Running Report 19/7/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners have continued their campaign in the Telford Sexarathon Road Race Series, competing in the Ironbridge 4 Mile and Vic Musgrove 5K races. There has been stiff competition among the leading runners throughout the Series, with club star Joe Brocklehurst, 4th at Ironbridge and 3rd in the Vic Musgrove race. The ongoing Club rivalry continued between Matt Guilder and Luke Butler, with Guilder 21st and Butler 22nd at Ironbridge, but Butler turning the tables in the Vic Musgrove race, with 21st place against Guilder's 22nd.


In the Summer Fell Race Series, Luke Butler proved equally at home on the hills, with 6th place in the Rodneys Pillar Race, while Steve Turk lead the side home in the Pontesbury Fell Race in 16th place and 2nd in the Veteran Over 45 category. In the Stiperstones Race, club captain Graham Jones finished 19th in 33/32 and 2nd in the Veteran Over 55 category. Gill Evans was 1st Lady Veteran Over 50 at Rodneys Pillar and Pontesbury.


Four of the Club's long distance specialists travelled to West Wales to compete in the unique Trail Marathon Wales, an arduous but spectacular course through the stunning trails and tracks of the world-renowned Coed y Brenin Forest in Snowdonia National Park. The marathon race was completed by Alan Dean in 41st place in 3/57/06 and Graham Jones 44th in 4/01/52 and 4th in the Veteran Over 50 category. In the half marathon race, Emma Sheekey finished 115th in the Womens' Race in 2/50/13 and Graham Parton 162nd in the Mens' Race in 2/30/41.


Gabe Morris was the Club's sole competitor in the Callow Race at Church Stretton, finishing 16th in 72/25.


The Club sent two teams to the Dearnford Relays at Whitchurch. The team of Luke Butler, Kevin Francis and James Hickinbottom finished 6th and Shaun Owen, Malcolm Metcalfe and Pete Savill 23rd, with Owen fastest Junior on the night.


Results:
Ironbridge 4: 4 Joe Brocklehurst 23.03, 21 Matt Guilder 25.22, 22 luke Butker 25.23, 43 Kevin Francis 26.45, 48 Pete Savill 27.03(1st Veteran Over 60).
Vic Musgrove: 3 Joe Brocklehurst 16.00, 21 Luke Butler 17.45, 23 Matt Guilder 17.48, 45 Kevin Francis 19.06, 49 Pete Savill 19.16(1st Veteran Over 60), 51 Shaun Owen 19.36.

Rodneys Pillar: 6 Luke Butler 25.08, 10 Gabe Morris 26.07, 13 Steve Turk 26.44(3rd Veteran Over 45), 65 Gill Evans 35.41(1st Lady Veteran Over 50).
Pontesbury: 16 Steve Turk 24.18(2nd Veteran Over 45), 21 Alan Dean 24.50, 22 Gabe Morris 24.56, 38 Haydn Jones 26.40(2nd Veteran Over 50), 84 Gill Evans 30.54(1st Lady Veteran Over 50).

Eastridge Trail Race Report 7/7/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club's first staging of their Eastridge Trail Half Race proved a great success, with overnight rain giving way to fine conditions for the start of the race. Starting from the historic mining village of Snailbeach, the route covered predominantly Forestry Commission land, comprising forest paths and tracks, taking in the Eastridge Woods and Stiperstones areas of the county. The race attracted a mixture of some of the County's top fell runners, club runners from in and outside the County, including a performance team from one of the race sponsors, TORQ Fitness Consultancy and many unattached runners. Although leading the race for most of the way, Mercia Fell Runners' Tim Davies was edged into 2nd place in 1.22.06 by Cardiff AAC's Michael Kallenberg, who won in 1.21.53, with Greg Smith, unattached, 3rd in 1.28.30. First woman home was Mercia Fell Runners' Emma Gould in 1.36.16, with TORQ Fitness' Great Britain Trail Running team member, Tracy Dean 2nd in 1.45.48 and Sarah Armstrong of Amazing Feet RC 3rd in 1.53.49. It was a successful day for the Mercia Club, winning the Team prize, from TORQ Fitness in 2nd place and Shropshire Shufflers third. There was praise from many of the competitors for the race, ensuring that it will be a regular fixture in the local trail running scene.


