Josh strides home for local club.

Josh Ogden of host club Oswestry Olympians convincingly won the second round of the Shropshire Star sponsored Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country on the Oswestry School fields. In the Under 17 age group he had to run a little over 5000m but was so confident of victory that he was seen chatting to the crowd as he passed them after his first of four laps. He finished in a time of 17 mins 40 secs and now takes a commanding lead into the third fixture at Much Wenlock in five weeks time. Denis Gardener of Telford AC turned the tables on David Bowden, Bridgnorth as they took the next two places and finishing 4th in his debut in the league was Matthew Trounsen from Ludlow Runners. Oswestry won the team race from Telford AC.

Two new runners James Wilkins and Tom Everett entered the Under 15 Boys race, both from the relatively new sport of biathlon. Without the swim to worry about James came first in 14.44, beating team mate Alex Russell by 17 seconds who won the last round and Tom from Ludlow came fourth behind Ryan Stokes of Oswestry. Telford AC won the team race from Oswestry.

The Under 13 boys the race appeared close on the first of two laps but by halfway the order was settled. Josh Cotterill of Telford won in 11 mins 50 secs from Matthew Jones and Joe Morris of Oswestry. Josh didn’t run in the first race and with three out of four races to count the individual title is still wide open. Telford AC won the team race from Oswestry.

The closest race of the day was in the Under 11 Boys run over a mile. The lead changed hands four times in the last 400 metres but it was Idris Jones of Ludlow Runners who managed to sprint away just before the finish in 5 mins 35 secs from Max McClure of Bridnorth just two seconds behind. Both have one victory each and it won’t be until the final race at Bridnorth that this title will be settled. Louis Strephens of Maldwyn Harriers pipped Dominic Gardner of Telford for third. The Newtown based Welsh team came second in this age group and it looks as if this will be the closest team race in the league this year with just 15 points separating the winners Oswestry, with Maldwyn Harriers second and Telford AC in third.

Maldwyn had seven athletes in the biggest field of the day in the Under 11 Girls and the “welsh raiders” won the event with their first four runners home in the top eleven. At the front Isobel Bradley won the mile race for Telford in 6 mins 05 secs followed closely by the Bridgnorth pair of Beth Martin and Izzy Cotham. Surprise of the race was Emily Newcombe who took up running last year as she didn’t want to finish last again in her school cross country. One year on, she was the first Ludlow runner to finish in 6 mins 35 secs in 7th place.

The Under 15 age group once again provided a high class race. Kelsey Collins of Telford led at the start but had to settle for third as the rapidly improving Harriet Grandfield took the lead up the hill for the second time finishing in 12 mins 04 from Steph Butler of Oswestry. Telford easily won the team with Harriet and Kelsey supported by Hollie Climo 4th and Chloe Murphy 5th.

The Under 13 Girls seemed to be a mass of bright yellow as both Madwyn and Telford have chosen that colour for their vests. Telford had 12 runners, their best turn out in this age group, but it was two strong looking Maldwyn girls that took the first two places. Lily Owen and Katrin Thomas were both given the same time 8 mins 10 secs but Lily given the verdict by the judges. Daniella Horne came third only 4 seconds further down.

Telford look set to dominate the team award as they do in the Under 17 girls. First this time was Rhiannon Linnington Payne who strode way from the field on the second of three laps. Emma Askins of Bridgnorth always seems to like this course and used the hills well to finish second. Her Shrewsbury Football team mate Megan Lloyd of Telford AC was third but had to fight off a fast finishing Amelia Reynolds over the last 400m. Amelia showed what a talented all rounder she is, as the previous day she had attended the Midland Athletics Development Squad for the Discus before travelling to Manchester for a national basketball tournament.

The overall results after 2 races are

Overall Combined

1 Telford AC 1201
2 Oswestry Olympians 1051
3 Maldwyn Harriers 557
4 Ludlow Runners 427
5 Bridgnorth AC 426
6 Shrewsbury AC 114
7 Wenlock Olympians 113.

Girls
1. Telford AC 633
2. Oswestry Olympians 511
3. Maldwyn Harriers 310
4. Bridgnorth AC 239
5. Ludlow Runners 198
6. Shrewsbury AC 114

Boys
1. Telford AC 568
2. Oswestry Olympians 540
3. Maldwyn Harriers 247
4. Ludlow Runners 229
5. Bridgnorth AC 187
6. Wenlock Olympians 113
The next race in the League will be at Much Wenlock on Sunday 18th November. Paul Sanderson