Severn Loop Winter 5K Report 30/12/11
Perfect weather and running conditions resulted in a record entry of
runners, many improved individual times and a new course record when
Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their Severn Loop Winter 5K Race and
Junior 2K Race in the Quarry Park, Shrewsbury. Joe Brocklehurst of
Stratford AC , winner of last year's Winter 5K, and who has recently
moved to live in Shrewsbury, dominated the 5K Race and improved on his
previous time to win emphatically, with a new course record of 15/14.
He was followed by Simon Marwood of Altrincham AC in 2nd place in 15/41
and the Summer 5K Race winner, Pete Butler of Oswestry Olympians 3rd in
15/52.
There was a quality field in the Womens' Race, which was won by Emma
Phillips of Birchfield Harriers in 17/39, with Shrewsbury Athletic
Club's cross country star and recent Mad Jack's Womens' Race winner
Amanda Wright-Smith 2nd and 1st in the Womens' over 40 category in
17/47 and Michelle Clarke of Telford Athletic Club 3rd and 1st in the
Womens' over 35 category in 19/00.
As well as attracting some of the county's elite road and cross country
runners, the race was notable for the increasing number of unattached
runners participating, who now make up almost half of the field.
In the Junior 2K Race, there was a turnout of 18 enthusiastic young
runners, with Daniel Evans comfortable winner of the Boys'Race in 8/09,
Tom Turner 2nd in 8/33 and Freddie Turner 3rd in 9/06. The Girls'Race
was closely contested, with Claire Richards 1st in 10/09, Isabel
Drummond 2nd in 10/10 and Rachael Johnson 3rd in 10/15.
Category Winners:
Men: Senior Men: Joe Brocklehurst, Stratford AC, 15/14, Over 35: Roland
Stafford, Mercia Fell Runners, 17/35, Over 40: Neil Bevan, Oswestry
Olympians, 19/06, Over 45: Kevin Francis, Shrewsbury AC, 17/44, Over
50: Mike Hatton, South Cheshire Harriers, 17/04, Over 55:John Dillon,
Whitchurch Whippets, 18/47, Over 60: Colin Earp, South Cheshire
Harriers, 23/50, Over 65: Colin Williamson, Shropshire Shufflers,
22/22, Junior Men: Gwynant Jones, Unattached, 16/31.
Women: Senior Women: Emma Phillips, Birchfield Harriers, 17/39, Over
35: Michelle Clarke, Telford AC, 19/00, Over 40: Amanda Wright-Smith,
Shrewsbury AC, 17/47, Over 45: Susan Kneill-Boxley, Cannock & Staffs
AC, 21/13, Over 50: Gill Evans, Shepshed AC, 21/54, Over 55: Sue
Johnson, Stafford Harriers, 23/36, Over 60: Judy Gardner, Unattached,
31/50, Over 65: Kathy Ling, Wrekin Road Runners, 41/59, Junior Women:
Isabel Bradley, Telford Harriers, 21/45.
Photos courtesy of Dionne Burgoyne.