Race organiser, Graham Parton thanked the sponsors, Rybrook BMW, who donated a spot prize of a BMW for the weekend, TORQ Fitness Consultancy, who provided a free sample of their energy gel for each finisher, Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water, Muller Limited and The Three Tuns Brewery, who all donated prizes, Tesco Shrewsbury and Sainsburys Shrewsbury who provided energy food for the runners and David Davies and Co Minsterley, whose donation covered the cost of the medical 4X4 support team. He also thanked the people of Snailbeach for letting the event take place in the village and all the landowners, without whose support and consent, the race could not have taken place.The prizes were presented by Peter Moss OBE of Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury.

Category Results:
Men: Senior Men, Michael Kallenberg, Cardiff AAC, 1.21.53, Over 35, Tim Davies, Mercia Fell Runners, 1.22.06, Over 40, Gareth Briggs, Staffs Moorlands AC, 1.28.59, Over 45, Andy Yapp, Mercia Fell Runners, 1.35.57, Over 50, Glyn Fletcher, Maldwyn Harriers, 1.50.37, Over 55, Edward Davies, Mercia Fell Runners, 1.40.49, Over 60, Graham Spencer, Mercia Fell Runners, 1.54.23, Over 65, Iain F C Day, Unattached, 2.17.53.

Women: Senior Ladies, Emma Gould, Mercia Fell Runners, 1.36.16, Over 35, Rachel Walmsley, Unattached, 2.00.17, Over 40, Tracy Dean, TORQ, 1.45.48, Over 45, Sarah Armstrong, Amazing Feet, 1.53.49, Over 50, Gill Evans, Shrewsbury AC, 2.02.34, Over 55, Kim Braznell, Mercia Fell Runners, 1.59.23, Over 60, June Clare, Unattached, 2.09.44.

Running Report 22/6/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners have competed in the second and third fixtures of the Telford Sexarathon Series, the Phoenix 5K and Shropshire 4 Mile races, where the highlight of the Series so far has been the close rivalry between Shrewsbury's Joe Brocklehurst and Wrekin Road Runners' Paul Ward. After having to settle for 2nd place behind Ward in the first fixture at Lilleshall and at Phoenix, where he finished 2nd in 16.18, Brocklehurst turned the tables at the Shropshire 4,winning in the closest finish yet by just 4 seconds in 20.45. At Phoenix, Matt Guilder continued his successful debut season with 20th place in 18.01, Steve Waters 30th in 18.45, Luke Butler 37th in 19.00, Kevin Francis 40th in 19.09 and Pete Savill, last year's Veteran Over 60 winner, 48th in 19.28 and 2nd Veteran Over 60. At the Shropshire 4, Guilder was 23rd in 23.56, Butler 28th in 24.09 and Savill 45th in 25.37 and 1st Veteran Over 60.

The Summer Fell Race Series continued with the Caradoc Classic and Batch Bash races, with a successful Club debut for Gabe Morris at Caradoc, finishing 13th in 28.05, with Haydn Jones 39th in 30.28 and 2nd Veteran Over 50 and Gill Evans 83rd in 35.12 and 1st Lady Veteran Over 50. At the Batch event, Steve Turk led the side home in 22nd place in 32.04 and 1st Veteran Over 45, Gabe Morris 23rd in 32.13, Alan Dean 28th in 33.05 and Gill Evans 109th in 42.26 and 1st Lady Veteran Over 50. In the Bluebell Run at Church Stretton, Steve Turk was 5th in 37.34 and 1st Veteran Over 45 and Gill Evans once again winner in the Lady Veteran Over 50 category, with 23rd place in 46.41.

Shrewsbury AC Running Report 10/5/14

The Telford Sexarathon Series has commenced with the staging of the Lilleshall 5 Mile Race. Joe Brocklehurst got his 2014 campaign off to a successful start with 2^nd place in 26/36, with Matt Guilder 25^th in 30/50, Luke Butler 40^th in 32/07, Kevin Francis 42^nd in 32/13 and Peter Savill, winner of last year's Over 60 category, 47^th in 32/40 and 2^nd Veteran over 60.

On the fell running scene, the Winter Fell Series concluded with the Wrekin Fell Race, with Angus Harvey-Smith 8^th in 44/42, Steve Turk 22^nd in 50/04 and 1^st Veteran over 45 and Gill Evans 66^th in 62/04 and 2^nd Lady Veteran over 50. It was a successful series for the three, with Harvey-Smith 4^th Senior Man overall, Turk 1^st Veteran over 45 and Evans 1^st Lady Veteran over 50.

