Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League - Oswestry 2011

Record Turnout for Cross Country League.

Cross country has a reputation for wind and rain but it was another glorious sunny afternoon for the second round of the Shropshire Star sponsored Shropshire Young Athletes League. It was a record turn out with nearly 200 athletes taking part at Oswestry school fields and the dry weather had made the conditions really hard and fast.

The first race of the day was the Under 11 girls and although the start is uphill the forty runners set off very quickly indeed. The hilly course was just over a mile and the winner Jess Humphries completed the distance in 6 minutes and 8 seconds. She was caught up near the finish by Isobel Boden of Wenlock Olympians but pulled away to take the victory in the last 300 metres. Sadie Craig of Telford AC took third and was given the same time as fast finishing Lucy Elcock of Bridgnorth who looks to be an athlete for the future. Wenlock Olympians took a surprise team victory form Telford with Wrekin College Triathletes third,

The under 11 boys set off even faster over the same mile distance and it was local athlete Jacob Tidridge who took the honours finishing 7 seconds ahead of Harry Bower of Shrewsbury in 5 minutes 42 seconds. Harry’s team mate William Davies came in third with Alex Veitch of Wrekin College Triathlon fourth. Shrewsbury are fighting back in the team event in this age group beating Telford AC by the large margin of 27 points and making the team event wide open.

The under 15 ‘s and under 17’s start off together and its not until the first of the small laps that the field divides and you can see who is winning the younger age group. In the girls race last times winner Lauren Pestana of Telford AC rushed to the front hoping to build a good lead closely followed by Isabel Bradley of Telford AC. Isabel, an England international, took the lead once the course split and ran away very strongly from her younger rival and team mate Danni Rawlinson. The next two places were filled by Alex Cawthra and Chloe Evans of Maldwyn Harriers with Emma Clarke of Ludlow rapidly improving in fifth. Meanwhile two other Ludlow runners had caught Lauren and started to pull away on the last of the three laps in the Under 17 category. Megan Lloyd winning in 17-08 with Eilish Gilbert second Lauren third in 18-01 with Ellie Bryan making a welcome return in fourth.

The Under 15 and Under 17’s boys set off at a gentler pace as the older athletes know they had nearly 20 minutes of running in front of them. There was a turn round in places with Joe Morris of Oswestry beating Josh Burrows of Telford AC but Joe had to settle for second again as Jimmy Kershaw ran away on the last lap to win by 14 seconds. Triathlete Macauley Carline finished strongly in fourth. Oswestry won the team event easily form Telford and the team event looks very competitive moving into the third of four fixtures. The Under 15 race saw two Telford AC athletes dominate Alex Burrows and Jack Forrester. Jack seems to be getting closer with every race and on this occasion Alex won by 4 seconds. Telford took the team award but Ludlow runners are moving up with a strong team finish in second.

Freddie Fielding raced away from the start in the Under 13 boys race. He is a Telford AC runner but was running for his school in this race his time of 11-02 was exceptional and he was 39 seconds clear of Joseph Crutchley of Maldwyn Harriers in second with Cameron Van Onselen of Oswestry third. Packwood finished 4 runners in the frost eleven and took the team, hosts Oswestry second and last meeting winners Telford back in 5^th .

The last race of the day was the Under 13 girls and with 42 runners it was the largest field of the day. Lasts year Eva Wade of Telford AC was directed off course, but this year there were no such problems and she covered the two lap course in exactly seven minutes to win from Katherine Smith of Shrewsbury and Ellie Sykes of Shrewsbury High School third. Telford AC claimed the team award with Shrewsbury High just ten points behind.

The next fixture is hosted by Wenlock Olympians at William Brookes School on Sunday 13^th November.

Colin Lancaster

Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League

Burrows boys start well.

The first round of the Shropshire Star sponsored Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country was held at Longford Hall Newport. The rain held off all afternoon and the ground was very hard and the times fast. 20 more athletes competed than in the same fixture last year with a team entry of 10.

