North Wales XC3
Lilleshall 26-Nov-2005

Mike James won his first cross country race in impressive style at the 3rd Majestic Travel North Wales Cross Country League race at the National Sports Centre Lilleshall, on Saturday. The 27 year old Shrewsbury Athletic Club runner was alawys in the leading group and after he established a lead early on first of the four lap undulating 10 kilometre course, he just continued to build up a lead that had stretched to over a minute by the finish. He wrote a little piece of history, as well as winning his first cross country race, he left league and club officials searching the archieves for a previous Shrewsbury AC winner. The Ditherington athlete has made a massive impact in less than 12 months, he ran an excellent race in the Wrekin Fell Race last April, following it up by a summer of impressive raod and fell performances. He showed his versatility, when winning the 18 mile Stretton Skyline race in September, but since has had outstanding high quality races in the National Road Relays and National Cross Country Races. He had finished second in the two previous league races, but with his new coach, Mo Hill from Shrewsbury's Up and Running shop, watching his protegy he raced to an eye catching victory in 33.00.

Paul Lambert from Deeside was second in 34.06, before the Telford AC pair of Tom Bailey 3rd and Will Joyce 4th in 34.17 and 34.27 respectively led hosts Telford AC make the most of home advantage with 7 runners in the first 13. Ted Partridge from Wrexham showed a massive improvement to finish 5th the first over 40 veteran. Telford's Greg Wilson, had his best run of the season, he had finished 10th in the two previous races, finishing 6th in 34.54, first over 45. Bernie JOnes of Wrexham was 7th with Menai's Andy Walling 8th. Iaon Illie, of Telford had his first top 10 finish, 9th in 35.17 just 3 seconds ahead of his team mate Rick Hailey, fresh from his victory in Dublin, 10th in 35.20 and a clear over 50's winner.He was over 3 minutes clear of the next over 50. Kevin Fisher 12th, 35.26 and Gary Vickers 13th in 35.27 completed the first 7 Telford runners as they comfortably won the team race with 44 points.

Inspired by their winner Shrewsbury Ac made it a red letter day for Shropshire as they finished second with 155 pts, after two 3rd places in the previous 2 races, whilst Oswestry had their best team result of the season finishing 4th, with 320 pts. League champions Wrexham had an off day finishing 3rd with 161 pts. Ian Hughes was the second Shrewsbury Ac man home in 14th, in 35.39, whilst Andy Yapp, better known for his fell running exploits, ran his first cross country race for Shrewsbury finishing 28th, in 37.17. Oliver Blake, was the first under 20 finishing 19th overall,in 36.19 as he led the Oswestry team home with S Meek, their second scorer in 26th, 37.06. Haydn Jones in 29th, 37.25, led the Maldwyn team home ahead of team mate Ed Davies, 3rd over 50 in 46th, 39.07.

Following their superb team performance Telford Ac are leading the league overall with 280 points, with Wrexham second with 418 pts, Shrewsbury Ac 3rd with 418 pts, whilst Oswestry are 7th. Full Division 1 table after 3 races.
1. Telford 280.
2. Wrexham 343
3. Shrewsbury 418
4. Eryri 642
5. Buckley 1072
6. Colwyn Bay 1109
7. Oswestry 1123
8. Prestatyn 1589.
In the second division Maldwyn Harriers are 4th on 1349 pts behind leaders Menai, after finishing 5th on Saturday with 529 pts.Bridgnorth are lying 8th overall in Division 2 with 2326 pts after finishing 8th on the day with 689 pts.

Other finishers from local clubs.
Bridgnorth AC.
76th D. Wilde 41.36
100th K. Banyard 44.30
128th B. Walters 53.03
131st R. Griffin 63.22

Maldwyn Harriers
82nd V. Griffiths 42.15
92nd C. Copus 43.31.
130th P. Hillman 53.36

Oswestry Olympians
55th J. Hancock 40.02
63rd G. Manson 40.38
77th N. Blake 41.40
80th P. Davies 41.51
91st S. Nicholls 43.25
102nd N. Ballard 44.31
107th P. Jones 45.15
110th G. Park 45.42
119th A. Knott 47.09

Shrewsbury AC
31st K.Francis 37.38
40th A.Gray 38.36
41st P. Ball 38.55
53rd C. Wakeman 40.00
70th M. Bollom 40.57
79th N. Jones 41.43
97th A. Beetson 44.04
109th D. Rose 45.18
115th M. Bywater 46.26

