Heavy rain turned to sunshine when Shrewsbury Athletic Club staged their eighth Mad Jack's 5 Mile Race, held in conjunction with and with kind permission of the National Trust, at Attingham Park on Saturday. There was a a record pre-entry of over 325 runners, with 344 completing the course on the day, over half of whom were unattached and who figured strongly in the age category winners.
The Mens' race produced the closest finish seen so far, with Newport and District Running Club's Robin Sedman-Smith and Shrewsbury Athletic Club's Gabe Morris in close contention throughout. With Sedman-Smith clear after the pond, Morris made a late sprint finish, just failing to catch his rival on the line, Sedman-Smith winning in 30.30 and Morris second in 30.31. Third was Neil O'Hanlon, unattached, in 30.58.
The Womens' Race was won by Kim Fawke of Lawley Running Club in 33.15, with Rachael Brown of Staffs Moorlands Athletic Club second in 35.22 and Sara Willholt, unattached, third in 35.33.
National Trust General Manager at Attingham Park, Mark Agnew, praised the runners in taking on the muddy conditions and the additional obstacles added to the course and thanked the organisers and helpers. Race organiser Kevin Francis praised the runners and the support of the race sponsors Rybrook BMW, Cotswold Outdoor and Up and Running . The prize of the weekend car, kindly sponsored by Rybrook BMW was won by Darren Salvoni of Shropshire Shufflers and the prizes were presented by race sponsor Peter Moss OBE of Cotswold Outdoor Shrewsbury.
Category Winners:
Men: Senior Men, Robin Sedman-Smith, Newport and District RC, 30.30, Over 40, Tom Foster, Mercia Fell Runners, 32.59, Over 45, Andrew Birch, Unattached, 32.27, Over 50, Richard Jones, Shrewsbury AC, 34.01, Over 55, Keith Silvester, Shropshire Shufflers, 33.55, Over 60, Leslie Richie, Unattached, 37.52, Over 65, Edward Christie, Unattached, 49.06, Over 70, Iain Day, Unattached, 43.20, Junior Men Under 23, Thomas Garbett, Unattached, 32.34, Under 18, Stan Morris, Unattached, 44.26.
Women: Senior Women, Rachael Brown, Staffs Moorlands AC, 35.22, Over 40, Kim Fawke, Lawley RC, 33.15, Over 45, Anna Bartlett, Shrewsbury AC, 36.28, Over 50, Tracey Williams, Denbigh Harriers, 38.20, Over 55, Sarah Greaves, Oswestry Olympians, 45.52, Over 60, Libby Collinson, Shropshire Shufflers, 39.39, Over 65, Kathy Ling, Wrekin Road Runners, 78.52, Junior Women Under 18, Megan Owen-Jones, Wrekin Road Runners, 52.08, Under 23, Meggy Edwards, Unattached, 56.00.