This year the Under 17’s race is wide open as all last year’s leading runners have left the age group. Both Under 15’s and Under 17’s start at the same time but after only a mile the field split to leave a leading group of just 4 in the older age group. Joe Morris of Oswestry, the only one of the leading group at the top of the age group followed closely by Josh Burrows and Rhys Furlong of hosts Telford with Ryan Cullen, Shrewsbury, also in contention. At the end of the second lap, the leading group was down to just two as Joe and Josh pushed on. Josh was unexpectedly left on his own as Joe dropped out as they started the third and final lap. He held on easily to win by 20 seconds with his club mate Rhys outsprinting Jamie Beebee of Wrekin College Triathlon in third. Josh’s younger brother is a cross country specialist and the William Brookes student came 4^th in last year’s National cross country. Being pre-race favourite doesn’t seem to bother him though and his time of 11 minutes 45 seconds for the 3500m course was exceptionally fast but he didn’t have it all his own way as his rapidly improving team mate Jack Forrester was just 11 seconds behind. Wenlock Olympian Arthur Charlesworth ran his usual even pace to finish third.

Another triathlete to do well was Lauren Pestana. Lauren is a member of the West Midlands triathlon development squad and was running for Telford Athletic Club. She used her increasing speed to win ahead of last year’s county schools champion Megan Turner of Ludlow. Zoe Partridge finished in third. The most competitive age group is likely to be the Under 15 girls where the county has the first two medallists in the Midland Championships 3000m. England international and midland champion Isabel Bradley hung on to finish three seconds in front of team mate Dani Rawlinson. They were nearly a minute in front of third placed Alex Cawlhra from Newtown based Maldwyn Harriers with Wrekin College triathlete Holly Barnett in fourth.

The biggest race of the day was in the Under 13 girls where 39 girls finished the 2000m course. Last year’s Under 11 Champion, Eva Wade, moved up to this age group and carried on where she left off, dominating to win the race in 6 minutes 11 seconds followed in by Katherine Smith of Shrewsbury 21 seconds later. The race for the third position was very close with 7 athletes arriving at the finish within 15 seconds. Georgie Benbow of Wenlock Olympians claimed third place from Ellie Sykes of Shrewsbury High School. The Under 11 girls race is always fast and furious, and over the 1500m course it is usually the one who slows down the least that wins. But this time there was a sprint for the line with Wrekin College triathlete Jess Humphries completing the course in 6-09 closely followed by Sadie Craig of Telford and Isobel Boden of Wenlock. The last finisher was over the line in 8-36 so this new generation seem very fit.

Freddie Fielding looks set to dominate the Under 13 boys races. He is a Telford AC athlete but this time was running for his school Packwood Haugh, first time entrants in the league. He led his team home to win by 23 seconds from Joseph Critchley of Maldwyn second and the diminutive Joel Roura of Telford third. Telford came in second team with Maldwyn a close third.

Shrewsbury claimed their only winner of the day in the Under 11 boys race over 1500m with William Davies first home in exactly 6 minutes. He was followed into the finish by Jack Benson of Telford and Greg Jones of Wenlock just one second behind. It was an amazing finish as these three just ran behind one another for all of the last 200m of the race with the small distance between them never changing. Telford took the team with the Olympians, Wenlock holding second place and Oswestry third.

In the individual competition runners it is only three races to count but in the team events all four races have to count. Telford look set to dominate, winning all the team events, except the Under 13 boys. The results were very close and the other teams will be training hard to overtake them in the four weeks before the next fixture at Oswestry School fields on Sunday 16^th October.

Shropshire YA XC Lge

Heath heads first fixture field.

At the first of the Shropshire Star sponsored cross country league meetings, held at Adams Grammar School in Newport, 150 young runners competed in flat and fast conditions on a bright afternoon.

In the first race, the Under 15 and Under 17 boys started together, but it was the older athletes who set the pace. Russell Adams of Ludlow Runners led the first lap but at just over half way on the three lap race, Ryan Heath of Telford started to pull away. The title holder from last year Guy Gregory went with him but couldn’t hold on to the fast pace. Ryan ran easily to win in 16 mins 08 secs, fifteen seconds in front of Guy with Telford’s Haydn Gleave finishing strongly and just overtaking Adams in the finishing straight. Telford beat Ludlow by just 3 points and the team positions should be close over the next three fixtures.

