21 year old Chris Rimmer ran the race of his life to win the senior mens title at the Shropshire Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at Bridgnorth on Saturday. The Telford AC athlete who is from Bishops Castle is currently studying at Plymouth University. Rimmer who burst onto the cross country scene when he came from no where to win the Shropshire Schools senior boys title at Oswestry in 2003,a title he retained in 2003. He went onto win the Shropshire AA junior mens title in 2005 and 5th in the senior mens race last year, but Saturday's victory is his most impressive to date.

Having missed most of this season so far with shin splints and an achilles injury, Rimmer came into this race, with just one other cross country race this season. The race soon developed into an interesting close affair with a group of 5 breaking away from the rest of the field representing almost every athletic club in Shropshire. This leading group included Oswestry's Olli Blake, Tom Bailey from Nottingham and two other Telford AC athletes Chris Bagshaw and Will Joyce. The lead changed many times throughout the 4 lap tough undulating course based at the Oldbury Wells School. Tom Bailey from Stirchley, but now a doctor in the RAF was one of the leading contenders, whilst Rimmer used the hilly section of the course to make up ground that he had lost on the flatter sections. He really attacked the hills and almost sprinted from the back of the group to the front.

As the race unfolded it was evident that it was becoming one of the all time Shropshire classics. Going into the final lap, Will Joyce took the lead for the first time, with the other 4 close behind. Despite further challenges he still held the lead after the hilly section and looked to have done enough as they entered the final flat section around the playing fields. But Chris Rimmer had not given up and with one final surge caught Joyce with 400m to go and came home to win in 35.42, just 7 seconds ahead of his team mate Will Joyce with Tom Bailey a further 3 seconds adrift in third in 35.52. It is the closest finish to a Shropshire senior mens championships since 1989 just 17 seconds between the top 4.

Olli Blake,from Oswestry a first year student at Loughborough University who is better known as a nationally ranked 7th, 800m runner for his superb 1.50 last season, ran well to finish 4th overall but the first under 20,to retain his title and just 7 seconds behind Bailey, with Telford's Chris Bagshaw winner of the third N Wales league 4th in 36.47. James Wallis from Bridgnorth was the second junior man in 40.37 whilst Robert Flack from Wrekin College was third in 41.07 to lead Wrekin to the team title.

Another close race was going on further down the field as Dave Mansbridge was battling with his Telford AC team mate Greg Wilson for the veterans gold medal. Mansbridge the younger vet held on with a 14 seconds advantage, with Rick Hailey taking the bronze the three finished 5th (37.00), 6th (37.14) and 7th (37.52) respectively.

Paul Thomas led home the Wrekin Road Runners in 8th (38.33) with Mark Griffiths the first Telford Harrier in 10th (39.16), Tim Devanney was the first Shropshire Shuffler home in 13th (39.34), whilst Dominic Kirby led home the Shrewsbury AC team home in 18th ( 41.21)

Telford AC retained the senior mens team title they have held since 1983 with 25 points, their B team were second, with 83 pts and Telford Harriers 3rd with 132 pts. The vets team race was also won by Telford Ac with 18 pts with their B team second with 42 pts and Shropshire Shufflers third with 53 pts.

The senior ladies race saw another close finish with just 54 seconds separating the first 5 finishers. The race was also notable for the desparate weather conditions that welcomed the ladies who had to endure driving cold rain, whilst all other races during the deay saw dry and sunny conditions. Telford AC's Kim Fawke who has been second for the last three years went one better on Saturday and took her very first senior womens cross country title. Kim who had such an impressive run finishing 7th in last years national inter counties championships, had a battle with her team mate Cathy Ansell,last years Under 20's winner who is home on holiday from Oxford University. Just 9 seconds separated the two at the finish with Fawke from Sutton Hill winning in 22.16, the closest winning margin since 1991.

Oswestry Olympians' Alison Lavender who is currently studying at Loughborough University was the next finisher and winner of the under 20's title in 22.46. Shrewsbury's international fell runner Anna Bartlett had her highest ever Shropshire Championships finish as she took the senior ladies bronze medal in 22.58 and the gold medal as the first womens veteran. Sian Davies of Telford Ac repeated here 4th place of last season in 23.10 and completed the scoring 3 as Telford AC retained their team title.. Julie Kirby, Telford AC 5th in 24.21 was the second veteran whilst Oswestry's Alison Tickner, returning to her home town to claim the veterans bronze medal in 6th overall in 25.23. Lucy Dalton in 7th, 25.27, led the Telford Harriers team to the second team place with her highest ever County Championship finishing position. Telford Harriers with finishers in 8th, 11th and 13th won the veteran womens team title with Shropshire Shufflers second and Wrekin Road Runners third.

Georgina Grandfield from Telford AC runner up in the Under 17's last year took the silver medal in the Under 20's race this year finishing 9th overall, 25.50, in one of the longest races she has ever finished. C. Roberts from Wrekin College was third under 20 in 27.41.

Josh Ogden currently enjoying a purple patch of form that has seen the Oswestry athlete now coached by Mo Hill, from Up and Running in Shrewsbury, win all 4 Shropshire YA league races and 3 N Wales Lge races so far this season. He was a convincing winner of the Under 17 mens race in 20.20. Chris Carter, second in 21.02, led Telford Ac to a team victory over Wrekin College with their first runner, top triathlete, Ryan Ordidge third in 22.16.

Cerian Lancaster retained her Under 17 womens title in fine style after a close race with Bridgnorth's Rhiannon Linnington - Payne, last years under 15 champion. The two had a close race in December's final Shropshire Young Athletes League race on the same cousre on that occasion Linnington Payne won but this time the places were reversed. The Telford AC athlete finished in 22.30 to lead her team to the team title whilst Linnington Payne was second in 22.50 whilst Telford's Nicole Hilliker ran well for third in 23.24.

Last years Under 13 boys champion Ryan Heath from Wellington moved up an age group this year but still managed to win the Under 15 boys race in 17.53 with just 6 seconds to spare over Ryan Stokes from Oswestry, who interestingly was the silver medallist last year in the Under 13 race. Guy Gregory finished third in 18.03 to lead his team Ludlow Runners to their first team victory by the narrowest of margins with Oswestry Olympians second.

Harriet Grandfield who has been unbeatable this season was a very impressive winner in the Under 15 girls race finishing in 14.15. The Telford AC runner moved up an age group after winning the Under 13 race at last years championships at Lilleshall still managed to win with 41 seconds to spare over her team mate Holly Climo. Chloe Murphy in third in 15.00, made it a clean sweep for Telford AC in the team race.

Joe Morris from Oswestry the Shropshire League champion was the clear pre race favourite in the Under 13 boys race and he did not disappoint as he crossed the line first in 14.10 with Bridgnorth's Huw Bevan taking second place in 14.33, an improvement on his bronze medal last year .Macauley Cattell from Telford AC took his first Shropshire medal finishing third in 14.53. Telford AC with 3rd, 5th and 6th took the team race.

Evie Bentley followed up her superb run in the final Shropshire YA race on the same course recorded another impressive victory to win the Under 13 girls race in 13.22 and lead her Telford AC team to team victory. A. Dalkin from Wrekin College took the silver medal in 14.06 whilst Niamh Frain the second Telford scorer in 3rd place in 14.24.

The next big event in the Shropshire calendar is the Shropshire Schools Cross Country Championships to be held at William Brookes School, Much Wenlock on Saturday 19th January with races for Y7, Y8/9, Y10/11, Y12/13.

Paul Sanderson