Shrewsbury Athletic Club brought their North Wales Cross Country season to one of the most successful conclusions in memory following the final fixture at Oswestry on Saturday. For the first time there was double success for the Club, with the Mens' team crowned champions for the second successive season and the Womens' team not only Division 2 champions, following their meteoric rise from 6^th place last season and securing promotion to Division 1,but also achieving a points total for the season that exceeded the winners of Division 1.

The Men's team at Oswestry was almost a repeat from the previous fixture at Walford, led home by Brett Edwards with his highest placing of the season in 3^rd, with James Hickinbottom 8^th, Pete Middleton 13^th, Gabe Morris 16^th, Michael Betts 17^th and Steve Waters 18^th. The Womens' team were once again spearheaded by Zoe Barber in 3rd, with Anna Bartlett 4th and Sara Willhoit 8^th. Adam Roberts, a regular team scorer for the Club and who has played his part in the Club's resurgence, was competing for the last time for the Club before moving to work in Scotland.

There were many individual successes for the Series, notably Brett Edwards 2^nd equal Senior Man, James Hickinbottom 4^th Senior Man, Kevin Francis 1^st Veteran Over 50, Richard Jones 2^nd Veteran Over 50, Haydn Jones 3^rd Veteran Over 55, Club Captain Graham Jones 1^st Veteran Over 60 and Pete Savill 3^rd Veteran Over 60. The Womens' successful season resulted in individual successes for Sara Willhoit 3^rd Senior Woman, Jacqueline Macey 3^rd equal Veteran Over 35, Gill Evans 1^st Veteran Over 55 and Olivia Mann 1^st Under 20 Woman. The Mens' Masters' team were 3^rd for the season. The combined teams were also presented with a special award, the Friendship trophy, in recognition of the Club's double success.

Mens' Results:

3 Brett Edwards 36/21, 8 James Hickinbottom 37/35, 13 Pete Middleton 38/12, 16 Gabe Morris 38/30, 17 Michael Betts 38/56, 18 Steve Waters 39/00, 19 Adam Roberts 39/09, 22 Connor Middleton 39/35, 23 Luke Butler 39/44, 29 Glen Speake 40/39, 32 Kevin Francis 40/59, 48 Graham Jones 42/38, 50 Sean Hickey 42/42, 51 Stewart Farley 42/47, 52 Richard Jones 42/54, 59 Alan Dean 43/38, 62 Darren Mitchelmore 43/47, 84 Haydn Jones 45/22, 97 Chris Wakeman 46/42, 109 Andy Lewis 48/28.

Womens' Results:

3 Zoe Barber 23/32, 4 Anna Bartlett 23/40, 8 Sara Willhoit 24/20, 11 Lauren Morley 24/30, 20 Jacqueline Macey 25/47, 50 Gill Evans 28/55.

Further afield on the cross country scene, Steve Waters was the Club's sole competitor at the Midland Cross Country Championships at Loughborough, finishing 73^rd in 57/14 and at the North Wales Cross Country Championships at Corwen, Richard Jones finished 26^th in 40/54 and 3^rd Veteran Over 50 and Haydn Jones 39^th in 43/19 and 4^th Veteran Over 55.

SAC Oswestry 2017 Photo

Back Left to Right: Gabe Morris, Graham Jones, Sean Hickey, Anna Bartlett, Connor Middleton, Steve Waters, Luke Butler, Michael Betts, Gill Evans, Chris Wakeman, James Hickinbottom, Adam Roberts, Alan Dean, Pete Middleton, Simon Adney, Darren Mitchelmore, Stewart Farley, Richard Jones, Glen Speake.

Front Left to Right:Haydn Jones, Zoe Barber, Sara Willhoit, Andy Lewis, Kevin Francis, Andy Yapp.

Not on photo are Brett Edwards, Lauren Morley and Jacqueline Macey.