SAC Running Report 13/2/12

Shrewsbury Athletic Club ended a difficult season in the North Wales
Cross Country League with a 2nd placing in the team event at Oswestry.
Despite a revival in the team's fortunes in the latter part of the
season, there was a further blow at Oswestry, when Kevin Francis had to
pull out during the race with an achilles injury. In Kevin's absence,
Dom Kirby rose to the occasion to lead the squad home with his best
performance of the season in 18th place, an improvement of almost 30
places on his previous best. He was followed by Duncan Beales, 24th in
36/55, Graham Jones 40th in 38/00, Steve Turk 42nd in 38/07, Tim Smith
47th in 38/28 and Steve Waters 65th to complete the team placings in
39/49 and secure 2nd team placing on the day, the team's best placing
this season. The Masters' team was 4th on the day. Steve Oliver was
97th in 43/17 and Derek Owen 125th in 49/12. In the team results for
the season, the Mens' team were 4th and the Masters' team, 2nd.
Individual honours went to Kevin Francis, 2nd equal in the Male Veteran
category and Sheila Richards, 3rd in the Female Veteran over 55
category.

Despite his own injury setbacks during the season, club captain Graham
Jones' tenacity was rewarded with honours in the Veteran Over 55
category in both the League and Cross Country Championships. He
achieved 1st place in the Over 55 category for the North Wales Cross
Country League season and competed in the North Wales Cross Country
Championships at Rhug Estate, Corwen finishing 15th in 42/36, 1st in
the Over 55 category and beating the winners of the over 50 and over 45
categories.

At the North Wales Cross Country League end of season presentations,
Shrewsbury's George Tudor was presented with the Welsh Athletics Board
Meritorious Service Award for services to athletics. A popular and
highly respected figure, he has, for over 35 years been a league
referee at local, Welsh and national athletics fixtures, ably assisted
by his wife, June and the award follows the announcement of his
retirement at the end of the season.

A squad of Club juniors competed at the Shropshire Schools County
Championships at Oswestry, all representing their schools with
selection for the English Schools Championships the prize on offer for
each of the first 6 athletes home in each race.The winters most
consistent peformers, Ben Ashcroft and Katharine Smith both secured
selection with Ben 2nd in Intermediate Boys, and Katharine an
excellent 4th in the Junior girls. Four Club athletes ran the Junior
boys distance, with Ross Kirby agonisingly short of automatic selection
in 7th, with improving Stuart Duff a superb 12th. Both will have an
anxious wait to see if they have earned the coaches wildcard selections
after strong runs despite being in the lower end of the age group.
Similarly, Sasha Gardiner, 11th in the Intermediate girls, is on the
verges of selection following another strong run.

Shrewsbury AC's Dom Kirby, Steve Turk, Steve Waters and Chris Wakeman competed in the 16th running of the Wyre Forest Multi-Terrain 8 mile race, near Bewdley on 12th February. Having left a snow-less Shrewsbury an hour earlier, they arrived at the venue to find the race route of undulating forest trails covered in ice and snow and a warm up near the start line confirmed that the conditions underfoot were treacherous.

With the usual downhill slope from the start line considered too dangerous, the start was moved a short distance and the race started with a short uphill followed by a frantic 2 mile downhill stretch in which Dom, Steve and Steve placed themselves well towards the front of the 210 strong field. The remaining 6 miles comprised some testing hills particularly in the last mile with a long, uphill drag towards the finish as well as some tricky underfoot conditions. Dom Kirby and Steve Turk ran strongly throughout with the in-form Dom finishing 9th in 51.35 and Steve 12th in 53.27. Steve Waters gave an improved performance on his recent cross-country outings finishing 16th in 54.33 and Chris Wakeman put in a decent performance, 37th in 59.14.






After the race, the guys attended the presentation and were delighted to come away with a haul of prizes, Steve Turk claiming 1st in the V40 category, before Dom picked up his prize for a top 10 finish. The trio of Dom, Steve and Steve were then presented with 1st in the Senior Men's Team category, which was a pleasant surprise and bonus given that they were not aware that there was a team competition during the race itself. All in all a decent day out for Shrewsbury AC.

SHROPSHIRE SPORTSHALL LEAGUE.

SHROPSHIRE SPORTSHALL LEAGUE.

Young Shrewsbury athletes travelled to Oswestry to compete in the final meeting of the Shropshire Sportshall league.

Shrewsbury were able to field full teams of Under 11 Girls and Boys and Under 13 Girls at Oswestry. Once again James Yewbrey was the club’s sole representative in the Under 13 Boys age group. Sally Joyce made a welcome return to competition in the Under 15 Girls age group.

Gareth and Emily Foulkes made their debuts for the club in the Under 11 age group with Gareth winning the 2 Laps (B) race in a time of 25.3secs.

Danielle Nicholas again demonstrated her throwing prowess with victory in the Under 11 Girls Soft Javelin with a winning throw of 10m 80 cms.

In the Under 13 Boys age group the consistent James Yewbrey took 2nd place in the 2 laps (A) 23.1secs and 3rd in the Standing Triple Jump 6m 32cms.

Sally Joyce was 1st in the Under 15 Girls 5 laps (A) and 2nd in the Shot 5m 76cms.

The Under 13 Girls age group was the most closely contested with the Shrewsbury team going into the final fixture just one league point ahead of second placed Telford, but both teams with an identical number of match points. So all depended on the results from the Oswestry meeting.

Several of the regular team members were unable to compete at Oswestry, but the club showed strength in depth in this age group with Emily Carter stepping in to join Jordan Hall, Francesca Scott, Jessica Clarkson and Katie Dixon.

In the end it all depended on the results of the field events and the Shrewsbury girls gave a top class display with Jessica Clarkson winning both the Standing Triple Jump 6m 63cms and the Standing Long Jump 2m 16cms. Emily Carter took 2nd place in the Triple Jump with a leap of 6m 00 while Katie Dixon gained valuable points by finishing 3rd overall in the Standing Long Jump 1m 92cms.

The Shrewsbury Under 13 Girls finished five points ahead of Telford to win on the day and win overall, retaining the trophy they won last year. Jessica Clarkson was awarded an Athlete of the Match T-shirt for her outstanding performances in the Standing Long Jump and Triple Jump.

Under 13 Girls team photo - from the left - Jessica Clarkson, Jordan Hall, Katie Dixon, Francesca Scott and Emily Carter

Shrewsbury AC results from Oswestry meeting:
Under 11 Girls – equal 2nd 54 points.
Under 11 Boys -4th 47 points.
Under 13 Girls – 1st 92 points.
Under 13 Boys – 4th 16 points
Under 15 Girls – 2nd 19 points.


Shrewsbury AC results overall after four league meetings.
Under 11 Girls – 4th 9.5 league points
Under 11 Boys -4th 9 league points
Under 13 Girls – 1st 18 league points
Under 13 Boys – 4th 10 league points
Under 15 Girls – 2nd 14.5 league points.

Congratulations to all who competed so well for the club.