Bridgnorth results
Final League positions

Josh Ogden from Oswestry was an impressive winner of the fourth and final SWhropshire Star, Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League race at Bridgnorth. On a tough undulating course based at Oldbury Wells School, the venue for this years Shropshire AA Championships in January, Ogden completed a clean sweep of victories in all four Under 17 mens races this season. He won the race at Bridgnorth by almost two minutes from Telford AC's Toby Birtwhistle with his team mate Dennis Gardener 3rd. Telford AC won the team race on the day and with it the league title, with Oswestry second and Bridgnorth 3rd.

Harriet Grandfield from Telford Ac was the only other athlete to remain unbeaten throughout the season, completing her clean sweep by winning the final Under 15 girls race in 12.07 by 19 seconds from her team mates Holly Climo and Chloe Murphy 2nd and 3rd. Holly Climo finished sceond overall with Oswestry's Steph Butler taking the bronze medal.Telford Ac won the team title with Oswestry second and Maldwyn Harriers third.

The under 11 boys race produced the closest finish of the day with Bridgnorth's Max McLure jsut getting the verdict on the line over Ludlow's Idris Jones both timed at 6.31, with Ludlow's Connor Jones finished in the top 3 for the first time. Idris JOnes won the overall league title after both boys had won two races each and the final positions had to be decided by adding total times from all races. Telford AC's Dominic Gardner took third place overall. Telford won the overall team race with Oswestry second and Maldwyn Harriers third.

Oswestry's Emma Tilley ran her first league race of the season and won the under 11 girls race by 4 seconds from Telford's Isobel Bradley who had won the previus three races and with the league title. Sarah Williams from Maldwyn who was third on the day took the silver medal overall with Ludlow's Emma Clarke who was third overall was 4th on the day. Oswestry won the team race on the day and took the league trophy for this age group with Telford second and Maldwyn third.

Joe Morris won the Under 13 boys race and after winning 3 out of the 4 races this season comfortably took the overall legaue title. His Oswestry team mate Matthew Jones who had three second places took the silver medal whilst third placed finisher on the day Bridgnorth's Neil Simmons was third overall. Oswestry took the team race in the final race 60 points ahead of Telford but had to settle for the runners up spot in the league to Telford Ac whilst Bridgnorth took third place.

Telford AC's Evie Bentley had one of the best races of her life as she won the under 13 girls race with 14 seconds to spare over Maldwyn's Lily Owen who had previously won 2 races and finished second in the third to take the overall title. Daniella Horne who had finished in the top 3 all season took the overall silver medal whilst Evie Bentleys fine run at Bridgnorth was enough to give her the overall bronze medal. Telford's strong team of ten runners comfortably took the team race on the day and the league title with Oswestry second and Maldwyn third.

Alex Russell from Muxton won his third race of the season at Bridgnorth by almost a minute from his Telford Ac team mate Ryan Heath from Wellington, with Oswestry's Ryan Stokes third. With 3 wins and a second Russell was confirmed as the league champion with Ryan Stokes taking second and Ludlows Tom Everett who was 4th at Bridgnorth taking the bronze medal. Telford won the overall team race with Oswestry second and Ludlow Runners having their best result taking third place.

In the final race of the day Bridgnorth's Rhiannon Linnington Payne ran a well timed race as she overtook Telford's Cerian Lancaster on the final hill to win the race and with it the overall league title. Both girls had won two races each and Rhainnon won the title by having the highest non scoring race placing. Telford's Amelia Reynolds who is better known as a discus thrower and international basketball player showing her versatility finishing third, her best result of the season. Bridgnorth and Telford tied the team race on the day but Telford took the overall title with Bridgnorth having their best team result in second and Oswestry third.

Telford AC won the boys and girls overall sections and with that the overall league trophy.

Organiser of the league Anne Thorpe from Ludlow Runners, was delighted with the increasaed numbers taking part this season and the emergence of newcomers Maldwyn Harriers and the success of reinstating the Under 17's age group.

Shropshire's young athletes next big event will be the Shropshire County Cross Country Championships to be held this year on the same Oldbury Wells School course at Bridgnorth on Saturday 4th January 2008.

Paul Sanderson