Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their third  Eastridge Trail Half Race on Saturday, which once again attracted a mixture of some of the County's top fell runners, 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. New this year was a relay option, with teams of three using the same route as the Trail Half, the leg lengths being approximately 5.3, 4.7 and 3 miles.

The Mens' Race was initially a close contest between Tim Davies of Mercia Fell Runners and unattached Chris Phillips, before Davies broke away to establish a comfortable lead winning in 1/23/09, with Phillips second in 1/26/17 and Andrew Salt of Ludlow Runners third in 1/28/30. First woman home was Anna Bartlett, running for Welsh Anglo Athletes in 1/42/09, with Sarah Armstrong of Amazing Feet RC second in 1/52/18 and Deborah Millington of Wrekin Road Runners third in 1/53/03. The Mercia club also won the team prize, a barrel of beer donated by the Three Tuns Brewery, with Shrewsbury AC second and Shropshire Shufflers third. The relay race was won by Rybrook BMW in 1/42/55, with Turner's Trailblazers second in 1/52/4 and Peaky's Pacemakers third in 1/55/23. There was double success for husband and wife duo Alan and Jo Dean of Shrewsbury AC, with Alan finishing 1st Veteran Over 40 and Jo 1st Lady Over 35. Race numbers were boosted by a strong turnout from the Dolly Mixtures club.

Race organiser, Graham Parton thanked the sponsors, Rybrook BMW, who donated a spot prize of a BMW for the weekend, won by Becky Price from the Dolly Mixtures club, Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water, Muller Limited , 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 Peter Moss OBE of Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury.

Category Results:
Men: Senior Men, Chris Phillips, Unattached, 1/26/17, Over 35, Tim Davies, Mercia Fell Runners, 1/23/09, Over 40, Alan Dean, Shrewsbury AC, 1/36/12, Over 45, Dave Tozer, Bayston Hill Salad Dodgers, 1/59/00, Over 50, Roger Farrington, Maldwyn Harriers, 1/29/39, Over 55, Heith Harrison, Sneyd Striders, 1/44/11, Over 60, Paul Gresty, Shropshire Shufflers, 1/51/07, Over 70, Iain Day, Unattached, 2/13/34, Junior Male, Steven Hanly, Unattached, 1/32/59.

Women: Senior Women, Charlotte Hayward-Prince, Unattached, 1/55/51, Over 35, Jo Dean, Shrewsbury AC, 1/58/38, Over 40, Helen Smith, Amazing Feet RC, 2/08/50, Over 45, Anna Bartlett, Welsh Anglo Athletes, 1/42/09, Over 50, Sarah Armstrong, Amazing Feet RC, 1/52/18, Over 55, Gill Evans, Shrewsbury AC, 2/07/16.

To see the full results for the Trail Half use this link and for the Trail Relay use this link