SAC running report - North Wales XC etc

With the North Wales Cross Country League now well under way, Shrewsbury Athletic Club are finding the going tougher in their quest for a third successive title in the Series. With the top sides now turning out in bigger and stronger numbers, particularly Telford Athletic Club, the Club have had to be content with finishing lower in the team order in the Series after the first two races at Colwyn Bay and Bridgnorth.

At Colwyn Bay, with Ian Coupland not quite recovered from injury, fell specialist Steve Cale produced an impressive run in his first cross country for the Club, leading the side home in 9th place, then Duncan Beales, returning in his customary fine form, in 32nd place. There was fierce competition for the next four team placings and after various changes in position, it was Kevin Francis who came out on top in 40th place, followed by Graham Jones in 41st, Pete Ball in 47th and Steve Waters in 49th. The result was 4th placing in the team event.

The Club rallied at Bridgnorth, finishing 3rd in the team event, boosted by the return of top gun Coupland, approaching his best in 6th place. The new determination was evident, with Club Captain Jones in inspired form, keen to impress the Welsh team selectors, rising to his best North Wales League placing and highest team placing in 33rd. Beales followed in 40th place, then Steve Waters in similar inspired form in his highest team placing in 46th, followed by Ball 58th and Francis 61st.

The Womens’ cross country section has also been boosted by the arrival of new members and can now field a womens’ team on a regular basis for the first time for some years. At Colwyn Bay, despite the absence of Welsh International Anna Bartlett through injury, the Club was able to field a team, with new recruits Emma Sheekey and Ashley Sutton finishing in 72nd and 92nd and Sheila Richards 99th. At Bridgnorth, with Anna Bartlett and Ashley Sutton both injured, the team was further boosted by the arrival of Club track specialists Clare Burgoyne and Cindy Parry,, with Burgoyne leading the side home in 25th, Sheekey improving 13 places to 58th, Parry 59th and Richards improving 19 places to 80th.

A contingent of 11 Club runners competed in the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon, where Shrewsbury based Paul Ward finished 3rd and 1st in the Vet over 40 category in 1/10/23. Duncan Beales had an outstanding performance finishing 30th and 5th in the Vet over 45 category in 1/19/26, with Grant Lloyd 84th in 1/26/32 and Anna Bartlett 131st and 3rd in the Female Vet over 35 category in 1/30/38.

The Breidden Hills Race took place, with Steve Cale, back in his favourite running environment and in top form, finishing 2nd in 55/23, with Steve Turk 23rd and 4th in the Vet over 40 category in 1/09/14, Derek Owen 78th and 6th in the Vet over 55 category in 1/21/17 and Gordon Trevor 109th and 3rd in the Vet over 60 category in 1/36/39.

Colwyn Bay Results:
9 Steve Cale 32/19, 32 Duncan Beales 34/39, 40 Kevin Francis 35/05, 41 Graham Jones 35/09, 47 Pete Ball 45/25, 49 Steve Waters 35/32, 73 Paul Clarke 36/44, 97 Chris Wakeman 38/20, 139 Duncan Rose 41/12, 154 Derek Owen 42/19, 168 Steve Oliver 44/16, 183 Adam Stockwell 48/47

Bridgnorth Results:
6 Ian Coupland, 33 Graham Jones, 40 Duncan Beales, 46 Steve Waters, 58 Pete Ball, 61 Kevin Francis, 63 Paul Clarke, 81 Grant Lloyd, 120 Derek Owen, 133 Duncan Rose, 135 Steve Oliver

Lake Vyrnwy Results:
30 Duncan Beales 1/19/26(5th Vet over 45), 84 Grant Lloyd 1/26/32, 131 Anna Bartlett 1/30/38(3rd Female Vet over 35), 239 Duncan Rose 1/37/23(11th Vet over 55), 242 Callum Dodd 1/37/31, 335 Leo Murray 1/42/05, 513 Steve Oliver 1/50/32, 863 Steve Foster 2/05/00, 871 Rob Tedcastle 2/05/37, 1108 Mark Sutton 2/20/15, 1110 Ashley Sutton 2/20/27