The Summer Fell Series commenced with the Wrekin Streak Race, with Steve Turk 28^th in 22/00 and 3^rd Veteran over 45, Shaun Owen 44^th in 23/29 and 4^th Male Under 18 and Gill Evans 78^th in 27/45 and 1^st Lady Veteran over 50.

In the Sheinton Steeplechase multi terrain race, there were successes for club runners in a number of age categories. Gabe Morris had an outstanding performance, finishing 2^nd in 21/35 in his debut appearance for the club, with club captain Graham Jones 6th in 22/37 and 1^st Veteran over 55 and Steve Turk 8^th in 22/47 and 2^nd Veteran over 45.

Other Finishers: 12^th Haydn Jones 23/23(1^st Veteran over 50), 16 Kevin Francis 23/42(4^th Veteran over 45), 33 Gill Evans 27/25(1^st Lady Veteran over 50), 45 Adam Stockwell 29/33, 65 Gordon Trevor 41/05(1^st Veteran over 60).

Marathon Round-Up

There was Shrewsbury AC action on the streets of London as Father and Son, Peter and Luke Butler represented the club in this year's London Marathon. For Luke Butler this race was his debut at the full marathon distance and after a solid block of marathon specific training over the last few months he was in shape to attempt to break the hallowed 3 hour barrier. Well supported by friends and family, Luke passed over Tower Bridge nearing halfway on the shoulder of the Sub 3 hour pacemaker and passed the half-way mark in 1.29.43. It was not until the latter stages of the race that Luke lost contact with the Sub 3 hour pacemaker and ultimately finished in a time of 3.01.00, which was a superb performance given it was one of the hottest races in recent years. Peter Butler, who enters the Vet 60 category in 2015 was on target for a Sub 4 hour clocking at halfway but slowed marginally during the 2nd half of the race to finish just outside 4 hours in 4.00.20 to round off a highly memorable day for the family.

On the previous weekend, 6th April, marathon-lover, Emma Sheekey competed in her 2nd Paris Marathon. After completing 2 marathons a fortnight apart last year, Emma sensibly opted to target just the one this year and was rewarded with a PB after a great run, crossing the line in 4.09.55. Her time was remarkably 24 minutes quicker than last year's. 

On the same morning, Shrewsbury AC's Haydn Jones competed in the Greater Manchester Marathon. 2014 saw the third running of the race, which starts and finishes at Old Trafford Football Stadium and claims to be flattest marathon race in the country. Haydn who has posted a number of impressive marathon times over a long period, finished in an impressive time of 3.23.45, placing him 822nd out of around 7,000 runners.

X-Country Report 9/2/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners had to overcome exceptionally challenging ground and weather conditions when they competed in the final two fixtures of the North Wales Cross Country League at Lilleshall and Oswestry. In the wet and muddy conditions at Lilleshall, Joe Brocklehurst lead the side home in 6^thplace, with Dom Kirby in 23^rd place , and Tom Roo 29^th. Next to score was Richard Jones, 42^nd, Kevin Francis 47^th, then a return from injury straight into the team scorers for Luke Butler in 52^nd place. The energy sapping conditions took their toll, with the Shrewsbury Club slipping to 4^th team on the day, but still 2^nd overall in the Series. In the Womens' race, Ann Byrne was 52^nd and Sheila Richards 53^rd.

At Oswestry, a further two weeks of rain combined with gale force winds and torrential rain on the day made the going even tougher, with Pete Middleton able to return to lead the squad home in 7^th place, followed by Dom Kirby, capping off his best season to date in 13^th place. Tom Roo and Alan Dean, having bolstered the squad with their appearances in the final two fixtures, finished in 29^th and 34^th places, with Richard Jones and Club Captain Graham Jones completing the team scorers in 35^th and 40^th places. A great team effort all round, meant that the Club maintained their 2^nd place overall in the Mens' and Masters' team series and in addition, Richard Jones was 2nd in the Veteran Over 50 category and Graham Jones 2^nd in the Veteran Over 55 category. In the Womens' race Anne Byrne and sister Sheila Richards completed a consistent season in 50^th and 51^st places, with Anne Byrne finishing 3^rd overall in the Female Veteran Over 55 category.