The Under 15 race was settled on the second and final lap when 1000m from the finish, last year’s champion Ben Ashcroft increased his pace and left the rest behind. He was followed in by fellow Shrewsbury team mate, midland Triple Jump champion, George Speakman who showed what a versatile athlete he is. The Shrewsbury AC club completed their team with Ryan Cullen making his debut in the league in 7th place. Telford athletes came in 3rd, 4th and, with the Midlands 800m champion Josh Burrows coming in 5th, this team competition also looks close.

Harriet Grandfield now a sixth former at Adams Grammar, and so running on home ground, led home the Under 17 girls. Harriet has won at every age group in this league and wants to finish with a win. She finished the 4000m course in 14 mins 2 secs with fellow Telford team mate Jessica Bailey coming in 25 seconds behind. Harriet’s sister Emily completed the Telford team in 6th place and they look set to dominate at this age group.

Another Telford runner who may be hard to beat this year is Isobel Bradley in the Under 15 Girls race. Isobel had an excellent cross country season last year and so far is showing the same pace this year. She in undefeated in both school and club competitions this year and won from a fast finishing Alex Cawthra form Maldwyn Harriers, with Georgia Potts of Bridgnorth in third. Telford won the team but Shrewsbury Girls High School look good in second place. The races over all four meeting will count towards the team championship.

The younger runners race over shorter distances and will always set off at a fast pace. The two Maldwyn athletes slowed the least in the Under 11 boys with Will Evans just beating his Maldwyn Harrier club mate Joseph Crytchley by 3 seconds. Cameron Van Onselen, from Oswestry Olympians, was just another 5 seconds behind in third. The team competition looks too close to call at this stage with seven clubs still in close contention.

The 22 starters in the Under 11 girls race also set off at a near sprint and the winner Eva Wade of Telford completed the mile course in 5 mins 47 secs. Molly Andrews of Bridgnorth also just ducked under the 6 minute barrier in second with Megan Davies third.

The Under 13 girls had to run 2000m and in a very close race Kitty Peel of Moreton Hall school used her sprint finish to good advantage to beat Chloe Evans of Maldwyn Harriers in a time of 6 mins 27 seconds. The battle for the minor medals will be very close with the finish officials finding it hard to separate Fion Sweeney of Telford and Passy Goddard of Shrewsbury High. They were both given the same time but Fion took third place.

In the Under 13 boys Telford runner Alex Burrows looks difficult to beat. He ran away form the high class field to win in 11 mins 11 secs over 20 seconds ahead of second placed Aiden Wade. Telford made it a clean sweep in this age group with David Stephens third.

The next races will be held on October 17th over another fast course at Oswestry. This course is hillier and the local Oswestry Olympians have a reputation for doing well on their home turf.

Colin Lancaster

Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League

Telford takes Cross Country Honours.

Telford Athletic Club secured the 2009 Shropshire Young Athletes League title by winning both the boys and girls titles at Oldbury Wells Schools Bridgnorth. But it was encouraging to see the resurgence of some of the smaller teams in the county.

In the individual championships it is only three of the four races which count and several athletes had won two races but missed one of the fixtures. In all cases it was these athletes that proved themselves over the tough hilly course. Hattie Jones of Ludlow Runners secured the Under 11 title by running away form the field from the gun to finish fourteen seconds ahead of Katherine Price of Shrewsbury AC with Hannah Price of Oswestry Olympians third. This was also the way the overall medals went. In the team race Oswestry clinched the gold medals by just ten points over the season from Telford with Bridgnorth taking the bronze.

The Under 13 girls’ race was dominated again by Isabel Bradley of Telford who as a result took the title with Emma Clarke, second in the final race and the silver medallist overall. Molly Brown came third in this race but the overall bronze went to Sarah Williams of the Newtown based Maldwyn Harriers. The Welsh club performed well at each fixture to collect the league title from Oswestry with Telford taking the third position.


The most competitive races this year seemed to be in the Under 15 girls’ age group with the lead constantly changing hands through the season. The hills seemed to favour Daisy Tickner from Oswestry and she opened up a 16 second lead on the hill on the last lap from Megan Turner of Aberystwyth. Her namesake Megan Turner of Ludlow Runners had the finish officials thinking they had made a mistake but after a slow start to the season she proved that she is improving with every race. It was the Aberystwyth Megan who took the overall gold from Tickner, having performed most consistently throughout the season, with Zoe Partridge of Wenlock Olympians finishing fourth on the day to clinch the bronze form her twin sister Amy. Telford had a stranglehold on this age group throughout the season and they confirmed their favourite status by winning the team gold with Oswestry taking the silver in front of Maldwyn Harriers.

