Wrekin Fell Race

Wrekin Fell Race

Anna Bartlett from Shrewbury Athletic Club made it a hat trick of wins in the Wrekin Fell Race, organised by Telford AC on Sunday, the final race in this seasons Shropshire Winter Fell Running Series. The 33rd running of Shropshire's oldest fell race saw just under 100 runners tackle the tough 5 and a half mile course that started and finished at Ercall Wood School, Wellington involving 1700 feet of climbing including to the top of the Wrekin and two climbs up the Ercall Hill. Anna the Welshpool based, art lecturer at Telford College and Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, finished 11th overall in 46.35, faster than her winning time last year but almost a minute quicker than her best on the course of 45.36 which she set when winning in 2008, the 23rd fastest ever. Shropshire Shufflers' Val Swingler was second in 48.29, her first appearance in the top 3 and some 6 minutes quicker than last year, whilst Church Stretton's Mel Price running for Mercia Fell Runners repeated her 3rd place of last year in 49.58. Stephanie Davenport from Chester was 4th in 54.14, with Ruth Stafford from Montgomery was 5th in 56.11 whilst Alison Tickner from St Martins representing Oswestry Olympians making her debut in the race, was 6th and 3rd over 40 in 57.12.

Steven Cale gave Shrewsbury AC their first ever double victory as he won the mens race in 38.59, just over 3 minutes quicker than his 4th placed finish last year. The 29 year old Wrekin College, teacher has made a massive improvement this year on the fells and at cross country set off in determined style and had already established a healthy lead by the Wrekin summit, finishing just over 2 minutes ahead of second placed James Waldie from Cornwall AC. Waldie showed a big improvement on last year where he finished 14th. Ian Grindley, a regular at local fell races from Womborne was 3rd in 41.04, whilst Oswestry Olympians cross country captain Paul Jones, winner of the recent Wolverhampton Tough Guy event was 4th in 41.42 and the first over 40. Matthew Marston from Clive was 5th, whilst Shrewsbury AC stalwart Graham Jones was the first over 50 in 44.41 in 6th. Telford AC's highest placed finisher was Ryan Heath from Wellington making his Wrekin Fell Race senior debut in 7th in 44.52 whilst Mercia's Matt Clewes from Newport was 8th and second over 50 in 44.56. Colin Williamson from Shropshire Shufflers was the first over 60 to finish in 54th in 56.07.

Other leading local finishers were David Carson was the leading Shropshire Shuffler to finish in 15th, 47.32, whilst Noel Hogan was the first Newport & District finisher in 19th, 48.25. Gavin Goodwin led the Telford Harriers contingent in 23rd, 49.32. Glyn Fletcher was the leading Maldwyn Harrier 16th in 47.38 and Stuart Edmondson was the first Bridgnorth AC runner in 33rd, 51.29.

Several young athletes took part in a series of 6 races up and down the Ercall Hill, held during the main Wrekin Race. The under 12 race covering 2.25 miles with 416 feet of climbing saw victories for Chloe Forrester and Freddie Huxley Fielding both of Telford AC. Isobel Bradley and Jack Huxley-Fielding won the under 14's race of 2.5 miles and 420 feet, also both from Telford AC. Daisy Tickner from Oswestry Olympians and Guy Gregory of Ludlow Runners won the 3 mile under 16 race that included 825 feet of climbing.

Paul Sanderson