Shrewsbury Athletic Club runners continued their successful start in their first season in Division 1 of the North Staffordshire Cross Country League, when they travelled to the second fixture at Stafford Common. Having finished second team at the first fixture at Winsford, the Mens' team finished 3^rd on the day, but still maintain second place in the Series. Paul Jones was first home for the Club in 17^th place, with the other team scorers, Steve Waters 20^th, Rob Fox 25^th, Connor Middleton 31^st, Hassan Mohammed 44^th and Richard Mckenna 45^th. Pete Savill was 1^st in the Veteran Over 65 category. Performance of the day went to Sara Willhoit who made a strong impression in her first outing for the Club in the North Staffs League, finishing 2^nd in the Womens' Race in 19/03, followed by Naomi Cook 31^st in 21/25 and Grace Hough 226^th in 39/02.

Results:

Men: 17 Paul Jones 25/40(2^nd Veteran Over 45), 20 Steve Waters 25/57, 25 Rob Fox 26/16, 31 Connor Middleton 26/25, 44 Hassan Mohammed 27/00, 45 Richard Mckenna 27/01, 131 Matt Wooden 30/10, 163 Graham Jones 31/45(3^rd Veteran Over 60), 190 Pete Savill 33/05(1^st Veteran Over 65). Under 11 Boys: 21 Zac Mckenna 6/09. Under 13 Boys: 5 Jack Kinrade 9/51.

The Club's young athletes produced some outstanding performances in the first two fixtures of the Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League at Lilleshall and Bridgnorth. At Lilleshall, there were individual podium placings for Adam Bentham 2^nd Under 11 Boys, Bethany Trow 1^st Under 11 Girls, Adam Edwards 2^nd Under 13 Boys, Lucy Newall 1^st Under 13 Girls, Iris Downes 2^nd Under 15 Girls and Jess Gunner 3^rd Under 17 Girls. The Under 13 and Under 11 Girls' teams were 1^st and 2^nd respectively. At Bridgnorth, Adam Bentham was 1^st in the Under 11 Boys, Bethany Trow 1^st Under 11 Girls, Lucy Newall 2^nd Under 13 Girls, and Jess Gunner 3^rd Under 17 Girls and the Under 13 Girls and Under 11 Boys teams were 1^st and 2^nd respectively.

There were personal best times for two Club runners in the Frankfurt Marathon, a fast flat course billed as Germany's second largest marathon with over 10,000 runners. Luke Butler beat his personal best by over 6 minutes to finish 302^nd in 2/43/44, with Club colleague Carl Aveyard 368^th in a personal best time of 2/46/23. Pete Butler was just outside the top 100 in the Veteran Over 60 category in 3/56/38. Richard Jones had an impressive run in the Great South Run at Portsmouth, finishing 228^th and 3^rd Veteran Over 55 in 64/18 for the 10 mile course.

Photo. Sara Willhoit at Stafford Common.