Running reports

SAC Running Report 1/4/10

Shrewsbury Athletic Club fell running star Steve Cale concluded a successful Winter Fell Race Series with emphatic victories in the last two events in the six race series in the Carding Mill Canter and Wrekin Fell Race and resulting in 1st place for the Series. At Carding Mill, Cale was first by over 3 minutes in 40/36, with Anna Bartlett 12th and 1st Lady in 47/49 and Paul Clark 22nd and 4th Vet over 50 in 50/57, while at the Wrekin, Cale was 1st by over 2 minutes in 38/59, with Club Captain Graham Jones 6th and 1st Vet over 50 in 44/41 and Anna Bartlett 11th and 1st Lady in 46/35.




The Club’s cross country star, Ian Coupland has had his first major success since taking up Duathlon, finishing 1st in his age category(40 - 44) at the British Duathlon Championships at Clumber Park, Nottingham and 21st overall in a field of 500 in a time of 1/56/52 for the 10K run/40K bike ride/5K run event. This success means that he has secured a place at the World Duathlon Championships at Edinburgh in September.

In snowy conditions, Steve Waters and Paul Clark competed in the Wyre Forest 8.5 Mile Multi Terrain race near Bewdley, earning respectable placings with Waters 16th in 57/10 and Clark 20th and 1st Vet over 50 in 57/47.

In the Farndon 10K Race, Pete Middleton ran an impressive race finishing 2nd in a field of 477 runners in a personal best time of 34/20, followed by Steve Waters 13th in 37/02 and Chris Wakeman 37th and 3rd Vet over 50 in 39/18.

Five Club runners competed in the Ironbridge Half Marathon, where track specialist Tim Pillow, produced an outstanding performance to finish 10th in 1/20/47, with Paul Clark 26th and 4th Vet over 50 in 1/25/21, Anna Bartlett 39th and 1st Lady Vet over 40 in 1/28/16, Chris Wakeman 67th and 8th Vet over 50 in 1/31/59 and Ben Nash 122nd in 1/37/00.

The Club’s Under 10 and 11 cross country runners have competed in the Shropshire AAA Cross Country Championships at the London Road Sports Centre, with performance of the day going to Katharine Smith who finished 2nd in the Under 11 Girls Race and combined with Isabelle Lewington 18th, Eve Lucas 27th and Olivia Gibbs 28th to finish 2nd in the Team event. In the Under 11 Boys Race, Hamish McCartney finished 18th and Charlie Rimmer 26th , while in the Under 10 Girls Race Maya Richardson finished 10th.

Road Running Round Up

Lilleshall 5, 7/4/10 -
10 Shrewsbury AC runners competed in the opening fixture of the Telford AC Sexarathon Series at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.


Pete Middleton who was competing in his first ever race in this series was the first Shrewsbury AC runner home in an impressive time of 27.47 which earned 5th place. Further back was Steve Waters, 29.46 in 21st and Kev Francis, 29.55 in 23rd (2nd V40), both runners aiming to improve as the series progresses over the summer. Paul Clark ran a solid time of 30.35 for 3rd V50 and Chris Wakeman finished in 32.15. Ben Calder ran a massive PB of 33.23 to finish just outside the top 50, while 400m runner Claire Burgoyne stepped up in distance to run an impressive time of 33.38 to finish 4th lady on the night. Not far behind the pair, Steve Oliver ran his fastest 5 mile time in years for 34.02, Sexarathon series legend Ben Nash ran 35.53 and Brian Williams was 1st in the V70 category.


5 Pete Middleton 27.47
21 Steve Waters 29.46
23 Kev Francis 29.55
29 Paul Clark 30.35
43 Chris Wakeman 32.15
57 Ben Calder 33.23
61 Claire Burgoyne 33.38
72 Steve Oliver 34.02
97 Ben Nash 35.53
216 Brian Williams 46.20


The next race in the series takes place at Phoenix School, Dawley on 19th May at 7pm.