Road, XC and Fell Running Round up

SAC Running Report 21/12/09


Shrewsbury Athletic Club’s Steve Cale continued his successful winter on the fell and cross country scene with back to back successes on consecutive weekends, starting with 2nd place in the Cardington Cracker Fell Race in Church Stretton in 1/14/20, a remarkable achievement considering that 12 months previously he had finished 23rd in the same race. The following weekend, he stormed to a comfortable victory in the Mortimer Forest Hill Race at Ludlow in 1/10/57, made all the more impressive since he had the previous day lead the club side home in 3rd place in the Shropshire County Cross Country Championships at Lilleshall in 33/01. He is currently in 1st place in the Winter Fell Race Series.

At Lilleshall, Cale was followed home by Pete Middleton, in top form in his first County Championship in 7th place in 33/56, then a close contest between Kevin Francis and Paul Clarke, Francis finishing 15th in 36/40 and Clarke 16th in 36/56. The team placings were completed with Steve Waters 18th in 37/34 and Chris Wakeman 23rd in 39/38.

Emma Sheekey impressed in her first County Championship, finishing 12th in 30/13 in the Ladies’ Race.

At Cardington, Adam Stockwell was 140th in 1/51/25, Steve Oliver 156th in 1/53/52 and Gordon Trevor 207th in 2/08/07.

At Ludlow, Paul Clarke, having also competed in the County Championships the previous day, finished 58th and 4th Vet over 50 in 1/27/22, Anna Bartlett, gradually returning to form after a long term injury, 65th and 3rd Senior Lady in 1/28/49 and Steve Oliver 166th in 1/40/14.
Also taking part, was a training colleague, Mohammed Zahir, on a temporary stay in Shropshire from a small island called Vashafaru in the Maldives, who completed the tough event in 333rd place in 2/10/33, despite his island being only 200 yards wide and 3 feet above sea level at its highest point.

Three Club runners travelled to Wrexham to compete in the Helena Tipping Memorial 10K Race, where Pete Middleton, in similar outstanding road form, finished 6th in 34/35, Steve Waters 41st in 38/04 and Duncan Rose 133rd in 44/13.