Steven Cale and Val Swingler retained their titles in the 30th Stretton Skyline Fell Race organised by Telford Athletic Club. Cale, from Shrewsbury, running for Mercia Fell Runners, came home in 2 hours 26 minutes and 35 minutes just under 4 minutes quicker than when he won last year. This is the 5th fastest time over the 19 mile course with 4450 feet of climbing including Pole Bank, Ragleth, Caer Caradoc, Lawley and the Long Mynd. The fastest mens time was set in 1986 when Ken West, who used to live in Shrewsbury ran the course in 2 hours 17 minutes and 16 seconds. The fastest since 2000 is held by Mike James from Shrewsbury AC who ran the 3rd fastest time of 2.18.22 in 2008. This year Steven Cale, the 31 year old Wrekin College teacher had over 2 minutes to spare over his nearest rival Andrew Davies,from Church Stretton, a former Long Mynd Hike champion who thrives on the longer races and knows the Stretton Hills like the back of his hand. He moved through from 4th during the last climb from Gogbatch as the runners crossed the A49 to Motts Road on the Long Mynd to be a clear 2nd in 2.38.45. Pete Vale gave Mercia Fell Runners a clean sweep of the first 3 places as he came 3rd in 2.39.20.
Val Swingler, from Shropshire Shufflers, won her 3rd consecutive Skyline crossing the finish line in 2.55.36, 23 minutes ahead of her nearest rival and 5th overall in the race, just 16 seconds slower than last year which was the 4th fastest time ever, behind the womens course record of 2.46.42, held by Ruth Pickvance from Cardiff set in 2005. Phoebe Webster from Aberystwyth was second in 3.18.01 whilst Naomi Watson of Mercia Fell Runners was 3rd in 3.24.11 the 46th fastest time ever.
The leading veteran finishers were Mens over 40, Conner Carson from Kenilworth in 2.55.53, mens over 45 Steve Long from Tring in 2.57.27, mens over 50 Andy Staveley from Burnden, Lancs in 2.58.09, mens over 55 Simon Daws from Telford AC in 3.14.06 and mens over 60 Graham Lawrence from Solihull in 3.26.45. The womens veterans awards went to over 50's Gill Evans Shepshed 3.34.58, over 45 Celia Mills, Calder Valley, 3.51.02 and over 40 Maria Spurling, Shropshire Shufflers 4.03.16.
Other local leading finishers were 4th Jon Hedger 2.51.24, 13th Mark Agnew 3.06.48, 15th Andrew Primrose 3.10.35, 22nd Noel Hogan 3.14.51 and 30th John Taylor 3.19.00.
Paul Sanderson
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