We are the champions, my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions.
L to R: James Mayes, James Day, Zak Lambert, Tom Fisher, Sam Lambert, Will Mayes and Josh Davies.
I love this photo. Simon Penson in the Titterstone Clee Fell Race.
I think I’ll maybe stick to racing indoors Simon.
Simon is such a sweetie that as part of Fiona’s romantic weekend to celebrate her birthday he twisted her arm to enter her first fell race in these conditions.
What’s your treat for Valentine’s Day Simon, maybe an entry in the Antarctic Ice Ultra ?
The weekend saw the last of this season’s cross country league fixtures. The senior ladies and men were both competing at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton. We have a report on the ladies fixture but unfortunately the men’s results weren’t available in time to be included in this week’s newsletter.
At Pingles Stadium on Sunday our juniors finished off the season with their equal highest finish of the season, being placed a highly credible 4th out of the 21 teams competing. We unfortunately left ourselves with a mountain to climb following the first fixture of the season. With fewer members than usual being available we finished that fixture in 8th position but the team recovered well to finish in 5th place for the season as a whole.
As ever, the final junior league fixture was tinged with sadness with several of our U17 teams competing in their last fixture before moving up to the seniors next season.
As Angela says in her report, the juniors’ loss is the seniors’ gain.
Huge thanks to Angela Williamson for getting her report finished in time for inclusion in this week’s newsletter, this despite the final results for the season only being available Wednesday evening. Huge thanks also to Angela for her wonderful reports throughout the season.
I think Louise Lambert summed the season up when she posted “I think they were all fantastic, their commitment to running every week in all weathers is commendable, they put some of us adults to shame. They make you proud to be part of Stratford! And it was so lovely to see all of the coaches, without you guys it could not happen so thank you for your time”
Finally this week, as part of her romantic birthday weekend, Fiona Penson was treated to a fell race entry by hubby Simon. In the snow, compasses at the ready, no road, 4.1k and 229m of climbing. He certainly knows how to show a lady a good time does Simon.
James Day at Perry Park in December 2016 and at Pingles last weekend.
The final West Midland Young Cross Country League fixture is always one that is tinged with a certain amount of sadness as for many of our U17s it is their last fixture in this league before moving up to the seniors.
The juniors’ loss is definitely the seniors’ gain.
Above is James Day, one such member who has been part of the team since he was a 9 years old. Now, as a 17 year old, he will progress to the seniors and do as good a job for them as he has always done for the juniors.
Just the 112 starters in the U11 boys’ race. Mayhem.
Final Match of the WMYACCL 2024-25
Report – Angela Williamson
SuAAC returned to Pingles Stadium on Sunday 9 February for the final match (5 of 5) of the WMYACCL 2024-25.
Our young athletes have worked hard and shown great commitment throughout the season, racing and training tirelessly, braving all weather conditions to improve and give of their very best.
Proud families, friends and coaches have gathered along the courses, their cheers, encouragement (and cakes!) providing a boost to the athletes. XC races aren’t only about the runners but also the community that surrounds them. Special thanks to the coaches and to all for your support.
And what rewards! SuAAC placed overall 5th of 21 teams. Also a trophy, medals, several athletes making their XC debuts (and returning for more!) and several others making successful returns from injury or illness. Many showing fantastic improvement and achieving personal bests.
SuAAC had a very good opening race in the U17 Women, with several of the athletes improving significantly on their finishing positions from Match 3 in December at the same venue. Annie Silvers with an excellent top 20 place (19th/17:30) and Brooke Rossney up 6 places to 30th/18:50. Completing their last ever WMYACCL race were Martha Peters 41st/20:36 and Hannah Wilkinson, both giving their all, Hannah to work steadily through the field to finish up 3 spots from December in 43rd/21:16. They crossed the line to cheers and hugs from their supporters. Thanks to Martha and Hannah for their commitment and contribution to SuAAC’s junior XC team and wishing them all the very best for the seniors!
The next race saw a large field of 112 U11 Boys, making for a tricky start. A tumble had a domino effect, as the boys were so closely packed, fortunately all were straight up and back into the race. The SuAAC boys managed to steer clear and represented the club very well throughout the field. Dexter Sharpe 30th/7:45, Rafe White 48th/8:05, Oliver Hollis 49th/8:06, Lewis Cowley 50th/8:07, Simon Zawada with a very good result (52nd/8:09), improving over 20 places from Match 3 at Pingles in Dec, and Luca Armstrong 101st/ 9:38.
