Road Race Roundup

Market Drayton 10k, 12/5/13

The prestigious Market Drayton 10k took place on 12th May. Voted the number one 10k race in the country, the race attracted a record entry of over 1600 runners including some of the County's top road runners. A large contingent of Shrewsbury AC runners competed, many of whom were delighted with their performances. Joe Brocklehurst continued his fine form coming 2nd in a swift 31.26, only beaten by Telford AC's top runner, Chris Davies. The ever-improving Luke Butler was the next Shrewsbury AC runner home in 43rd, smashing his personal best with 37.13. He was closely followed by Grant Lloyd who had reaped the benefits from a consistent spell of training to beat his personal best in 37.39 for 49th place. Steve Waters was 59th in 38.05 and Chris Wakeman saw a return to form as he clocked 39.23 in 84th. One of the performances of the day was Peter Savill who managed to not only duck under 40 minutes with 39.48 but further claim a prize for 2nd V60. Also running, Alan Dean was 231st in 43.08 and Duncan Rose had a good run to finish 9th in his V55 category with a decent time of 44.14. He was closely followed by Peter Butler, 45.54 and Callum Dodd who was making a return to racing in 46.56.

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

95 Peter Savill 39.48

231 Alan Dean 43.08

275 Duncan Rose 44.14

351 Peter Butler 45.54

394 Callum Dodd 46.56

Phoenix Flyer 5k, 15/5/13 

In the second race of the Telford AC Sexarathon Series, despite a close battle with Wrekin Road Runners' Paul Ward, Joe Brocklehurst once again took 1st place as he posted a fast time of 15.32. Luke Butler, a few days on from smashing his 10k PB, lowered his 5k personal best to 17.42. Beating a number of good runners from rival clubs in a close finish, Luke edged into the top 20 with a result that leaves him well placed in the series. Steve Waters was the next Shrewsbury AC runner home in 39th in 18.42. Peter Savill followed in 19.45 in 60th place, comfortably winning his V60 age category on the night, a result that puts him level on points with Mercia's Peter Johnson in the overall series. Peter Butler had a decent run for 22.07 in 110th place and Brian Williams completed the Shrewsbury AC line up with 30.07. Brian leads the V70 category in the series.

1 Joe Brocklehurst 15.32

20 Luke Butler 17.42

39 Steve Waters 18.42

60 Peter Savill 19.45 (1st MV 60)

110 Peter Butler 22.07

220 Brian Williams 30.07

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.

Sportshall Championships CANCELLED

We have been informed that the Leisure Centre in Much Wenlock is closed, therefore the Sportshall Championships have been CANCELLED.

Shrewsbury AC Training 3/3/13

Shrewsbury Athletic Club wish to announce that the Club's Senior Road, 
Cross Country and Fell Running Section will be switching their 
Wednesday evening training sessions from the London Road Sports Centre 
to the Sundorne Sports Village. Training sessions at the new venue will 
commence on Wednesday 3rd April 2013, with runs starting at 7.00pm and 
lasting about 60 minutes and with the lighter evenings, routes will be 
able to take in Haughmond Hill and other local footpaths.

The Club is also keen to welcome new male and female members, in line 
with the Club ethos to cater for runners of all abilities and the 
sessions would suit anyone preparing for the many local races, both on 
and off road scheduled to take place throughout the spring and summer, 
including this year the first staging of the Shrewsbury Marathon and 
Half Marathon. The Club itself promotes some fell races on Wednesday 
evenings in the summer as well as the established Severn Loop Summer 
and Winter 5K races and the Mad Jack's 5 Mile race in November. This 
section of the Club now has three UK Athletics licensed coaches, two 
male and one female. Periodically, Wednesday evening training runs are 
arranged to take place at alternative locations out in the Shropshire 
countryside and a schedule of these is available to members, as there 
will be no training at Sundorne on those evenings. There would be no 
obligation to join the Club for the first four training sessions.

Further information can be obtained from Club Captain Graham Jones on 
07837242742 or by emailing john.jones22@btinternet.com.

Severn Loop Winter 5K Report 20/2/13

Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Severn Loop Winter 5K Race finally went 
ahead on Sunday. Rescheduled from December, when parts of the course 
were flooded, the race took place in perfect weather conditions, with 
in-form Club star Joe Brocklehurst racing away from the rest of the 
field to win by over a minute in 15/15, some 30 seconds faster than his 
winning time for the Summer 5K, but missing out on beating his own 
course record by just one second, no doubt due to the large numbers of 
people out walking in the Quarry enjoying the winter sunshine. Second 
was Pete Butler of Oswestry Olympians in 16/31 and third Callum Dillon 
in 16/47. In a closely contested Womens' Race, Sue Kneill-Boxley of 
Cannock and Staffs Athletic Club ran out winner in 21/18 and winner in 
the Over 45 Category, with Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Gill Evans second 
in 21/29 and winner in the Over 50 Category and Sally Brocklehurst, 
Unattached, wife of Joe Brocklehurst making it a double family success 
in third place in 21/55 and winner in the Senior Womens' Category.

