Title: Thanks for your interest
Author: Glenn
Last saved by: Administrator

Race Report, 2004

For the third consecutive year, the Wrekin Wrecker fellrace took place in warm and calm conditions last Sunday. Rapidly gaining something of a reputation as a tough and challenging race, the organisers from Newport and District Running Club were again pleased with the field of 42 who took part, coming from a wide range of clubs around the country. Runners came from as far a field as Worthington, Yorkshire, Stroud and Northumberland, as well as runners representing all of the local clubs. In the event, it was the visiting runners who took the honours.

Last years winner, Andy Yapp from Mercia Fellrunners came home in 1:02 47, nearly 30 seconds off his course record last year. Second home from Stroud AC was Martin Humphries in 1:06:07. Next were three runners from local clubs – Mark Griffiths from Telford AC, Noel Hogan from Newport & District RC and Dave Coley from Mercia Fellrunners.  Vic Belshaw from Eryri won the male V40 category in 1:14:20. In the womens race, Anne Johnson from Calder Valley RC won in 1:16:40, nearly a minute slower than last years course record set by Sarah Hammond from Tattenhall Harriers. The second woman was local runner Polly Gibb of Mercia Fellrunners  in 1:22:59 and third was Jill Valentine in 1:44:41. 

The race starts at the old rifle range at the base of the Wrekin. The course is an 8 mile one lap route over 2400 ft of ascent – 2 and a half ascents of the Wrekin! Runners again praised the course and how well it was marked out and marshalled. The race uses some of the smaller less well known of the Wrekin’s paths which were again dry for this third running of the race. The route features some tough ascents and challenging downhills but there is also a good deal of undulating ground where runners could pick up speed. So overall, no particular style or strength of fellrunner is favoured.

Prize winners were:

Newport and District Running Club | the Wrekin Wrecker fellrace | September 26th 2004
Name | Club | Overall Position | Time | Category Position
Andy Yapp | Mercia | 1 | 1:02:47 | 1st overall man
Martin Humphries | Stroud AC | 2 | 1:06:07 | 1^st senior man
Vic Belshaw | Eryri | 12 | 1:14:20 | 1^st v40 man
Terry Sharp | Northumberland Fellrunners | 6 | 1:11:17 | 1^st V45 man
Adrian Orringe | Griffithstown Harriers | 10 | 1:12:52 | 1^st V50 man
Steve Herrington | Hereford Couriers | 13 | 1:14:43 | 1^st 55 man
Alan V Hodgkiss | Telford AC | 31 | 1:31:58 | 1^st v60 man
Anne Johnson | Calder Valley Fellrunners | 15 | 1:16:40 | 1 overall woman
Polly Gibb | Mercia | 23 | 1:22:59 | 1^st senior woman
Jan Edwards | Shropshire Shufflers | 39 | 2:16:50 | 1^st v 40 woman
Sue Parkin | unattached | 36 | 2:03:28 | 1^st v45 woman

Prizes for each category winner were presented at the Wrekin Tap pub including limited edition prints of the Wrekin by Dave Heath, an art teacher at Lord Silkin school and one of the race organisers. Other prizes include wine and champagne donated by the Lutine Bell restaurant in Newport.

Yet again, the wonderful weather and good organisation provided a great race atmosphere with many runners promising to come back for more next year. Maybe then it will be the local clubs to take the top honours.

