Running Report 28/12/14

Despite some strong performances, Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Senior Mens' team slipped to 5th place in the North Wales Cross Country League after competing in the third fixture at Wrexham. Once again, a number of runners were injured or not available, resulting in a turnout of just seven in the Senior Mens'race. Under 20 star Ben Ashcroft lead the side home with his highest placing so far in 5th place in 30/26, with Richard Jones 21st in 32/44 Kevin Francis 31st in 33/45 , Club Captain Graham Jones 35th in 34/14, Haydn Jones 60th in 36/07, Pete Savill 68th in 36/40 and Shaun Owen 88th in 38/04. The Masters' team maintained their overall 1st place in the Series, after finishing 3rd on the day. There were category successes for Ben Ashcroft(1st Under 20), Richard Jones(2nd Over 50), Graham Jones(2nd Over 55)and Pete Savill(2nd Over 60). In the Womens' race, Emma Sheekey was 77th in 28/12, Sheila Richards 91st in 32/40 and 2nd Lady Veteran Over 60 and Anne Byrne 94th in 34/07.


The Shropshire Winter Fell Series continued with the Wrekin Wrecker and Cardington Cracker Fell Races. At the Wrekin, Gabe Morris finished 14th in 1/06/35, Michael Betts 31st in 1/11/19 and Gill Evans 170th in 1/44/33 and 3rd Lady Veteran Over 50. At Cardington, James Hickinbottom finished 33rd in 1/31/51, Gabe Morris 34th in 1/32/19, Michael Betts 36th in 1/32/38 and Haydn Jones 75th in 1/42/09.

The Telford 10k took place in perfect conditions for road running, Kevin Francis transferring his fine x-country form to the roads as the sole Shrewsbury AC competitor in the Telford 10k Elite Race, moving through the field in the 2nd half of the race, to finish in a gun time of 37/38 in 161st place. In the mass race, Claire Burgoyne returned to good form in 41/26, closely followed home by Junior athlete, Shaun Owen in 41/42. Returning after a long term injury, Tom Mutlow exceeded his own expectations with a time of 42/25 to finish in 283rd place.

On 27th December, Gabe Morris finished 11th out of 429 runners in the Wheaton Aston 10k as he dipped under 36 mins for the first time in a chip time of 35/57.

Mad Jack's 5 - Race Report - 8/11/14

Poor weather and muddy conditions did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the competitors when Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their seventh Mad Jack's 5 Mile Race, held in conjunction with and with kind permission of the National Trust, at Attingham Park on Saturday. Entry records were once again broken, with a record pre-entry of over 300 and a record 392 runners on the day, half of whom are now unattached or first time entries.

In the Mens' Race, Daniel Maskew of Mercia Fell Runners was the comfortable winner in 29/51 around the challenging course, made more difficult by the extensive mud and flooded areas caused by the recent heavy rain, in addition to the section through the Trust's pond. Second was Brett Edwards of Shropshire Shufflers in 30/31 and third Gabe Morris of Shrewsbury Athletic Club in 30/41.

The Womens' Race was won by Amanda Wright-Smith, running for Shrewsbury Athletic Club in 33/52, who fought back after a heavy fall during the early stages of the race, then Jacqueline Macey, unattached, second in 36/36 and Anna Bartlett of Mercia Fell Runners, third in 37/25. First Junior Man Over 16 was Shaun Owen of Shrewsbury Athletic Club in 35/16, first Junior Man Under 16 was George Chandler, unattached, in 56/57 and first Junior Woman Over 16, Harriet Grandfield, unattached, in 44/20.

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, Cotswold Outdoor, Up and Running and Tesco. The prize of the weekend car, kindly sponsored by Rybrook BMW was won by Francesca Hutcheson of Shropshire Shufflers and the prizes were presented by race sponsor Peter Moss OBE of Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury.

