There was a near record turnout of runners for Shrewsbury Athletic Club when they commenced their North Wales Cross Country League campaign at Wrexham on Saturday. The Mens’ team, seeking to retain their Series crown for the third consecutive season, swept to victory, with the team scorers, Paul Jones 3rd, James Hickinbottom 7th, Matt Hall 8th, Steve Waters 12th, Gabe Morris 13th and captain Luke Butler 19th, all finishing in the first 20 places. Connor Middleton narrowly missed out on scoring, in 21^st place and Club newcomer Andy Birch impressed in 27^th place in his first cross country for the Club.The Male Masters’ team finished 2^nd in the team event and there were age category winners for Paul Jones, 1^st Veteran Over 45, Kevin Francis, 1^st Veteran Over 50 and Pete Savill, 1^st Veteran Over 60.

The Womens’ team finished 4th with Sara Willhoit finishing 2^nd , Lauren Morley 10th, Gill Evans 43rd, Sheila Richards 105th and Anne Byrne 112th. Gill Evans was 2^nd Lady Veteran Over 55.

Wrexham Results:

Men: 3 Paul Jones 29/23, 7 James Hickinbottom 30/22, 8 Matt Hall 30/25, 12 Steve Waters 31/28, 13 Gabe Morris 31/42, 19 Luke Butler 32/10, 21 Connor Middleton 32/35, 27 Andy Birch 33/07, 34 Kevin Francis 33/38, 42 Robert Lisney 34/30, 50 Glen Speake 35/04, 58 Richard Jones 35/23, 62 Stewart Farley 35/25, 63 Grant Lloyd 35/38, 69 Duncan Beales 35/57, 75 Pete Hughes 36/33, 76 Pete Savill 36/37, 84 Graham Jones 37/14, 86 Haydn Jones 37/19, 141 Duncan Rose 41/49, 160 Derek Owen 45/45.

Women: 2 Sara Willhoit 22/35, 10 Lauren Morley 24/35, 43 Gill Evans 27/40, 105 Sheila Richards 37/50, 112 Anne Byrne 40/38.

The Club’s opening fixture of their new venture in the North Staffordshire Cross Country League at Winsford, Cheshire, produced 2^nd place in Division 2 for the Mens’ team of Matt Hall 15^th, James Hickinbottom 16^th, Steve Waters 28^th and Carl Aveyard 58^th. Club junior Hassan Mohammed finished 73^rd in his first Senior cross country for the Club and Pete Savill was 1^st Veteran Over 60. Gill Evans finished 58^th and 3^rd Lady Veteran Over 55 in the Womens’ race.

Winsford Results:

Men: 15 Matt Hall 29/01, 16 James Hickinbottom 29/04, 28 Steve Waters 30/25, 58 Carl Aveyard 31/46, 73 Hassam Mohammed 32/45, 104 Richard Jones 34/01, 128 Pete Savill 35/00, 146 Haydn Jones 35/43. Women: 58 Gill Evans 25/53.

In the Apley Estates Autumn Challenge, James Hickinbottom won the 21K Race in 1/31/46 and Lucy Grayston was 2^nd in the Womens’ 10K Race in 56/37.

Photo. Women's Team at Wrexham L to R: Gill Evans, Sara Willhoit, Sheila Richards, Anne Byrne, Lauren Morley

Galley Photo. Men's team at Wrexham. Back L to R: Matt Hall, Robert Lisney, Connor Middleton, Pete Savill, Pete Hughes, Duncan Rose, Richard Jones, Luke Butler(Captain), Paul Jones, Stewart Farley, Andy Birch, Grant Lloyd, Gabe Morris.

Front L to R: Duncan Beales, Glen Speake, James Hickinbottom, Haydn Jones, Kevin Francis, Steve Waters, Graham Jones, Carl Aveyard, Derek Owen.

Photo's of Team Members in action at Wrexham are under the Gallery tab on the website http://www.shrewsburyac.org.uk/galleries/ .