Results:

Lilleshall: 6 Joe Brocklehurst 35/31, 23 Dom Kirby 38/55, 29 Tom Roo 39/30, 42 Richard Jones 40/48, 47 Kevin Francis 41/13, 52 Luke Butler 41/29, 53 Angus Harvey-Smith 41/38, 57 Alan Dean 42/47, 70 Haydn Jones 44/20, 113 Derek Owen 51/23. Women: 52 Anne Byrne 40/57, 53 Sheila Richards 41/48.

Oswestry: 7 Pete Middleton, 13 Dom Kirby, 29 Tom Roo, 34 Alan Dean, 35 Richard Jones, 40 Graham Jones, 53 Haydn Jones, 103 Derek Owen. Women: 50 Anne Byrne, 51 Sheila Richards.

The County Cross Country Championships took place at Lilleshall in similarly challenging conditions, with Pete Middleton leading the side home in 7^th place, Steve Waters 17^th, Kevin Francis 22^nd and Derek Owen 51^st. Anne Byrne finished 50^th in the Womens' race. In the Under 17 Boys' race, Daniel Hersee finished 7^th and Shaun Owen 17^th, while the muddy conditions were no barrier to the Club's fell star Ben Ashcroft, who stormed to a decisive victory in the Under 20 race.

Results: 7 Pete Middleton 39/52, 17 Steve Waters 44/15, 22 Kevin Francis 44/48, 51 Derek Owen 54/17. Women: 50 Anne Byrne 49/19. Under 17 Boys: 7 Daniel Hersee 23/05, 17 Shaun Owen 25/29. Under 20 Men: 1 Ben Ashcroft 39/15.

Mad Jack's 5

The 2014 Mad Jack's 5 Race will take place on Saturday 8th November at Attingham Park, nr Shrewsbury. Entries are now open. Enter online at www.runbritain.com or download the entry form and Information for Runners at http://shropshirerunnersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk Closing date for pre-entries - Friday 31st October. Entry limit - 550. Entries on the day available if entry limited not reached.

Road Race Round-Up

Telford 10k, 15/12/13

There's a few things you look for when choosing a road race to enter and the Telford 10k ticks most, if not all of those boxes. It's relatively cheap, local to Shrewsbury, the course is fast with good PB potential, the field is strong (one of the strongest in the country) and it's well organised. For these reasons runners flock from all over the country to compete and this year saw a record turnout of just over 800 runners with about 200 in the Elite Race, and approx 600 in the Mass Race. 

The course is a fast and flat, 2 lap route around Telford Town Park, with a frantic, narrow, winding, downhill start and an out and back section along the Silkin Way with a bollard as a turning point. In near perfect conditions for running (only a slight breeze) Steve Waters, Alan Dean and Pete Savill represented Shrewsbury AC, competing in the elite race. First home for the club was Steve Waters (132nd), in a season's best 37.19. Alan Dean finished just inside the top 200 with a solid sub 40 min clocking of 39.43, while Pete Savill just missed out on a sub 40 with 40.13 as he once again dominated his peers in the MV60 category.

Parkrun Round-Up

In recent weeks, Shrewsbury AC athletes have continued to take part in the local Shrewsbury Parkrun. Some using it as speedwork, others focused on lowering their 5k times. On 7th December, Joe Brocklehurst, following a great duel with Welshpool-based Richard Roberts set a new course record, 15.47. This was the first time the course record had been broken since the inaugural race in September and runner-up, Richard's time of 15.54 was the 2nd fastest over the course. In the same race the club's leading junior runner, Ben Ashcroft ran 17.21 for 5th and one-time Telford Parkrun winner, Luke Butler made his comeback from a knee injury with a solid 18.31 for 10th. Luke's performance was particularly impressive given he had spent the previous night intoxicated on some of Shropshire's finest ales. Super-Vet Pete Savill finished in 19.21, 17 seconds slower than his best performance over the course which ranks him 2nd overall in the Age Graded league out of over a 1,000 runners.

The previous week, Dom Kirby made a rare outing on the tarmac and continued his great form over the winter by breaking the 17 minute barrier in 16.56. He was followed home by the improving Steve Waters who enjoyed a breakthrough run clocking 17.56 (his fastest time in well over 3 years). 

Most recently on 14th December, Matt Guilder finally succeeded in his quest for a sub 18 min performance as he romped round in 17.47 for 4th place. This was another great run from Matt following his 10k PB of 37.12, set 2 weeks previously at the Wesham 10k. Haydn Jones enjoyed a return to form in 7th, 18.47 narrowly beating Steve Turk, 18.49. Improving junior athlete, Shaun Owen ran his fastest time to date, 20.09.