In the Under 17 girls’ category Harriet Grandfield had missed the Oswestry race but was another runner to convincingly take the overall title running away from the rest of the field to win by nineteen seconds from Ella Walker of Oswestry. Ella had already missed two races so the minor places were up for grabs and it was Telford’s ever consistent Chloe Murphy who finished fourth but clinched the silver. Chloe Barton from Oswestry had run strongly to finish third and also took the individual bronze. It was Telford who just scraped home in the team competition from Oswestry by just six points over the four race series.

In the Under 17 boys’ three runners had been involved in a great tactical battle in each of the four races. Guy Gregory from Ludlow Runners had already clinched the league title with three wins in the earlier races but wanted to remain unbeaten through the season. Another of the three, Ryan Heath did not run as he had been ill in the week and this left an opening for Guy’s Ludlow teammate Russell Adams. Guy used his trademark sprint finish to take first place but Russell’s second clinched the league silver. Both runners finished four minutes ahead of the third place runner over the 5000m course. Not surprisingly these two athletes helped Ludlow take the team honours from Telford.

In the Under 15 boys’ Joe Morris of Oswestry had won the two races he had run earlier in the series but still had to confirm his favourite status. He did this by winning again from his main rival, and eventual silver medallist, Haydn Gleave representing Wrekin College. Ben Ashcroft of Shrewsbury looked secure in third and took the league bronze. Ben collected his second bronze of the day when Shrewsbury took the third team spot but it was Telford who took the title form Oswestry.

Telford just managed to hang on to the team award in the Under 13 boys’ with a great team performance from Wenlock Olympians who took silver medal position with Oswestry taking bronze. It was in this age group that the biggest upset occurred. Jack Forrester continued his improvement to win the race and the league title. His Telford team mate Alex Burrows had won the first two races but had to settle for fourth on the Bridgnorth hills and so took the overall silver with James Morris of Oswestry taking the bronze.

Alex has another year in this age group and he will be keen to win next year but he will not have it all his own way as the Under 11 title has been won by a very talented runner, Freddie Fielding also of Telford. The hills didn’t seem to slow him at all and he ran way from the field by an amazing 49 seconds on the 1600m course. Second on the day was Charlie Mooney of Oswestry but Charlie had to settle for fourth overall with two Maldwyn Harriers taking the silver and bronze medals, Will Evans and Joseph Crutchley. Freddie’s runs helped Telford to take the team gold from Oswestry and Maldwyn Harriers who were second and third respectively.

Colin Lancaster

SYA Cross Country 3 Much Wenlock 15-Nov-09

Guy and Isabel clinch Shropshire Titles

Results available here

The third round of the Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League was held at Much Wenlock. The building works at the school had given organiser Ian Dadswell a problem as half the usual course was unavailable. His solution was to take the course up the steep windmill hill and it was a challenge enjoyed by most of the runners.

In the individual competition the best three races are counted and Guy Gregory of Ludlow Runners had won the first two Under 17 events and was looking to take the title in style. The 4000m course involved climbing the hill twice, but with only one small lap of the field the three leading runners were still together. Guy made his effort with just 600m to go to clinch the title from last years champion Ryan Heath of Telford, with the rapidly improving Russell Adams third. Guy stated after the win that his original target was only to win any of the three medals up for grabs as he his highest previous place had been 4th. Ludlow Runners are on course to win the team title unless Telford can upset things at the final fixture.

Another runner who has dominated her age group this year is Isabel Bradley of Telford in the Under 13 girls. Isabel ran away from the competition right from the start to win at Much Wenlock by 25 seconds from Emma Clarke of Ludlow Runners. Emma is the English Fell Running Champion for her age group and it was only on the downhill part of the course that she began to gain on the leader. Maldwyn Harriers continue to look strong in this age group and took 4th to eighth places. It will be a close competition at the final fixture between the Welsh Club, Telford AC and Oswestry Olympians.

