SAC Running Report 24/10/11

Despite the fine weather conditions, Shrewsbury Athletic Club found the
going tough when they commenced their North Wales Cross Country League
season at Bangor, North Wales. Injuries to key team members resulted in
just eight runners travelling to compete in the mens' event and club
captain Graham Jones having to pull out after two of the four laps
through injury. Duncan Beales led the side home in 29th place, followed
by the in form Steve Turk in 35th place, and Kevin Francis, still not
fully fit after fracturing his arm in the Snowdon Race, further than
usual down the finishing order in 41st place. The mens' team dropped to
4th place, although the Masters' team finished 1st.
Jack Francis was 9th in the Under 17 race, while Emma Sheekey finished
54th and Sheila Richards 75th in the Womens' race.

It was a similarly depleted squad that travelled to the second fixture
at St David's College, Llandudno. Kevin Francis' improving fitness
resulted in his leading the side home in 32nd place, then Steve Turk
and Dom Kirby had a close tussle, resulting in 46th and 47th places
respectively, Graham Jones completed the course without injury in 63rd
place and Chris Wakeman and Steve Oliver were separated only by a
sprint finish, in 104th and 105th places. Anna Bartlett returned to
spearhead the womens' team, in 5th place, with Emma Sheekey 83rd and
Sheila Richards 106th.

Bangor Results:
Men: 29 Duncan Beales 32/55, 35 Steve Turk 33/12, 41 Kevin Francis
33/19, 46 Dom Kirby 33/44, 86 Steve Oliver 37/53, 111 Derek Owen 41/19,
119 Adam Stockwell 42/32.
Under 17: 9 Jack Francis 20/18

Llandudno Results:
Men: 32 Kevin Francis, 46 Steve Turk, 47 Dom Kirby, 63 Graham Jones,
104 Chris Wakeman, 105 Steve Oliver, 152 Derek Owen, 163 Adam Stockwell.

There was better news for the Club on the fell running scene, with Anna
Bartlett back approaching her best form, just in time to be selected to
run for Wales in the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships at
Llanberis. Bartlett had an outstanding race, finishing 11th in 47/58 in
the 8 kilometre womens'race from Llanberis to the top of Moel Eilio and
back, 2nd finisher in the Welsh team, helping them to 3rd place in the
team event. Ross Kirby competed for the Club in the under 14 Boys Home
Countries Championship Mountain Race at the same venue, producing one
of his best displays, finishing 4th in 22/02.


In the Breiddens Race, Bartlett led the club home in 17th place and 1st
Lady finisher in 1/03/26, with Steve Turk 20th and 5th Veteran over 40
in 1/03/58, Duncan Beales 40th in 1/09/31 and Gordon Trevor 145th and
6th Veteran over 60 in 1/45/34.

Steve Oliver travelled to the Cardiff Half Marathon, where he finished
in 667th place in the field of over 10,800 runners in 1/34/43.

SYAL Cross Country report - Oswestry 16th October

A strong team performance from Shrewsbury AC’s young athletes in the second Cross Country fixture of the season, bouyed by a much better turnout this time around.

Ellis Spencer & Nicole Allen made their first outings for the team in the days first event, the U11girls, and tackled the tough course well for 28th & 29th place finishes respectively.

Reaping the benefit of having a full team out, the superb U11boys team built on their strong opener and ran away comfortable team winners by a clear 27 point margin. Harry Bower returned to the team and debutant Leo Walton joined the strong pairing of William Davies and Fergus Stephens. A procession of SAC vests was at the fore of the action from the off and despite a fast pace they remained in contention throughout. Led home by Harry in 2nd, William 3rd, Fergus 5th and Leo in 7th position, the club dominated the top 10 and scored heavily to bring the team back into medal contention for the remaining fixtures.

Another young athlete showing consistently strong form is Katharine Smith where she was the lone SAC athlete in the u13 girls race.
Repeating her 2nd place from Newport, this was a tougher challenge as the 3rd and 4th placed athletes both took turns to challenge Katherine for her position. She’d led the field in pursuit of Telford’s runaway winner, and showed mental toughness to lead the pursuing athletes before pulling clear to a well earned second placing.

Freddie Turner moved up on his 16th place from last time to come home 12th. A well paced first lap was followed up with a stronger second lap as Freddie worked his way through the field as others around him tired.


Sasha Gardiner was another athlete to run as sole SAC athlete, and she managed to put in a good showing for 10th place on this more challenging course. Similar to many of her team-mates, her endurance came to the fore to move up the positions in the final lap for another good performance.

Our U15 boys fielded a full team for the first time this season, with Luke Howes returning to the side. This is a particularly strong competition, and the lads competed well, running as a team throughout the 2 and a half lap course. Led by Ross Kirby in 12th, Luke close behind in 13th and Stuart Duff in 14th the team score was only a single point off 3rd place which was secured
by Wenlock Olympians.

Ben Ashcroft returned from illness to join Ryan Cullen in the U17 fixture with both athletes running strongly in the 5k distance.
As the pace picked up our lads worked strongly together to stay in touch, with Ryan first home for the club in 6th and Ben 7th to finish on equal team points with Wrekin College Triathlon.

Hopefully we can build on this team showing, and with similar numbers out next time, really push teams into medal positions and consolidate the individual peformances too.

Next fixture is at Much Wenlock, November 13th.

Sportshall League Round-up

Shropshire Sportshall League

The first meeting of the Shropshire Sportshall league was held at Bridgnorth Leisure Centre.

Unfortunately there was a disappointing turn out of Shrewsbury athletes, especially in the Under 11 Boys age group where only two boys competed on the day.

Leading Shrewsbury AC results were as follows:

Under 11 Girls: Jodie Adams – 1^st 4 Laps (A) 48.9 secs. Romy Payne – 5^th Speed Bounce. Team 4^th overall – 40.5 points.

Under 11 Boys: William Davies – 3^rd 4 Laps (A) 49.4 secs, 4^th Standing Triple Jump 5m 32cms. Team 5^th overall – 17 points.

Under 13 Girls: Hollie Williamson – 1^st High Jump 1m 45cms, 1^st Standing Long Jump 2m 40cms. Bethany Davies – 2^nd High Jump 1m 35cms.

Jessica Clarkson – 1^st 4 laps (A) 45.8secs. 4x2 Relay team – 1^st.

Team finished second overall with 69 points, only 2 points behind Telford, despite being one athlete short. With a full team in the next three fixtures the Shrewsbury Under 13 Girls should be in contention for the age group trophy.

Under 13 Boys: James Woollam – 4^th Standing Long Jump 2m 15cms.

Joe Morris – 5^th Standing Long Jump 2m 12cms.

Team 3^rd overall – 30 points.

Under 15 Girls: Amy Bickle – 1^st Standing Long Jump 2m 32cms.

Daisy Barnes – 2^nd 2 Laps (A) 22.9secs, 2^nd 4 Laps (A) 47.5secs.

Team 2^nd overall – 39 points.

The next league meeting is on 6^th November at Much Wenlock when the Shrewsbury Team Managers are hoping for a more encouraging turn out of young athletes.

Memberships

Message on behalf of Club Secretary.

Can all members please ensure that their memberships are up to date and paid for the year please. If you are entering any race/competition under the Shrewsbury Athletic Club name, membership needs to be current - similarly ensure that any transfer from another club (via full resignation) is completed.

Any questions or doubts of your status please check with Club Secretary.