Wrekin Streak

The first race in the Shropshire Fell Running Summer Series takes place on Wednesday 27th April when the Wrekin Streak Race gets underway. The Streak goes from the Forest Glen to the Wrekin Summit up and down the main path. The race record stands at 16.38 set in 2003 by Tim Davies from Forden near Welshpool. The womens best was set back in 1991 when Tipton Harrier Kath Hill, won in 19.21. In more recent times Anna Bartlett from Shrewsbury AC has won for the last 3 years and has the 6th fastest time over the course of 21.29 set in 2008. Her winning time last year was 21.53, 16 seconds ahead of Mel Price from Woolston near Chruch Stretton, whilst Grace Chillingworth of Shrewsbury was third in 25.00.

Wrekin College teacher Steven Cale, the winner of the recent Wrekin Fell Race, was last years mens winner in 18.05, the 19th fastest ever after being second in 2009. Ian Grindley from Wolverhampton was second having won the previous year whilst Oswestry's fast improving, former Wolverhampton Tough Guy winner was third in 18.44.

This years race starts at 7.30 pm and is as always open to runners of all abilities with entries taken only taken on the night in the Forest Glen car park. The Streak usually attracts over 100 runners.

The Shropshire Summer Series features 6 mid week short races including the Caer Caradoc Classic, The Batch Bash from All Stretton, Pontesbury Hill, Stiperstones and Rageth from Little Stretton. Details can be found at http://dawsy.byethost5.com or http://www.merciafellrunners.org.uk.

Womens National Six Stage Road Relay

Telford AC rounded off a superb winter season as they finished 7th in the National 6 Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield. With hundreds of teams from throughout Great Britain taking part the Telford squad were the second Midland team home behind second placed Charnwood AC from Leicestershire. Aldershot won the race in 1 hour 41 minutes and 21 seconds with 4 minutes to spare. They were led by Charlie Purdue who ran the fastest time of the day of 15.23. Swansea were 3rd, Leeds 4th, Norwich 5th, Liverpool 6th and Telford 7th in 1 hour 51.12. This represents one of the best achievements by a Shropshire athletic club being the 7th best team in a truly National Championships is quite remarkable, it is close on the heels of the Telford AC cross country team who finished 2nd in the National Cross Country Championships 4 years ago.

Claire Martin came home 6th on the opening leg in 16.44 the 15th fastest time of the day. Michelle Clarke went out on the second leg running 18.30 and finishing 12th. Cheralyn Evans ran the 3rd leg in 20.29, with Amanda Davies the 4th leg in 18.41. Sarah Mackness improved 4 places on the 5th leg running 19.52 before Kim Fawke took over on the final leg improving 9 places to 7th in 16.56 the 19th fastest on the day.

Telford AC had 3 other runners Lisa Blagden 21.00, Nellie Sanders 20.12 and Juliet Hoad 20.22.

Lilleshall 5Mile 6th April 2011

Last Wednesday was the Lileshall 5Mile race, the first race of six in the Telford AC Sexarathon Series. Good weather saw a record turnout of 329 finishers for the event now in its 29^th Year. Again sponsored by Up and Running, Shrewsbury and this year supported by Pondicherry, Ironbridge

An opening mile of 4.48 lead out by Ross Jones(Tipton) and Peter Butler (Oswestry) saw a large group still in contention, by 2 miles the group had been whittled down to six runners, Jones, Butler, Dave Evans (Wolves and Bilston), Pete Middleton (Shrewsbury) and Telford Athletic Clubs Chris Davies and Chris Rimmer.

Davies took the lead at about 2½Miles and began to stretch the field out, by 3½Mile he had about 30metres on Jones with Rimmer a similar distance behind Jones. This stayed the same until the finish where Davies stopped the clock at 25.31, Jones 2^nd in 25.42 and Rimmer 3^rd 25.55. Dave Evans was 4^th and 1^st V35 in 26.51 leading home a strong Wolves and Bilston contingent, who had 1^st V45 with Steve Cunningham in 28.10, 1^st V40 with Paul Thacker in 29.30 and Terry Bullock 1^st V50 in 30.50, Telfords Ryan Heath ran well for a top 10 finish and 1^st Junior man to finish with 28.22.

Six time Sexarathon champion Claire Martin (Telford AC) led home the women's field with a impressive run leading from gun to tape, finishing in 28.46, Claire Burgoyne (Shrewsbury AC) was 2^nd in 30.57, with defending series champion Michelle Clarke 3^rd home in 31.15. Telford's Cheralyn Evans was first V45 to finish in 34.39, closely followed by team mate Juliet Hoad in 34.59. While first V40 women to finish was Lisa Blagden in 35.37.

Other Category winners were:

David Daniels (Cobra RC) V55 32.10
Paul Williams (Wrekin RR) V60 32.57
David Whymans (Amazing Feet) V65 34.39
James Bibb (Dudley Kingswinsford) V70 45.10
Mick Ward (Oswestry Olympians) V75 47.34

Wendy Scott (Wrekin RR) L50 40.06
Barbara Ward (Oswestry Olympians) L55 38.58
Diane Edge (West Bromwich H) L60 41.32

The next race in the series is the Phoenix flyer 5km which takes place at the Phoenix School, Dawley on 18^th May at 7.30pm

Lilleshall 5M 2011

2011 Sexarathon has landed.
Results from the first race at Lilleshall now available on the TAC web site Sexarathon pages

Photos from Brian Smith & Alan The Fish will be available within the next 24 hours