In all the other age categories the individual title remains wide open as some of the runners have to date only completed 2 races in the league. The Under 11 Boys was won by Freddie Fielding of Telford AC who looks a very talented athlete. His time of 6 mins 24 for the 1600m course was outstanding but as he missed the first fixture he will have to win the last match to take the title. Three other athletes broke the magical 7 minute barrier in this race, Will Evans and Joseph Crutchley of Maldwyn Harriers and Charlie Mooney of Oswestry who came in 4th. Telford AC are leading the team race but Oswestry and Shrewsbury could easily close the gap to win.

Running the same course as the boys, Hattie Jones of Ludlow returned to winning ways after missing the second race of the series in the Under 11 girls. She won by 9 seconds in 7 minutes 16 with Katherine Smith of Shrewsbury in second. Hattie led home a rapidly improving Ludlow Runners team which came home in the lead for the first time ever in this age group. However the contenders for the overall title look likely to be Telford or Oswestry.

The Under 17 girls saw Harriet Grandfield win her second league race. Harriet was unable to run the second fixture but looks favourite to win the individual crown if she can repeat her winning performances in the final fixture. She ran easily around the first two laps before pulling away on the last small lap of the fields. Her team mate Chloe Murphy ran well for second to beat rival Chloe Barton of Oswestry. It will be a close match between Telford and Oswestry for the overall crown.

The Under 15 boys seems to be a straight head to head between two very talented runners Joe Morris of Oswestry and Haydn Gleave of Wrekin College. On this occasion it was Joe who won by 7 seconds saying afterwards that he liked the hill and used it to push on to strike an advantage. Josh Burrows, the county 800m champion, of Telford AC seems to be getting stronger with every race and came third and his team look set to win the overall competition if their form continues.

Josh’s brother looks set to take the Under 13 title with wins in the first two races. Here he had to settle for second behind team mate Jack Forrester, with Arthur Charlesworth of the host club Wenlock Olympians third. In this age group Telford have an overall lead already and Wenlock Olympians will have to work hard to beat it.

The Under 15 girls has seen the main medal contenders switching places at each fixture with no real favourite. However it was the strong running Megan Turner form Aberystwyth who used the hill to her best advantage here, winning from the fast finishing Daisy Tickner of Oswestry Olympians with another Oswestry runner delighted with third Lauren Bathers. This age group seems the most competitive with several runners vying for medal positions. The team title has Telford in the lead with Oswestry having an 80 point gap to make up to be a real challenger next time.

The athletes will be putting in some hard training before the final fixture on Sunday 6th December at Bridgnorth which will be followed only six days later by the County Championships.

Colin Lancaster

SYA XC League Race 2 Oswestry

Welsh teams add competitive edge to Shropshire Races.

The addition of two Welsh teams to the second round of the Shropshire Star sponsored Shropshire Young Athletes league cross country added a keen competitive edge to the races with the fast dry Oswestry course providing some exciting racing.

Before the Under 13 girls’ race, Newtown based Maldwyn Harriers posed for a team photo and it must have inspired them as with 5 runners in the top ten they led the team race easily from Shrewsbury High School and Oswestry Olympians. It was pre race favourite Isobel Bradley who won the 2000m race in 7 minutes 20 seconds from Emily Thomas of Aberystwyth AC closely followed by Sarah Williams, Emily Baldwin and Rosie Unwin all from Maldwyn.

All the races started off up a sharp hill but this did not slow down the normal fast start of the Under 11 girls. It was local athlete Hannah Price of Oswestry Olympians who slowed down the least, finishing the 1500m course in a fast 6 minutes and 3 seconds. Jessica Morris of Maldwyn was second just beating Katherine Smith of Shrewsbury AC. It was Oswestry who took the team race on 172 points with Maldwyn on 162 just one ahead of Telford AC.

In the under 15 girls’ the rapidly improving Evie Bentley of Telford AC beat all those that raced in the first fixture but this time had to settle for second place behind Welsh newcomer Megan Turner of Aberystwyth AC. Only 2 seconds separated the next three finishers, Daisy Tickner of Oswestry, Amy Partridge of Wenlock Olympians and Lauren Bathers also of Oswestry. Defending champions Telford AC seem to have a commanding lead in this age group.