Category Winners:
Men: Senior Men, Daniel Maskew, Mercia Fell Runners, 29/51 Over 35, Andrew Campbell, Wrecsam Tri, 30/52, Over 40, Dean Blythe, Telford Harriers, 33/03, Over 45, Andy Yapp, Mercia Fell Runners, 32/30, Over 50, Harvey Morgan, Oswestry Olympians, 34/06, Over 55, Graham Jones, Shrewsbury AC, 33/08, Over 60, Peter Johnson, Mercia Fell Runners, 36/57, Over 65, David Kerr, Shropshire Shufflers,43/01, Junior Men Over16, Shaun Owen, Shrewsbury AC, 35/16, Under 16, George Chandler, Unattached, 56/57.
Women: Senior Women, Claire Bunce, Red Rose RR, 37/55, Over 35, Jacqueline Macey, Unattached, 36/36, Over 40, Anna Bartlett,Mercia Fell Runners, 37/25, Over 45, Amanda Wright-Smith, Shrewsbury AC, 33/52, Over 50, Susan Davies, Croft Ambrey RC, 41/02,Over 55, Libby Collinson, Shropshire Shufflers,38/19, Over 60, Pauline Phillips, Unattached, 53/46, Over 65, Susan Prior, Unattached, 58/42, Over 70, Kathy Ling, Wrekin Road Runners, 75/49, Junior Women Over 16, Harriet Grandfield, 44/20.


Entries are now open and being received for the Club's second staging of their Eastridge Trail Half multi terrain race, which will take place on Saturday 4th July 2015 and which proved so popular with runners in its inaugural event, with entry forms accessible on shropshirerunnersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk and online entries available at www.runbritain.com.

Shrewsbury AC Running Report 1/11/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club found the going tough, when the Club competed in the second fixture of the North Wales Cross Country League at St David's College, Llandudno. With a number of runners injured or not available, six runners, just enough to make up the Mens' team and all veterans, turned out for the Club. However, there were still some notable performances on the scenic but tough course around the extensive grounds of the College. Richard Jones lead the team home in 18th place and 1st in the Over 50 Veteran category and his recent excellent form has lead to his selection to run for Wales in the British and Irish Masters International Cross Country at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on 22nd November, with club captain Graham Jones, who was 32nd and 2nd Veteran Over 55, selected as reserve for Wales in the same event. Kevin Francis was next in 37th place, Haydn Jones 58th, Pete Savill 59th and 1st Veteran Over 60 and Derek Owen completed the team scorers in 137th place. The Mens'team slipped to 5th place on the day and 3rd team overall after two events. On a more promising note, the Veteran Masters' team maintained their consistent form, achieving 1st team on the day and 1st in the Series so far.

The Womens' team were boosted by the addition of Gill Evans, who lead the squad home in 64th place, with Emma Sheekey 104th, Sheila Richards 106th and 2nd Lady Veteran Over 60 and Anne Byrne 110th.

The Club are hoping for a stronger turnout for the third North Wales fixture at Wrexham on Saturday 29th November.

Angus Harvey-Smith and James Hickinbottom competed in the Snowdonia Marathon, the former finishing 68th in 3/13/34 and the latter 93rd in 3/19/35 in his first marathon. Regarded as one of the most difficult marathons with a demanding and spectactular route encircling Snowdon, the 32nd staging of the race produced the biggest field so far of 1500 runners.

Mad Jack's 5 Results

Mad Jack's 5 results can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwS56FFHhG7ecHZLbzcxYmljY3c/view?pli=1

Running Report 6/10/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners have competed in the first fixture of the North Wales Cross Country League at Bangor on Saturday. The Club's rising star, Ben Ashcroft, opened his cross country campaign with an impressive 11th place, followed by Richard Jones and Steve Waters, each starting their Series with personal best placings of 17th and 28th. The team scorers were completed by Kevin Francis, 44th , Pete Savill 52th and Haydn Jones 59th, then Jon Ashcroft 75th and Chris Wakeman 77th. The Club finished 3rd in the Senior Men and Master's team events, with Richard Jones 1st Veteran Over 50 and Pete Savill 1st Veteran Over 60.  In the Womens' race, Emma Sheekey finished 94th, Sheila Richards 102nd and Anne Byrne 107th.