There was a celebratory buzz around the U17 Men’s team, even pre-race, with photos being taken of the close-knit band, including proud coaches, to record for posterity Zak Lambert, James Day, Will Mayes and James Mayes’ last junior league match. Sam Lambert worked hard to lead close rival Gabriel Wagstaff for most of the race and hold a good position coming into the closing stages but Wagstaff had just the stronger finish, pipping Sam into 3rd/16:40. Tom Fisher ran a strong race to take 8th/17:28, ahead of Will Mayes 11th/17:46, both well up on their results from December. Zak Lambert, putting in a pretty heroic effort having not fully recovered from illness, took 17th/18:14, followed by James Day (21st/18:27), James Mayes 29th/19:14 and Josh Davies 36th/20:18, all also well up on their December results. Team Top of the Pops (for those of us old enough to remember it!) their efforts making them clear U17 Men WMYACCL Champions 2024-25, with Sam taking an individual silver medal plus overall top 10 finishes for Zak (6th) and Tom (10th). Wishing Zak, James D, Will and James M all the very best for the future, the U17’s loss becoming the senior’s gain!
Another large field of 100 U11 Girls competed next, with the deteriorating ground becoming an increasingly influential factor. Elsie Pipitone was the first SuAAC vest home in 12th/7:47. Saskia Atkins followed in 33rd/8:17, with Poppy West 51st/8:42, Sara Clewer 52nd/8:42, Marnie Short 73rd/9:04 and Layla-Rose Sparrow 98th/10:40.
Several of the SuAAC U15 Boys led the pack at the start of the race. Arthur Williamson’s shoe was spiked partly off from behind and he had to stop (easier said than done at speed in the mud) to replace it, admitting afterwards, ‘ I hadn’t realised there were that many racing until I had to work my way back past them!’. Will Hovell was first SuAAC home with an excellent 3rd/11:48, Arthur did well to come back to 12th/12:28, followed closely by Joel Ledgard 13th/12:29, with a strong race to the finish, gaining 3 places, a good result returning from injury, and another fine sprint to the line from Sam Plumb to gain a place and take 30th/13:33, up 7 places from December. Max Rossney again showed his resilience and good pacing to take 55th/16:50, up 5 places. The boys had done enough to gain an overall place and take team bronze, plus an individual bronze for Will and top 10 finish (9th) for Joel.
Another excellent team turnout in the U13 Girls, with the SuAAC contingent representing the club with determination, good form and stamina throughout the field. First home was Amelie Marshall 13th/10:19, followed by Maggie Silvers 17th/10:27, Eliza McLeod 23rd/10:40 (thank you to Nikki H and Clare P for their nifty work to arrange a replacement for her missing race number!), a very good result up 15 places from Match 3 in December, a brave and stoic run from Emily Lambert 42nd/11:10, recovering from illness and Jasmine Mothershaw 44th/11:12. Amelie’s consistency through the season was rewarded with an excellent 10th place overall.
First SuAAC home in the U13 Boys race was Charlie Cassells 35th/9:58. A very welcome addition to the team was Harry Coulson, who did well in his debut to complete in 49th/10:20. Toby Wilkinson ran a sound race to finish 51st/10:26, followed by Toby Ledgard 57th/10:43.
Always last to race, but never least, the U15 Girls. Hats off to Marijke Tear-Verweij for running when unwell and still finishing an excellent 8th/13:52. Lois Ford was next to finish for SuAAC in 28th/15:10, followed by Rachel Sparrow 45th/16:16 and Georgia Sharpe 54th/17:00. Marijke placed an excellent 6thin the U15 Girls League overall.
Summary of results:
Overall Team 5th
U17 Women 6th
U11 Boys 6th
U17 Men 1st Individual 2nd Sam Lambert
U11 Girls 7th
U15 Boys 3rd Individual 3rd Will Hovell
U13 Girls 6th
U13 Boys 7th
U15 Girls 6th
The happy couple. Is that a forced smile Fiona ?
And the winner is – Fiona collects her WV50 prize.
Titterstone Clee Fell Race
Fell running foray in the snow and mist, a first for Fiona and a win!
Report – Simon Penson
Having promised Fiona a romantic weekend away to celebrate her birthday, I managed to twist her arm and enter us both for the Titterstone Clee Fell Race.
This was to be Fi’s first foray into fell racing and my first race of any kind since the unmentionable incident last June.
It’s an AS category race (4.1km with 229m of climbing, no road). The weather forecast looked poor so there was a chance the race would be cancelled.
Come the day, 44 runners turned out to face the music. The weather conditions were extremely challenging – 0 degrees Centigrade, 4cm of snow on the ground and visibility of less than 10m.
Given the lack of clear paths (that is, none), it was inevitable that a lot of runners (including us!) took ‘creative’ lines to the summit and back down again. It’s worth noting that while the use of GPS devices to record a race are allowed, FRA rules forbid the use of GPS aids for navigation. A strong emphasis on mountain craft and self-reliance is part of the ethos of the sport.