However it was the home team who had five in the first six in the Under 17 girls. In the absence of Harriet Grandfield from Telford, the winner of the first race was Ella Walker who claimed first position from Chloe Barton with a spirited performance from Chloe Murphy in third just managing to prevent an Oswestry clean sweep.

In the boys races the Welsh clubs were not so well represented. In the under 17 Boys the pace for the 5000m course was unrelenting. The lead changed several times until, with a little over a mile to go, Guy Gregory of Ludlow Runners hit the front and pushed hard to move slowly away from his main rival Ryan Heath of Ludlow. Another Ludlow Runner Russell Adams came in third to clinch the team victory. A win in the next round at Much Wenlock could clinch the title for Guy, who up to this year had always been frustratingly just out of the medals.

The field in the Under 15 boys was the strongest of the day and a group of 5 seemed to break away. Wrekin College’s Haydn Gleave took the lead at the half way point and he finished 17 seconds in front of the rapidly improving Ben Ashcroft of Shrewsbury AC. Stephen Williams was third for Aberystwyth with Seb Pope, in his debut in the league, staying in front of the county 800m title holder Josh Burrows. The team victory was secured by Oswestry Olympians with 4 runners in the top 10.

Alex Burrows won the Under 13 boys’ race with a sprint finish from his fellow Telford team mate Jack Forrester, with Arthur Charlesworth of Wenlock Olympians just 5 seconds further back. It was Wenlock Olympians, whose numbers are increasing each year, who look set to be Telford AC’s biggest rivals in this age group.

Perhaps the most talented performer of the day ran in the Under 11 boys’ race. Telford’s Freddie Fielding, from Condover, steadily pulled away from the field and on a course of only 1500m managed to finish over 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rivals, Will Evans and Joseph Crutchley of Maldwyn Harriers. The team race was very competitive in this youngest age group with Telford just ahead of the rapidly improving Shrewsbury squad with Oswestry and Maldwyn only 20 points behind.

Colin Lancaster

Shropshire YA Cross Country - Newport

Aiming for Rio ?

The 2016 Olympics have been awarded to Rio and on Sunday’s Shropshire Young Athletes League Cross Country, young runners who are looking beyond London 2012 had their first race of the season. 150 athletes took part in the Shropshire Star sponsored event and this season the older runners race first so that the crowd can watch them over the longer courses. The lack of rain and hard conditions made racing even faster than normal and in the Under 15/17 girls race it was race favourite Harriet Grandfield who led from the front. The field of runners split after the first lap and it was in the Under 15 age group where the closest race was to be. It is a strong age group and it was triathlete Lauren Pestana of Telford AC who led the field home with a strong run, behind her Amy and Zoe Partridge of Wenlock Olympians kept the battle for second place in the family, with Zoe beating her sister by just 6 seconds. Another triathlete from Ludlow Runners, Eilish Gilbert, held off county athlete Evie Bentley for 4th place. This year it is definitely going to be very close for individual medals in the four race series in this age group. Telford are very strong in this section but on the day Shrewsbury High School, competing in the league for the first time, came a close second. Harriet Grandfield of Telford won the Under 17 race by 9 seconds from team mate Chloe Murphy and with Harriet’s sister Emily in 5th it looks like a good year for Telford in this age group as well.


The small Under 17 boy’s field provided the most exciting race of the day with the group of leading runners staying together for the first two laps. It was only at the beginning of the third and final lap when Guy Gregory of Ludlow Runners took the lead. Last years league champion Ryan Heath of Telford AC suffered with cramp in the hot conditions and rallied to finish 3rd behind another Ludlow Runner Russell Adams. The team title looks to be between Ludlow and Telford and the next race will be interesting to see if Ryan can regain last year’s dominance. The Under 15 boys saw two runners break away early and it was Joe Morris of Oswestry who secured the win by 6 seconds form Wrekin College’s Haydn Gleave. Ben Ashcroft the county 1500m champion moved up an age group this year to come 3rd and he looks likely to challenge the older boys as the season progresses. Seven teams contested the race and it looks too early to say who is likely to emerge as champions but Telford won here from Oswestry Olympians with Shrewsbury AC close behind.


