Great races as the Shropshire Young Athletes Cross-Country League gets under way.

Two new age groups were added to this year’s Shropshire Star sponsored Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country league with the Under 17 men and women competing for the first time, racing with the Under 15’s. This years first league meeting was organised by Telford AC at Longford Hall, Newport, the superb sports grounds of Adams Grammar School, with runners from 7 local clubs taking part.

The Under 15 girls set off at such a fast pace it took the older racers by surprise. Kelsey Collins took the lead on a very fast first lap of 1500m but was overhauled by Harriet Grandfield early on the second lap. Chloe Murphy, a very consistent runner, took third. The first three were all from the host club Telford AC, scoring them maximum points. This is at the moment the most competitive age group with Steph Butler, Ella Walker and Kez Ogden filling the next three places for Oswestry Olympians.

The Under 17 girls were not put off running with the fast starting Under 15’s and at the end of the first lap of 2000m Nicole Hilliker took the race by the scruff of the neck accelerating up the hill. She had a lead of 9 seconds halfway round the second lap but pre race favourite Cerian Lancaster, who competed in this summers UK School Games, overhauled her with just 600m to go. In third was Rhiannon Linnington-Payne, returning to cross country after a very successful summer on the track as a hurdler. Tammy Sankey brought the winning Telford team home in 5th.

In the Under 17 boys, Josh Ogden, Oswstry Olympians, last years North Wales Cross Country League champion, took the lead from the start of the first lap and after 2000m had established a 20 second lead. He has only just returned form his summer break and visibly slowed on the next two laps but still won comfortably in 17 mins 22 secs. Toby Birtwhistle and Chris Carter, both of Telford AC, seemed to be having their own private race for second with Toby sprinting away to claim second in 18-27 to Chris’s 18-43. Dennis Gardener brought the wining Telford team home in 5th place.

The hardest race was in the Under 15 boys over 4000m. Last year’s Under 13 champion Ryan Heath had moved up an age group and was facing Alex Russell, the reigning Under 15 champion. They ran stride for stride throughout the first 2000m lap, the pace never slowing, but Alex’s greater strength finally told with just 600m to go. Alex finished in 12 mins 40secs with Ryan just 12 seconds behind. Guy Gregory came third for Ludlow Runners.

One of the biggest fields of the day was in the Under 13 girls with 14 runners from the host club Telford competing. Only 20 seconds separated the top 10 but the race provided a first individual victory for the Mid Wales club Maldwyn Harriers, with Lily Owen winning in 6 mins 45 secs. Just two seconds behind was Daniella Horne of Telford and Nancy Ndure also of Telford just hung on to claim third from a fast finishing Lauren Bathers of Oswestry.

The Under 11’s ran one lap of 1500m and after the normal hectic start Sophie Curzon of Oswestry took a 10 metre lead, halfway round the runners entered the wooded section and when the runners emerged it was Isobel Bradley of Telford who was in the lead. She held on well to claim her first league victory. Only one second separated the next three with Sophie just hanging on to second with Sarah Williams of Maldwyn third and Emma Clarke of Ludlow fourth. It looks like it is going to be an exciting 4 race series to see who claims the title.

The Under 11 boys race saw Telford lose a clean sweep of team victories when Bridgnorth claimed the prize. They were led home by Max McClure in 5 mins 40 with Idris Jones of Ludlow holding off a very fast finishing Dominic Gardener of Telford for second. It was Charlie Bartlett and Rees Bevan in 9th and 10th who with Joseph Mitchell in 6th brought off the team win.

The Under 13 boys was another close finish involving Matt Jones last year’s Under 11 champion moving up an age group to face Joe Morris. The two Oswestry runners fought out an epic race over 3000m. Both boys started to sprint 200m from the finish and it wasn’t until just 50m from the line that Joe’s extra strength told with just 2 seconds between them at the finish. Neil Simmons of Bridgnorth was 3rd with Jack Galloway of Wenlock Olympians 4th.

Host club Telford AC lead in the overall league with 1278 points with Oswestry second, 893, 3rd Bridgnorth 571, 4th Maldwyn 402, 5th Ludlow 303, 6th Shrewsbury 179 and Wenlock Olympians 128 points.

The next race in the series will be held at Oswestry on 14th October.

Paul Sanderson