at 8.15pm at the Telepost Club, Railway Lane, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. SY2 6BT

The AGM will receive Reports from the Club's Officers and will elect the Club Officers and General Committee members for the succeeding year.

The AGM will deal with any other business placed on the Agenda by the General Committee or by an ordinary member.

Any member wishing to submit items for the Agenda shall forward such in writing to the Secretary at least fourteen days before the date of the meeting.

All members over the age of thirteen years on the first day of September prior to the AGM shall be entitled to vote.

Mrs D. Jebb, Honorary Secretary, 27 Pensfold, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury. SY3 5HF

SAC Running Report 8/9/13

Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Joe Brocklehurst finished the Telford Sexarathon Series in style with victory in 16/16 in the final event at the Harper Scarper 5K Race, making it five victories out of the six races and overall winner of the Series. The race proved successful for the other Club competitors, with season's best placings for Luke Butler 12th in 17/59, Steve Waters 20th in 18/23, Peter Savill 43rd in 19/43 and 1st Veteran Over 60, and Pete Butler 90th in 22/15. Luke Butler and Peter Savill were rewarded for their consistent season performances, with Butler 8th overall for the Series and Savill 1st in the Veteran Over 60 Category. Evergreen veteran Brian Williams finished 3rd for the Series in the Veteran Over 70 Category, despite being unable to compete in the final event.


Junior Fell ace Ben Ashcroft finished his successful Summer Fell Race Series with 7th place and 1st Under 18 Male in 30/21 in the Ragleth Fell Race, finishing an outstanding 4th place overall for the Series and 1st in the Male Under 18 category. Ashley Gray finished 6th overall for the Series and 2nd in the Veteran Over 40 category and Jon Ashcroft was 8th overall in the Veteran Over 45 category.

Steve Waters produced an impressive display in the Wolverhampton 10K Race, finishing 7th in 38/15 in a field of over 260 runners.


Three Club runners travelled to Tywyn in West Wales to compete in the Race the Train Challenges, Sheila Richards finishing 85th and 1st Female Veteran Over 60 in 57/08 in the Dolgoch Challenge and Derek Owen 67th and 2nd Veteran Over 60 in 52/26 in the Quarry Challenge. Megan Potts finished 49th and 5th in the Female Under 13 category in 23/18 in the Tynllwynhen Challenge in a field of 170 runners.


Attention now turns to the forthcoming North Wales Cross Country season, with the first fixture taking place at Bangor on Saturday 5th October.

Mad Jacks 5

This years Mad Jacks 5mile (approx) run through the picturesque Attingham Park near Shrewsbury will take place on Saturday 9th November.
The race is run in conjunction with the National Trust with the route taking in the Parkland around the Mansion, the Deer Park and farmland. The route is a traditional cross country course incorporating obstacles including fences, ditches and finishing with a crossing of the pond, yards from the finishing line!
The entry form is available downloading from the following link:
http://shropshirerunnersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/

SAC Running Report 18/5/13

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners have been out in force at events in 
and around Shropshire. Joe Brocklehurst was triumphant in the Phoenix 
Flyer 5K Race, the second in the Telford Sexarathon Series, although he 
was pushed all the way by 2nd placed Paul Ward of Wrekin Road Runners, 
while three days earlier, Brocklehurst finished 2nd in the prestigious 
Market Drayton 10K Race, beaten only by Telford Athletic Club's top 
runner, Chris Davies.

A large contingent of Club runners were among the record entry of over 
1600 at Market Drayton, with Luke Butler , Grant Lloyd and Peter Savill 
rewarded with personal best times, Savill under 40 minutes for the 
first time and and 2nd in the Veteran over 60 category. At the Phoenix 
race, Luke Butler followed up his personal best 10K time with a 
personal best for 5K, finishing in the top 20, with Savill comfortably 
winning the Veteran over 60 category, making him the current Series 
leader for the category. Brian Williams won the Veteran over 70 
category and currently leads the Series in the category.

The Club's Junior fell runners were in impressive form in the second 
event in the English Junior Fell Race Championships at Church Stretton, 
Ben Ashcroft 8th in the Under 18 race in 57/30 and Ross Kirby 16th in 
the Under 16 race in 37/44. For the girls, Megan Potts was 19th in the 
Under 14 Race in 34/19.