In the Under 11 race the crowd thought that it was going to be a close race but Hattie Jones of Ludlow Runners, who came third last year, was running brilliantly, and giving a worried hare a run for their money. Hattie ran the mile course in 6 mins 12 seconds and won by eight seconds from Katherine Smith of Shrewsbury AC and Meg Davies of the Newtown based Maldwyn Harriers in third. In this age group it is not unusual for different athletes to win each race and so team race results are unpredictable. This time it was Oswestry Olympians with 168 points to Telford AC with 165 and Wenlock Olympians third.


The Under 11 boys’ race normally starts with a mad dash as the youngsters jostle for the early lead and this race was no exception. This time the leading two runners never seemed to slow down and it was a sprint for the line with the judges finding it difficult to separate the first two. In the end, newcomer, Joel Roura of Telford was given the decision over Joseph Crutchley of Maldwyn Harriers by just one second in a time of 5 minutes 43 seconds with Will Evans also of Maldwyn taking the bronze medal position. This time four teams seem to be in contention for the three medal positions with Maldwyn and Shrewsbury joining Telford and Oswestry in the top group.


Many of the parents and supporters stayed to watch the last two races of the day and the warm weather meant that support was spread out all around the course. The Under 13 boys had to run 3000 metres and all the field were home in 15 minutes. It was Telford dominating the front end of the field with six runners in the first ten places. It was a Telford one, two with Alex Burrows holding off his team mate Jack Forrester with Oswestry Olympian, James Morris, sprinting home in third. Not surprisingly Telford look set to dominate this age group but they didn’t have it all their own way in the last race, the Under 13 Girls. Isobel Bradley of Telford ran from the front to win the 2000m race in 6 minutes 12 seconds but Emma Tilley of Oswestry and Emma Clarke of Ludlow will be training hard to try and close the gap in the next race. It is Oswestry who have taken the early lead in this age group, and with four runners to count in the team it is often the fourth place runner who makes the difference. This time it was Oswestry’s Emily Ball who brought her team home with eleventh place.


Colin Lancaster

SYA Cross Country 2 Oswestry 18-Oct-09

SYA Cross Country 2 Oswestry 18-Oct-09

Results are now available for the 2nd match in the Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country series.
36 athletes ran across the age groups thanks to parents ferrying them up to Oswestry. Next fixture 15th November at William Brooks School, Much Wenlock 1.30pm start. We are at Much Wenlock the week before for Sports Hall Athletics.

Results published from the Excel Master

Results hosted on the Oswestry Olympians Juniors site

Margaret Cooper

SYA Cross Country Next Meeting Oswestry 18-10-09

Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League
Oswestry Meeting Sunday 18th October 2009

Below is a map of the courses for the Oswestry Cross Country meeting this year showing both times of races & distances.

ParkingParking is always a major concern for the continued use of this venue. The police have voiced concerns in the past about on street parking. Upper Brook St/Trefonen Road is totally unsuitable for on street parking. Please will all clubs attending the meeting ensure that all those coming to the meeting use the nominated parking facility at Marches School accessed from Morda Road. There is a footpath from there through to the course.

Directions for Cars
From the A5 go straight across at the first roundabout as you approach Oswestry. Pass the Cattle Market on your left followed by a pub, a road on the left, & a hump back bridge. Take the Left turn immediately after crossing this bridge into Victoria Road which becomes Lower Brook Street. This road will take you to a set of traffic lights Turn left at these lights, into Morda Road and Marches School is about ½ a mile on your right.

Directions for Coaches
The left turn at the traffic lights in Oswestry is a sharp turn into a narrow road & not recommended for coaches. Therefore coaches should take the following route. At the roundabout approaching Oswestry, take the left turn A483 towards Welshpool. Take 2nd right (about 1.5 miles). Follow this road back into Oswestry. The Marches school will be on your left as you enter the 20mph area. This is a fairly sharp turn best negotiated from the oncoming traffic side of the road.

Those wishing to use online maps & Sat Navs the parking post code is SY11 2AR
Keith Weetman Oswestry Olympians

SYA Cross Country match 1 Newport 27-Sep-09

Results from the first SYA cross country match at Newport - Sunday 27-Sep-09.

The results are in a zipped Excel file. Click here to download.

See also a comprehensive list of SYA results on the Oswestry Olympians Juniors website.