competed in the third fixture of the North Wales Cross Country League
on a new course at the Glyndwr University campus at Northrop, Deeside.
Ongoing injury and availability problems resulted in just seven club
runners competing in the Mens' race, and the team having to settle for
5th place on the day, although maintaining 1st place in the Male
Masters category.
The more encouraging signs were the return to fitness of club stalwarts
Kevin Francis and Club Captain Graham Jones, with Francis improving in
the finishing order with each race, leading the side home in 26th place
and Jones, edging out club colleagues Steve Turk and Dom Kirby in 41st
and 52nd places after the three changed positions in a close fought
race.
The Womens' team, on the other hand, is now going from strength to
strength, spearheaded by the arrival of Amanda Wright-Smith, who
followed up her recent victory in the Mad Jack's Race with a storming
3rd place at Northrop, forming a formidable partnership with the Club's
Welsh International, Anna Bartlett, who finished 6th. The Womens' team
was completed by Emma Sheekey in 74th place, then Sheila Richards in
85th place, resulting in 2rd place in the Division 2 category, the
highest placing by the womens' squad this season.
The club was also represented in the Junior Under 15 Race, with up and
coming fell runner, Ross Kirby 9th in 17/16 and Stuart Duff 11th in
18/32, achieving 3rd place in the team event.
Northrop Results:
Men: 26 Kevin Francis 34/51, 40 Graham Jones 35/45, 41 Steve Turk
35/49, 52 Dom Kirby 36/28, 95 Steve Oliver 40/27, 139 Derek Owen 44/14,
144 Andy Smith 45/17.
Women: 3 Amanda Wright-Smith 17/38, 6 Anna Bartlett 17/50, 74 Emma
Sheekey 25/14, 85 Sheila Richards 27/49.
On the fell running scene, two of the club's in form fell specialists
competed in the Wrekin Wrecker Fell Race, with outstanding performances
from Steve Turk, 10th and 4th Veteran over 40 in 66/41 and Anna
Bartlett, 13th and 1st Lady in 67/24.
In the first running of a junior race at the Wrekin Wrecker, Shrewsbury's Ross Kirby eased home to a comfortable victory over the 2 mile up & down course winning by two and a half minutes from Mercias Emma Clarke. SAC club mate Luke Howes was third.