At the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon, Luke Butler trimmed three and a half minutes off his personal best time to finish in 29th place in 1/18/36 in a field of over 1,500 runners, Richard Jones was 41st in 1/20/54 and 2nd Veteran Over 50 and Haydn Jones 109th in 1/27/50 and 10th Veteran Over 50. Jon Ashcroft was 163rd in 1/30/13, Keith Austin 270th in 1/37/19 and Shaun Owen 305th in 1/37/09 and 3rd Junior Man.

At the Seven Bridges 10K, Gabe Morris stormed to 5th place in 37/05, with Pete Savill 19th in 40/58 and 1st Veteran Over 60 and David Rugman 45th in 44/26. Claire McCarthy won the Womens' Race in 42/45.

In the Breidden Hills Race, the first fixture in the Shropshire Hills Winter Series, the versatile Gabe Morris was 13th in 1/05/35 and Gill Evans 80th in 1/33/24 and 2nd Female Veteran Over 50.

Not to be outdone by son Luke, Pete Butler competed in his second marathon of the year, finishing in 3/49/59 in the Berlin Marathon, some 10 minutes quicker than in the London Marathon.

Message from SAC Member, Pete Middleton

Please see flier for an event at Shrewsbury School on Wednesday 15th October where we will welcome former Olympic champion and five-time world cross-country champion John Ngugi to address the audience on his career as a runner and coach.  He is here for a week as a Coach in Residence for our running squad here at the school, and the 'Evening with John Ngugi' should be a unique opportunity to hear from a runner who reached the very pinnacle of his sport.  Tickets are free but can be reserved on ticketsource.  I realise this clashes with club training on the Wednesday night, but if you are injured (or need an excuse to duck out of the session) it would be great to see as many of you as possible there.

Running Report 7/9/14

Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners have competed in the final fixtures of the Telford Sexarathon Road Race Series and Summer Fell Series. At the Harper Scarper 5K Race in Newport, Joe Brocklehurst capped a fine season with 5^th place, clinching 1^st Senior Male Runner for the Series and 2^nd Male Runner overall. Next, Luke Butler's continuing rise through the finishing order saw him finish ahead of club rivals Gabe Morris and Matt Guilder, the three finishing 16^th, 23^rd and 26^th. Guilder, however, pipped Butler for the Series, the pair finishing 9^th and 10^th Senior Male Runner for the Series. Father and daughter combo, Chris and Alicia Wakeman finished in 196th and 197th on the night with Alicia taking 7th in the Senior Female category with Chris 5th in the over 55s category. Kevin Francis was 16^thVeteran Over 45 for the Series and Pete Savill retained his Veteran Over 60 crown for the second consecutive season.

At the Ragleth Fell Race, Gabe Morris was first home for the Club in 11^th place, with Pete Savill 39^th and 2^nd Veteran Over 60 and Gill Evans 70^th and 1st Lady Veteran Over 50 and looking certain to win the Lady Veteran Over 50 category for the Series. In the Ellesmere 10k, Haydn Jones finished 60th in 39.43 with improving club junior Shaun Owen clocking 41.31 for 77th place in his debut outing over the distance. Pete Middleton travelled to the Channel Islands to compete in the Guernsey Waterfront Marathon, producing an outstanding performance to finish 2^nd in 2.47.58, behind the Kenyan international race winner.

Attention now turns to the forthcoming North Wales Cross Country season, with the first fixture taking place at Bangor on Saturday 4^th October.

Harper Scarper Results:

5 Joe Brocklehurst 16/34, 16 Luke Butler 17/43, 23 Gabe Morris 18/16, 26 Matt Guilder 18/22, 45 Steve Waters 19/08, 49 Kevin Francis 19/23, 54 Pete Savill 19/55, 196 Chris Wakeman 27/15, 197 Alicia Wakeman 27/15

Ragleth Results:

11 Gabe Morris 32/23, 39 Pete Savill 38/53, 70 Gill Evans 45/12.

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).