SAC Running Report February 2010

Although unable to retain their North Wales Cross Country League title for a third successive year, Shrewsbury Athletic Club’s increased efforts during the season were rewarded with runner up team spot after the last race in the Series at Oswestry. With the top sides fielding bigger and stronger teams, the Club pulled itself up from 4th place in early season to 2nd, spearheaded by Ian Coupland, who despite an early season injury, saved his best performance until last, finishing in 4th place, with fellow stars Pete Middleton 7th and Steve France 12th. Next, Kevin Francis edged out Club Captain Graham Jones, the two finishing in 22nd and 25th places, with Paul Clarke, capping an outstanding first season for the club, 31st, to complete the team placings.
Other Finishers: Steve Waters 35th, Nick Jones 62nd, Duncan Rose 86th, Sean Hickey 89th, Phil Whitall 93rd and Steve Oliver 102nd.

The Ladies’ team fielded a strong side for the final event, with Anna Bartlett 8th, Clare Burgoyne 30th, Emma Sheekey 59th and Sheila Richards 65th.

Individual results for the Series were, Ian Coupland 2nd Senior Man, Graham Jones 2nd Veteran over 50 and Sheila Richards 3rd Female Veteran over 55. The Mens’ team were also 2nd in the Veteran over 40 category. In addition, George Tudor received the Bebbington Award for outstanding services to the League over the last 40 years as referee and now as Chairman, an award which he will be sharing with his wife June.

A Club side travelled to Stafford to compete in the highly competitive Midland Cross Country Championships, with Paul Clarke leading the side home in 154th place, followed by Chris Wakeman 183rd, Steve Waters 241st, Steve Turk 258th, Steve Oliver 289th and Duncan Rose 296th. In the Under 15 Boys’ Race, Ben Ashcroft, winner of the Shropshire Schools Championships finished 48th, using the race as a warm up for the Schools Inter Counties Championships in February and the CAU Inter Counties and Schools Championships in March. In the Under 13 Boys’ Race, Luke Howes finished 80th, in his first major race outside Shropshire.

On the fell running scene, Steve Cale was once again in excellent form, finishing 3rd in the Trig Points Race on Cannock Chase in 1/28/25. Anna Bartlett finished 26th and 2nd Lady in the same event in 1/37/07, while Steve Oliver was 46th and 5th Veteran over 45 in 1/43/31.

In the Titterstone Clee Hill and Long Mynd Valleys events, held on the same weekend, Gordon Trevor finished 34th and 3rd Veteran over 60 in 37/09 at Titterstone, while in the gruelling Long Mynd event, Steve Cale was 6th in 1/40/38, Anna Bartlett 42nd and 2nd Lady in 2/07/59, Grant Lloyd 57th in 2/13/48, Gordon Trevor 187th in 3/14/39 and Derek Owen 188th in 3/14/40.

Shrewsbury Sportshall success

Shrewsbury’s under 11 agegroup athletes have had another successful winter, with the girls winning the Sportshall trophy, for a second season running.
The Girls won 2 of the meetings and came second in the other meeting, holding off a strong challenge from Telford to win the team trophy.
Congratulations to team members Katie Dixon, Eleanor Fox, Hannah Parton, Jordan Hall, Olivia Gibbs, Isabel Lewington, Jessica Clarkson and Charalotte Morris.

The Shrewsbury AC Under 11 Boys team also performed with distinction in the Shropshire Sportshall league this year and finished in an excellent second place overall behind winners Telford.

Well done to all the Shrewsbury Under 11 athletes who showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Shropshire Sportshall League this season.

World Indoor Trials & Midland Champs.

Shrewsbury had two athletes at the Aviva World Indoor Trials at Sheffield, Andrew Jones finished 7th in the Long Jump 7.17 and Emma Pullen won the 'B' final in 55.88.

At the Midland Indoor Champs, Under 20's- Sam Edwards 4th Long Jump & Triple Jump. Ryan Kelly was 6th also in that event , Anna Kelly 1st Senior Women Triple Jump.