Sixteen runners from Shrewsbury Athletic Club competed in the fourth fixture in the North Wales Cross Country League at a cold and foggy Lilleshall. Despite the gloomy conditions, Club spirits were lifted by the return of Club legend Mike James, who, although not fully fit, turned out to help his clubmates in the latter stages of what has been a very competitive cross country season. He took up his customary position, leading the side home in 16th place, pursued all the way by Kevin Francis in 17th place, then Dom Kirby 24th, Club captain Graham Jones 33rd, Steve France 44th and Steve Turk 53rd to complete the team placings. The Club are hoping to take a strong squad to the final fixture at Oswestry on 5th February.
Other finishers: 56th Paul Clark, 79th Steve Waters, 91st Nick Jones, 96th Steve Oliver, 101st Duncan Rose, 102nd Derek Owen.
In the Womens, Race, Claire Burgoyne was once again in top form, leading the team home in 4th place, with Anna Bartlett 9th, Emma Sheekey 47th and Sheila Richards 66th.
Womens team ready for the off at Lilleshall - left to right - Anna, Emma, Claire & Sheila.
Oswestry Cross Country 6/2/11
Shrewsbury Athletic Club brought their North Wales Cross Country League campaign to a successful conclusion at Oswestry on Saturday, where, in stark contrast to the freezing foggy conditions at Lilleshall, the runners this time had to battle against gale force winds and driving rain. In the absence of Pete Middleton through injury, his fellow Shrewsbury School master Ian Howarth lead the side home through the muddy conditions in 9th place, followed by Kevin Francis 14th and Dom Kirby 22nd. Next came Paul Clark 36th, Chris Wakeman 50th and Steve Turk 60th, all three rising to the occasion to complete the team placings in the absence of running colleagues also absent through injury. The team were rewarded with 2nd place team for the Series and 1st Veterans team and with individual honours for the Series going to Club Captain Graham Jones, 1st in the Veteran over 50 category, Paul Clark 3rd Veteran over 50 and Kevin Francis 2nd Veteran over 40.
In the Womens’ Race, Claire Burgoyne who, this season has leapt up the finishing order by some 20 places compared to last season to a consistent top four finisher, concluded the season in her customary 4th place, with Anna Bartlett, always in close contention in 5th and Sheila Richards 83rd. Claire can now look forward to further success, when she defends her Senior Womens’ title in this summer’s Telford Sexarathon.
Other Oswestry Results:
68th Sean Hickey, 83rd Nick Jones, 90th Duncan Rose, 94th Dan Fleetwood, 101st Steve Oliver, 102nd Derek Owen.
Mens team lined up at Oswestry, left to right:
Derek Owen, Dom Kirby, Chris Wakeman, Steve Turk, Steve Oliver, Ian Howarth, Nick Jones, Kev Francis, Sean Hickey, Paul Clark, Duncan Rose, with Welsh Internationals Richard Roberts and Arwel Lewis
Telford 10K
Four runners competed in the Telford 10K, with Matthew Marston finishing 43rd in 36/34, Chris Wakeman 75th and 2nd Vet over 50 in 39/32, Adam Stockwell 224th in 47/56 and Emma Sheekey 290th and 7th Female Vet over 35 in 51/04.
