Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their fourth Eastridge Trail Half Race on Saturday, which once again attracted a mixture of club runners from in and outside the County and a high proportion of unattached runners. Starting from the historic mining village of Snailbeach, the route covered predominantly Forestry Commission land, comprising forest paths and tracks, taking in the Eastridge Woods and Stiperstones areas of the county, the challenging but popular route covering 13.1 miles and 2324 feet of ascent. This year for the first time, the race coincided with the weekend of the Snailbeach Beach Party, a community event held every two years to celebrate the local heritage, with runners experiencing the party atmosphere in and around the village created by the event.

The Mens' Race was dominated by David Webb of Telford Athletic Club, who broke away from the rest of the field from the early stages of the race to win in a time of 1/19/41, a course record by over two minutes. Second was Simon Lanckham of Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club in 1/26/08 and third, Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Matt Hall in 1/27/47. First woman home was Amy Partridge of Mercia Fell Runners in 1/42/29, with Eloise Lee of Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club second in 1/46/31 and Deborah Millington of Wrekin Road Runners third in 1/47/51.

The team prize, a selection of beers donated by the Three Tuns Brewery, was won by the Shropshire Shufflers, with Shrewsbury AC second and Mercia Fell Runners third. The relay race was won by the Croft Ambrey Crew team.

Race organiser, Graham Parton thanked the sponsors, Rybrook BMW, who donated a spot prize of a BMW for the weekend, won by Charlie Holland of the Shropshire Shufflers, Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water, Muller Limited , The Three Tuns Brewery 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:

Men: Senior Men, Simon Lanckham, Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club, 1/26/08, Over 35, David Webb, Telford AC, 1/19/41, Over 40, Stephen Holdcroft, Unattached, 1/33/13, Over 45, Matt Scriven, Mercia Fell Runners, 1/33/00, Over 50, Richard Jones, Shrewsbury AC, 1/39/44, Over 55, Steve Willacy, Unattached, 1/55/48, Over 60, Stephen Roberts, Oswestry Olympians, 1/53/32, Over 65, David Pye, Amazing Feet RC, 2/29/18, Over 70, Iain Day, Shropshire Shufflers, 2/07/26.

Women: Senior Women, Amy Partridge, Mercia Fell Runners, 1/42/29, Over 40, Michele Rushton-Fox, Stafford Harriers, 1/54/02, Over 45, Deborah Millington, Wrekin Road Runners, 1/47/51, Over 50, Sarah Armstrong, Amazing Feet RC, 1/52/20, Over 55, Christine Bexton, Beeston AC, 2/10/41, Over 60, Libby Collinson, Shropshire Shufflers, 1/56/58.

Photo. David Webb, Matt Hall, Simon Lanckham