SAC Running Report 25/10/10

Shrewsbury Athletic Club made a successful start to their 2010/2011 North Wales Cross Country League campaign at Colwyn Bay, finishing 3rd Mens’ Team, 3rd Mens’ Masters Team and 3rd Womens’ Team(Division 2) on the day. The Mens’ Team were boosted by the arrival of Shrewsbury School’s new master, Ian Howarth who stormed to 7th place in his first race for the Club, closely followed by fellow Shrewsbury School master and established Club star Pete Middleton in 10th place. Kevin Francis, fresh from a successful summer on the roads and fells was 31st, then Dom Kirby, heading back to form despite an ongoing battle with a long term injury, in 34th place, Club Captain Graham Jones, 35th and Duncan Beales, completing the Team scorers in 44th place.

The Womens’ Team were lead home by Welsh International Anna Bartlett in 6th place, closely followed by Claire Burgoyne in 7th place, her first top ten placing reflecting her outstanding summer season in the Sexarathon Series, then Rebecca Houston , a track specialist competing in her first cross country in 53rd place, Emma Sheekey 84th and Sheila Richards 108th.

On the fell running scene, the Shropshire Hills Winter Series 2010/2011 commenced with the Breidden Hills Race, where Club fell star Steve Cale got his campaign off to a flying start, despite suffering a heavy fall on one of the descents, but had to settle for 2nd place in 56/45, behind Mercia’s newly crowned British Fell Running Champion Tim Davies, followed by Juan Castillo with an outstanding run in 5th place in 1/00/13, then Adam Stockwell, 66th in 1/19/40 and Derek Owen 98th and 9th Veteran over 55 in 1/34/13.

Colwyn Bay Results:
Men: 7th Ian Howarth 33/08, 10th Pete Middleton 34/01, 31st Kevin Francis 36/06, 34th Dom Kirby 36/20, 35th Graham Jones 36/30, 44th Duncan Beales 37/04, 56th Steve Waters 37/56, 66th Steve Turk 38/22, 86th Tim Vine 39/54, 88th Chris Wakeman 40/12, 141st Steve Oliver 44/42, 152nd Derek Owen 45/54.

Women: 6th Anna Bartlett 18/28, 7th Claire Burgoyne 18/34, 53rd Rebecca Houston 22/41, 84th Emma Sheekey 25/20, 108th Sheila Richards 33/49.