The Junior fell runners were joined by senior colleagues for the Red 
Kite Challenge in Mid Wales, where the junior races were selection 
races for the Welsh Junior Trail and Mountain Championships, with the 
winners guaranteed selection for an upcoming international fixture in 
France. Kirby took the bronze medal in his event, reaping the rewards 
of taking part in an England and Wales Junior Mountain Running training 
camp over Easter at Llanberis, while dad, Dom Kirby finished 9th in the 
13.2 mile senior race in 1/35/43 and club captain Graham Jones 21st in 
1/43/51 and winner of the Veteran over 55 category. The following day, 
Kirby Senior finished 4th in the 17 mile Ras y Daifol from Devil's 
Bridge in 2/11/48 and 1st Veteran over 35, finishing 2nd overall for 
the two days and 30 miles of fell racing.

In the Caradoc Classic Fell Race, the second fixture in the Summer Fell 
Race Series, junior fell star Ben Ashcroft beat some of the County's 
top senior fell runners to finish 4th in 24/35 and won the under 18 
category, with Ashley Gray, 12th in 27/14 and 4th Veteran over 40, 
Haydn Jones 26th in 29/43 and 1st Veteran over 50 and John Ashcroft 
43rd in 31/53. In the Sheinton Steeplechase trail race, Ashley Gray was 
5th in 21/21 and 1st Veteran over 40 and Steve Turk, 11th in 22/30 and 
3rd Veteran over 45.

Phoenix Flyer 5K Results:
1 Joe Brocklehurst 31/26, 20 Luke Butler 17/42, 39 Steve Waters 18/42, 
60 Peter Savill 19/45(1st Veteran over 60), 110 Pete Butler 22/07, 220 
Brian Williams 30/07(1st Veteran over 70).

Market Drayton 10K Results:
2 Joe Brocklehurst 31/26, 43 Luke Butler 37/13, 49 Grant Lloyd 37/39, 
59 Steve Waters 38/05, 84 Chris Wakeman 39/23(4th Veteran over 50), 95 
Peter Savill 39/48(2nd Veteran over 60), 231 Alan Dean 43/08, 275 
Duncan Rose 44/14, 351 Pete Butler 45/54, 394 Callum Dodd 46/56.

The Keith Ivison Memorial 5k

The Keith Ivison Memorial 5k is being held in the Quarry Park Shrewsbury on 5th May 2013 at 11am, all proceeds in aid of Severn Hospice and RSH Neonatal Unit ...Keith was a founder member of Shropshire Shufflers, please come along to support Keith's wife Chris and her family in remembering Keith and enjoy a lovely day in the town park running alongside the river on a fast mostly flat accurate course. You can enter online just click on the link: http://www.fabian4.co.uk/default.aspx?EventID=809.

SAC Running Report 26/3/13

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners have been competing in the Shropshire 
Hills Winter Fell Race Series on the Church Stretton and Clee Hills. 
Dan Croft has improved steadily during the fell season, culminating 
in an outstanding 3rd place in The Titterstone Clee Hill Race in 21/12 
and winner in the Veteran over 45 category. Ashley Gray is also having 
a successful season, finishing 9th in 22/21 and 3rd Veteran over 40, 
with Steve Turk 12th in 22/52 and 4th Veteran over 45 and Gill Evans 
39th in 32/08 and winner in the Lady Veteran over 50 category. The day 
after the Clee Hill Race, the gruelling Long Mynd Valleys Race took 
place in extreme conditions of rain, sleet and snow, with Dan Croft 
completing the course in 42nd place in 2/13/21, Ashley Gray 67th in 
2/24/15 and Gill Evans 133rd in 2/51/47 and 2nd in the Lady Veteran 
over 50 category. Dan Croft and Ashley Gray then continued their 
campaign in the Winter Fell Series in the Carding Mill Canter Fell 
Race, with Dan Croft 12th in 47/43 and 2nd Veteran over 45 and Ashley 
Gray 16th in 49/28 and 5th Veteran over 40.

Pete Middleton continued his outstanding form from the cross country 
season, when he competed in the Stafford 20 Mile Road Race, finishing 
3rd in 2/00/08 in a field of over 300 runners.

At the Blymhill 10K Multi Terrain Race in Staffordshire, Chris Wakeman 
finished 24th in a field of 170 runners in 45/37 and 3rd Veteran over 
50. He was joined by daughter Alicia Wakeman for the Fradley 10K Road 
Race also in Staffordshire, with dad Chris 44th in 39/55 and winner in 
the Veteran over 50 category and daughter Alicia 315th in 52/42, in a 
field of 700 runners.

Steve Turk and Gill Evans competed in the Cloud 9 Hill Race in 
Cheshire, finishing 48th in 1/07/20 and 207th in 1/20/41 respectively 
with Gill Evans taking silver in the Lady Veteran over 50 category.