Race Winner Joe Brocklehurst in full flight. Pic courtesy of Alistair Tye - www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk

In an enthusiastic Junior 2K Race, the Boys' Race was won by Douglas 
Harper in 8/26, making it another double family success, with Dad, 
Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Gary Harper winner of the over 45 Category 
in the 5K Race. Second was Sam Johnson in 8/39 and third Kaya Saul in 
8/55. The Girls' Race turned into a close contest, with Lydia Carter, 
winner in 9/53, Rowan Shirra second in 9/56 and Mary Saul third in 
10/17. Another Harper family member, 6 year old nephew Tane Harper ran 
impressively around the 2K course in 14/26.

Category Winners:
Men: Senior Men: Joe Brocklehurst, Shrewsbury AC, 15/15, Over 35: Angus 
Harvey Smith, Unattached, 17/49, Over 40: Tony Wardle, 18/12, Over 45: 
Gary Harper, Shrewsbury Athletic Club, 17/55, Over 50: Andrew Dippie, 
Telford Harriers, 19/31 Over 55:Alan Brookes, South Cheshire Harriers, 
20/16, Over 60: Peter Johnson, Mercia Fell Runners, 20/32, Over 65: 
Andy Galbraith, Shropshire Shufflers, 20/44, Junior Men: Ryan 
Colclough, Deeside Athletic Club, 18/10.

Women: Senior Women: Sally Brocklehurst, Unattached, 21/55, Over 35: 
Susan Reynolds, 25/48, Over 45: Sue Kneill-Boxley, Cannock and Staffs 
AC, 21/18 , Over 50: Gill Evans, Shrewsbury AC, 21/29, Over 55: Gill 
Welsby, Shropshire Shufflers, 25/24, Over 60: Judy Gardener, 
Unattached, 30/54..

All Images courtesy of www.fellrunningpictures.co.uk 

SAC Running Report 4/2/13

Despite a difficult start to the North Wales Cross Country League 
season, a steady improvement by Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners during 
the Series and outstanding performances by Joe Brocklehurst were enough 
to boost the Club's fortunes, with the Senior Mens' team achieving 
second place overall for the Series after the final fixture of the 
Series at Oswestry on Saturday, even with a number of key members 
missing from the team through injury on the final day. The Club's star 
performer, Joe Brocklehurst, made it three victories in a row in the 
Series, with another convincing win for the Club and in so doing, 
winning the individual Senior Mens' title for the Series, the first 
North Wales Senior Mens' title to be won since Club legend Mike James 
won it in 2006. There was a further boost at Oswestry, when Pete 
Middleton, unable to compete for the Club for the last few seasons 
through college commitments, was able to compete on the day, showing 
that he is still a formidable cross country performer, finishing in 7th 
place. The team scorers were completed with consistent displays from 
Tom Roo, 28th, Ashley Gray, 30th, Steve Turk, 50th and Andrew Beeston, 
53rd.
In the Womens' race, Gill Evans lead the side home in 33rd place, 
achieving 3rd place in the Womens' Veteran over 50 category for the 
Series, Emma Sheekey was 65th and Sheila Richards, 77th and 2nd place 
in the Womens' Veteran over 55 category for the Series.

Oswestry Results:
1 Joe Brocklehurst, 7 Pete Middleton, 28 Tom Roo, 30 Ashley Gray, 50 
Steve Turk, 53 Andrew Beeston, 61 Grant Lloyd, 68 John Ashcroft, 70 
Steve Waters, 95 Duncan Rose, 99 Pete Butler, 106 Derek Owen.

The Midland Cross Country Championships went ahead, despite other 
Championships being postponed due to the heavy snow. A hardy group of 
Club runners, both Senior and Junior travelled to Stafford Common, all 
putting in brave performances in the extreme conditions of snow and 
mud. The Under 13 Boys were represented by Fergus Stevens, who finished 
51st in 13/00 and Archie Hale, 89th in 14/07. In the Under 13 Girls, 
Megan Potts was 30th in 13/04 and Rhiannon Thomas 106th in 14/58, while 
Ross Kirby was 30th in the Under 15 Boys Race in 17/33. The Seniors 
were represented by Gill Evans, 101st in the Senior Womens' race in 
34/40 and Emma Sheekey 147th in 41/58. The Senior Mens' event, 
shortened on the day from 12K to 9K due to the severe conditions, saw 
Club Captain Graham Jones finish 170th in 45/14 and Duncan Rose 270th 
in 53/54.

Junior Club runners were successful in the Shropshire Schools Cross 
Country Championships, Ross Kirby and Stuart Duff finishing 8th and 
21st in the Intermediate Boys, Tom and Freddie Turner finishing 19th 
and 21st in the Junior Boys and Rhiannon Thomas 9th in the Year 7 
Girls. Megan Thomas finished 3rd in the Junior Girls race, gaining 
automatic selection for the English Schools Championships in March.

EGM Cancelled.

The Committee has decided to resolve the issue of membership fees for 2013, without holding an EGM, which was scheduled for next Wednesday.

The club has decided that fees will remain the same as last year.

Therefore memberships are now due by all athletes, please speak to a coach or Club Officer for details.