Claire Martin floated to victory over the sodden Lilleshall cross country course to win her 3rd consecutive Shropshire AA senior womens cross country title in fine style on Saturday. In her first race since her England International appearance on a similar muddy course in Belgium, Claire became the first Shropshire athlete for 20 years to win three consecutive cross country titles. Heather Anslow won in 85,86 and 87 whilst Mark Flint won the mens title in 84,85 and 86. It was Claire's 5th senior title and she has not been outside the first three since 1995.

Claire strode to victory over the deamnding 5800m course to win in 22.31 with her Telford AC team mate gaining a hat trick of second places finishing in 23.18. Louise Taylor got her first county medal in 3rd place whilst Sian Davies repeated her 4th place from last year as Telford AC comfortably won the team trophy for the 7th year. Julia Leventon, from Trafford AC, Manchester, finished 5th,25.00, in her first Shropshire championships. A student at Manchester University, Julia is from Shrewsbury and was second in the Stiperstones Boxing Day Fell Race and won the New Years Eve Sale 5 road race. Anna Bartlett, Shrewsbury Ac was the first veteran woman home in 6th overall,25.18, the same position as last year, but getting in useful speed work for the forthcoming Fell Running season. Alison Tickner in 10th (3rd Vet in 27.59) led home the Oswestry Olympians. Jean Turner in 12th (29.23) and 5th veteran led Telford Harriers to the veteran team prize. First Shropshire Shuffler to finish was Sharon Richardson in 15th,29.57 with Anne Thorpe in 17th (31.11) the first Ludlow Runner to finish and Linda Edmundson the first Wrekin Road Runner home in 21st, 31.54. The 40 finishers was a record for the senior womens race at the County championships 5 more than the previous best set last year at Bridgnorth.

The recent wet weather made all courses heavy going with deep mud and lying water as well as constant rain throughout the day making conditions as tough as it gets. However the Shropshire athletes on show in 8 races of non stop action for 4 hours saw some excellent athletics.

Oliver Laws from Much Wenlock won his 3rd senior mens title, with Shrewsbury AC's fell running international Mike James having to settle for another silver medal. Oliver who previously won the titles in 2000 and 2002 both in Bridgnorth, has been studying and working in America since 2003. Having gained a degree in management at Loughborough, the former Shrewsbury School student did a further degree in economics at Butler University in Indianapolis.His best performance in the states was a 29.10, track 10k which ranked him 4th in the UK in 2004.Since then he has struggled with a back injury. But after 12 weeks of serious training and a return to the UK, the Shropshire Championships are an important part of his plans for the season. He now aims to race the UK challenge in Cardiff, followed by the Southern Championships and then the World Cross Trials at Bath in February.

Laws and James battled it out for the first 2 of the tough 4 lap course just under 10,000 metres. But Laws steadily established a lead and came home to win in 32.00, but James who is as determined as ever and never gave up, came home just 24 seconds adrift. Telford AC's GB International Chris Davies running his first race since July, when he raced the Ironbridge 4 and the Corporate Challenge race in London, within 2 days ran a steady comeback race to take 3rd in 33.07. Chris has been out injured for nearly 6 months and was delighted with the race and the way he adapted to his new running action which will hopefully help to keep him injury free.

Wayne Dashper,ran one of his best cross country races for years, enjoying the conditions to finish 4th in 33.20, whilst Chris Rimmer from Bishops Castle, who is at University in Plymouth was delighted with his 5th place in 33.56 after just 2 weeks of training. Will Joyce 6th,34.24, Greg Wilson 7th and first veteran in 35.06 and Steve Needs, 8th, 2nd vet in 35.15 gave Telford AC 6 men in the top 8. With a team score of 33 pts, Telford AC won their 25th consecutive team title.

Mark Griffiths led the Telford Harriers team home in 11th,36.52 whilst Tim Beckett from Market Drayton was the first Wrekin Road Runner to finish in 36.56. The Shropshire Shufflers team were led home by Tim Devanney in 23rd 38.54 as Gordon Manson in 35th was the first Oswestry Olympian home.

Kathy Ansell from Sherrifhales ran really well to win the under 20 womens race in 24.35 which would have put her 5th in the senior womens race, with Oswestry's Alison Lavender from Pulverbatch was 2nd in 25.30.

Oswestry's Ollie Blake was an impressive winner,in the under 20's, taking the title by over 2 minutes.Adams Grammar School, Newport won the team race.

Cerian Lancaster from Little Stretton, second in the under 15's last year moved up an age group and a position as she won the under 17's title this year with Adams, Newport's Georgina Grandfield second and Oswestry's Kate Keenan an impressive 3rd.

Pontesbury's Toby Griffiths, the winner of last years Under 15's age group moved up to the under 17's but still came home the winner in 22.19, with Telford AC's Chris Carter having his best ever County Championships position to place second in 23.15. Robert Plack led the Wrekin College team home to victory in 3rd place 23.49.

Bridgnorth's Rhiannon Linnington - Payne, retained her under 15 girls title after a close race for three quarters of the course with Ludlow's Megan Lloyd. Rhiannon collected her second gold medal as she led the Bridgnorth team to the team title, with another Bridgnorth girl Emma Askins 3rd.

Wrekin College's triathlete Ryan Ordidge, who lives in Homer, near Much Wenlock won the under 15 boys race in 14.40, with the Shropshire Young Athletes league champion, Alex Russell from Muxton second 19 seconds adrift, but having the satisfaction of leading Telford AC to the tyewam title. Toby Blake from Oswestry, younger brother of the under 20's winner Ollie was 3rd in 15.22.

Harriet Grandfield won the opening race of the day the Under 13 girls in impressive style. With the Shropshire YA League champion Jaala Kenchington not defending her title, Harriet who had finished 3rd in the pre Christmas league is improving rapidly and after finishing second in this race last year went one better to take the title. The Telford pair of Kelsey Collins and Chloe Murphy were 2nd and 3rd and led the club to the team title.

Telford AC's Ryan Heath from Wellington had an 18 second winning margin in the under 13 boys race with Oswestry's Ryan Stokes second. Bridgnorth's Huw Bevan led his team to the team title as he finished 3rd in 13.32.

Paul Sanderson