Sweltering hot conditions provided an additional challenge when Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their fifth Eastridge Trail Half Race on Saturday. Once again there was a mixture of club runners from in and outside the County and a high proportion of unattached runners, who overcame the record temperatures around the race route, comprising forest paths and tracks, taking in the Eastridge Woods and Stiperstones areas of the county. This year for the first time, the event included the Trail 5 Race, which followed the first 5.3 miles of the Trail Half route.

The Men's Race was won by Jez Brown of Buckley Running Club in 1/27/42, with Stephen Holdcroft of Dudley Kingswinford Running Club second in 1/31/15 and Stuart Smith of Shropshire Shufflers third in 1/34/37. First woman home was Jules Toone, Unattached, in 1/48/27, with Hayley Evans of Buckley Running Club second in 1/50/14 and Val Swingler of Shropshire Shufflers third in 1/54/58. The inaugural Trail 5 Race was won by Tom Arthur of Alehouse AC in 35/14, with Connor Middleton of Shrewsbury AC second in 37/54 and Oli Cox, Unattached, third in 42/25. First woman was Tammy Lewis-Jones in 45/17, with Samantha Booth of Chapel Allerton second in 50/51 and Jean Turner of Telford Harriers third in 52/13.The team prize for the Trail Half, a selection of beers donated by the Three Tuns Brewery, was won by Mercia Fell Runners with Shrewsbury AC second and Shropshire Shufflers third.

Race organiser, Graham Parton thanked the sponsors, Rybrook BMW, Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water, The Three Tuns Brewery, Tesco and Sainsburys, who all donated prizes and David Davies and Co Minsterley, whose donation covered the cost of the medical support team. He also thanked the people of Snailbeach for letting the event take place in the village and all the landowners, without whose support and consent, the race could not have taken place. The prizes were presented by Shrewsbury Athletics Club's World Transplant Games Gold Medallist Andy Lewis.

Category Results Trail Half:

Men: Senior Men, Stuart Smith, Shropshire Shufflers, 1/34/47, Over 35, Jack Wilson, Unattached, 1/40/57, Over 40, Stephen Holdcroft, Dudley Kingswinford RC, 1/31/15, Over 45, Jez Brown, Buckley RC, 1/27/42, Over 50, Andy Davies, Mercia Fell Runners, 1/36/15, Over 55, Richard Jones, Shrewsbury AC, 1/43/49, Over 60, Paul Gresty, Shropshire Shufflers, 1/53/37, Junior Men, Tom Duthie, Unattached, 2/25/24.Women: Senior Women, Heather Fras, Shropshire Shufflers, 2/04/06, Over 35, Jules Toone, Unattached, 1/48/27, Over 40, Jo Dean, Shrewsbury AC, 1/57/32, Over 50, Val Swingler, Shropshire Shufflers, 1/54/58 , Over 55, Rachel Butler, Maldwyn Harriers, 2/14/26, Over 60, Jill Hillman, Maldwyn Harriers, 2/36/03.

Category Results Trail 5:

Men: Senior Men, Tom Arthur, Alehouse AC, 35/14, Over 35, Oli Cox, Unattached, 42/25, Over 50, Russell Ward, Shropshire Shufflers, 44/36, Over 55, Ralph Humphries, Newport and District RC, 1/04/07, Over 60, Andy Clough, Unattached, 46/51.Women: Senior Women, Samantha Booth, Chapel Allerton, 50/51, Over 35, Rebecca Owen, Unattached, 59/24, Over 45, Tammy Lewis-Jones, Unattached, 45/17, Over 55, Jean Turner, Telford Harriers, 52/13.

Photos courtesy of Nee Nee LJ. Main pic. Tammy Lewis-Jones. In the Gallery. Jez Brown and Jules Toone.