Telford AC
17th J. Saunders (3rd Vet 40) 36.10
20th R. Sedman - Smith 36.22
22nd N. Andrews 36.26
25th S. Needs (3rd Vet 45) 37.02
32nd A. Smith 37.44
33rd S. Jones 37.49
34th J. Davies 37.54
42nd P. Arnold 39.00
45th P. Cadman 39.06
48th H. Thomas 39.20
52nd M. Dawes (1st vet 55 ) 39.58
67th P. Sanderson 40.54
85th B. Llewellyn 42.25
103rd I. Beattie 44.43
106th R. Sandland 45.06
117th D. Davies 46.46
124th A. Hodgkiss 50.50

In the veterans team race Wrexham won again with just 9 points, they have 32 pts overall. Telford were second with 12 pts, 52 overall. Maldwyn were 6th on the day but are still 9th overall. Shrewsbury were 7th on the day with 76 pts but are still lying 3rd overall with 165 pts. Oswestry were 10th on the day with 100 pts and are 12th overall, with 363 pts whilst Bridgnorth were 13th veterans team on the day.

Oswestry Olympians' President Doug Morris was a comfortable winner of the mens over 70's in race in 26.08.

Neil Roberts of Telford AC was second just 3 seconds behind the winner Marc Kimpton from Buckley in the Under 17 mens race in 18.30. Olly Wadlow was 3rd in 19.44 whilst Nino Besevic made his Telford AC debut in 4th place in 19.55 giving Telford a win in the team race.

Claire Martin followed up her win in the previous race at Bangor with a convincing victory in 18.08 whilst her Telford Ac team mate Kim Green was second in 18.52. Green defeated Wrexham's Caroline Harney into 3rd place reversing their position from the second race. Louise Taylor (TAC),winner of the Shropshire Summer Fell Series, made her North Wales League debut in impressive style as hse came 4th in 19.50. Denise Sanders (TAC) finished 6th showing her consistency as she has been 6th and first over 35 in all 3 races. Oswestry's Alison Lavender was again the first under 17 to finish this time in 8th finishing in 20.21. Wrexham's Shropshire based Alison Whitelaw was 9th , their 3rd scorer and first over 45 in 20.23. Telford's Jo Hulme, running her first race of the season warmed up for the county championships in January finishing 12th and the first under 20 in 20.46 whilst her team mate Cheralyn Evans made a welcome return to action finishing 14th, 2nd over 40 in 20.52. Shrewsbury's team was led home in 13th place by Anna Bartlett,runner up in the Shropshire Summer Fell Running Series, ran her first N Wales League race of the season finished 13th in 20.49. Birgit Eyke, 16th,3rd vet over 40, was the second Oswestry runner home in 21.24.

Telford AC with 4 runners in the top 6 won the team race with just 7 points but they sre still in second place overall with 77 pts to Wrexham's 44 pts after they finished 2nd at Lilleshall with 19pts. Oswestry were 3rd on the day with 44 pts and are 3rd overall with 130 pts.Shrewsbury with 64 pts won Division 2 but are 6th overall, whilst Maldwyn were 6th on the day and are 5th overall.oswestry were the second veterans team behind winners Wrexham whilst Telford AC were 3rd on the day 4th overall.

Other local finishers
Maldwyn
42nd T. Davies 24.49
54th J. Hillman 26.48

Oswestry
20th L. Beckett 22.00
22nd A.Tickner 22.13
26th S.Hancock 22.40
31st J. Moore 23.19
33rd B. Ward (2nd Over 50) 23.35
35th J. Jarvis 23.49
40th S. Greaves 24.32
44th C. williams 25.00

Shrewsbury AC
21st R. Bollom 22.11
30th G. Chillingworth 23.04

Telford AC
47th J. Hailey 25.26
49th L. Blagden 25.58
57th J. Smith 28.31.

The next race in the league will take place on Saturday 21st January at Wrexham and the final race to be held at Oswestry on Saturday 4th February.

This week end teams from Shropshire clubs take part in the Birmingham Cross Country league on Saturday and on Sunday the Cardington Cracker Hill Race. This popular event from Cardington Village Hall takes in a tough 9 mile course including climbs up the Lawley, Caer Caradoc and the Hope Bowdler hills. The race starts at 11.00 with registration in the Cardington Village Hall.For details contact Paul Sanderson 01952 506671.

Paul Sanderson