Despite getting slightly misplaced, Fiona managed to bag the WV50 prize in a time of 46:15. I managed to avoid breaking myself in a time of 35:42. I was being quite cautious and had plenty of gas in the tank at the end so was pleased overall.
Ironically Fiona would have been close to pipping me at the post if (by her own admission) ‘only I’d looked at my compass!’. There’s a story there-you’ll have to ask her! To be fair, I must admit that this was the first race I’ve ever needed to use a compass bearing to get back to the start from the summit doing a race. Quite a challenging first race…
A great race and atmosphere, made all the more memorable by the extreme conditions in the hill.
Welcome to fell running Fiona.
Georgie Campbell
Niamh Hillard and Abbi Cooper
Midlands Women’s Cross Country League Race 4
Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton
Saturday 8 February
And then there were nine….
Report – Becks Parker
The final league cross country race of the season saw a valiant nine ladies running for the club. Over the season we have had injuries and other commitments but we are very lucky to have been able to have fielded full teams, which is a feat not every club has managed.
Aldersley is a flatter and usually faster course, favoured by the speedy ladies. However, it was very muddy in places, and even a nice water crossing (well, a deep puddle!) to cool the feet.
Stratford ladies finished with Georgie Campbell (6th, 25:27), followed by Niamh Hillard (40th, 28:06), Abbi Cooper (68th, 30:00) and Bronwen Mansel (75th, 30:28) close behind. Emma Bexson was first of the Masters ladies to finish (86th 31:01), which is spectacular considering that she has had bronchitis this week and dosed up with antibiotics. Bethany Swain cruised to a solid finish (116th, 35:00) just ahead of Tilly Campbell (126th, 36:17). Suzi Graham (130th, 37:59) and Becks Parker (Pridham) bringing home the team (134th 38:56).
Season recap: This season has flown by and I want to thank all of the runners who have raced for the club across the four races (Northampton, Stoke, Warley Woods and Aldersley Stadium).
The season was particularly challenging due to the far flung venues. No Stratford or Burton Dassett Hills to please the technical runners either, but fingers crossed that they will be in the diary for next season. We lost Pip Bell, the co-captain, very early on, but she is slowly coming back to running.
A big thank you to the ‘hard core’ crew (those who attended all four league races) who were Georgie and Tilly Campbell, Suzi Graham and yours truly!
However, we need plenty of runners. Every runner really does count! Our best team placings this year have been where we have fielded a larger team (November, we had 16 runners and our team placing was 6th out of 18 teams).
So, if any ladies feel intrigued by cross country or fancy ‘having a go’ please come and find me on a Wednesday night or drop me a line. We always want runners who are team players and will contribute towards the success of our Division 1 Ladies Cross Country Team.
Our senior men’s XC team at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton last Saturday.
At the time of writing the results had not been published so unfortunately there is no report.
L to R back row: Huw Crossweller, Tom Southall, David Teasdale, Tim Hutchinson, Stu George, Mike Sheppard, Sam Mercer, Henry Wheeler,
Front row L to R: Nick Campbell, Sam Wilks, James Lake and Ned Campbell
More photos from the final West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League fixture at Pingles Stadium last Sunday.
U11 girls L to R : Sara Clewer, Saskia Atkins, Layla Sparrow, Poppy West, Marnie Short and Elsie Pipitone.
U11 boys. L to R: Ollie Hollis, Dexter Sharp, Lewis Cowley, Rafe White, Simon Zawada and Luca Armstrong
U13 girls Emily Lambert and Eliza McLeod.
U13 girls Jasmine Mothershaw and Amelie Marshall.
Apologies to Maggie Silvers as there was no photo of her from Sunday.
U13 boys : L to R: Toby Wilkinson, Charlie Cassells, Toby Ledgard and Harry Coulson.
U15 girls. L to R: Marijke Tear-Verweij and Georgia Sharpe.
U15 girls. L to R: Lois Ford and Rachel Sparrow
U15 boys L to R: Arthur Williamson, Will Hovell, Joel Ledgard, Sam Plumb and Max Rossney.
U17 ladies. L to R: Martha Peters, Hannah Wilkinson, Brooke Rossney and Annie Silvers.
The successful U17men’s team together with coaches.
L to R: L to R: Nick Hillard, James Mayes, James Day, Tim Hutchinson, Zak Lambert, Tom Fisher, Sam Lambert, Will Mayes, Josh Davies Paul Hawkins and David Jones.
These photos epitomise the effort put in by our juniors. Finishing straight sprints by Charlie Cassells and Toby Ledgard.
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