September 26th 2004 | | Race Results | | |
Name | Category | Club | Position | Time | Category Position
Andy Yapp | ms | Mercia | 1 | 01:02:47 | Overall first male
Martin Humphries | ms | Stroud AC | 2 | 01:06:07 | 1
Mark Griffiths | ms | Telford Harriers | 3 | 01:08:36 | 2
Noel Hogan | ms | Newport & District | 4 | 01:09:40 | 3
David Coley | ms | Mercia | 5 | 01:09:51 | 4
Terry Sharp | m45 | Northumberland  FR | 6 | 01:11:17 | 1
Russell Mapp | m45 | Ludlow Runners | 7 | 01:11:42 | 2
Bill Johnson | ms | Calder Valley Fellrunners | 8 | 01:12:30 | 5
Mark Fenn | ms | Telford Harriers | 9 | 01:12:39 | 6
Adrian Orringe | m50 | Griffithstown Harriers | 10 | 01:12:52 | 1
Phil Pittson | m50 | Erewash Valley RC | 11 | 01:13:47 | 2
Vic Belshaw | m40 | Eryri | 12 | 01:14:20 | 1
Steve Herrington | m55 | Hereford Couriers | 13 | 01:14:43 | 1
Martin Callaghan | ms | unattached | 14 | 01:15:58 | 7
Anne Johnson | ls | Calder Valley Fellrunners | 15 | 01:16:40 | Overall first lady
Richard Pay | m40 | Wrekin Orienteers | 16 | 01:17:53 | 2
Graham Spencer | m50 | Mercia | 17 | 01:18:03 | 3
Angela Jones | ms | Brecon | 18 | 01:19:30 | 8
Alan Heath | ms | Dee Striders | 19 | 01:19:37 | 9
Paul Sanderson | m50 | Telford AC | 20 | 01:21:15 | 4
Jon Box | m45 | unattached | 21 | 01:21:51 | 3
Geoff Borrow | m55 | Worthing Harriers | 22 | 01:22:11 | 2
Polly Gibb | ls | Mercia | 23 | 01:22:59 | 1
Liam Dala | ms | unattached | 24 | 01:23:18 | 10
Adam Hyde | ms | unattached | 25 | 01:24:07 | 11
Ian Beattie | m45 | Telford AC | 26 | 01:24:40 | 4
Bill Llewellyn | m45 | Telford AC | 27 | 01:24:43 | 5
Peter Nesbitt | m40 | unattached | 28 | 01:26:12 | 3
Roger Breakell | m55 | unattached | 29 | 01:27:10 | 3
David Gould | m50 | Trail Running Association | 30 | 01:30:56 | 5
Alan V Hodgkiss | m60 | Telford AC | 31 | 01:31:58 | 1
Colin Downey | m45 | Dudley Kingswinford | 32 | 01:33:59 | 6
John Brown | m60 | Newport & District | 33 | 01:35:45 | 2
Jill Valentine | ls | unattached | 34 | 01:44:41 | 2
Mark Fisk | m45 | unattached | 35 | 02:00:20 | 7
Sue Parkin | l45 | unattached | 36 | 02:03:28 | 1
Simon Wilson | ms | unattached | 37 | 02:03:28 | 12
Nicholas Knowland | m40 | unattached | 38 | 02:09:15 | 4
Jan Edwards & Guinness | l40 | Shropshire Shufflers | 39 | 02:16:50 | 1
Henry Teszke | m55 | Shropshire Shufflers | 40 | 02:16:50 | 4
Gail Griffiths | l40 | unattached | dnf | |
Mike Bouldstridge | ms | Mercia | dnf | |

From the start there is a short uphill section. 
Right over the style to a fairly level section for about 1000m. 
Then left uphill (runnable) to an open grass area. 
Bear right and after 100m sharp left onto a path known as 'zig-zag' or 'heroes'. 
Uphill for about 1000m then right again. 
Emerge at a point half way up the Wrekin at the junction of Heroes, bmx and the main track from the forest glen to the summit. Ignore bmx path (you’ll meet it later!) 
Turn left down the main track, bear right through trees, Cross the track by halfway house. 
Then its left down a wide track and a steep scree slope more or less to the same elevation as the start. 
Then right for 1000m uphill before going straight on (leaving the main track)levelling out for another 1500m or so. 
About 20m before the path splits, go sharp right for a steep climb of about 600 feet up a path called the 'gaoty' (use imagination!) to the summit. 
Then right and downwards to a point you've already passed - the top of heros. 
To the right of the top of heros begins the bmx path. This is a difficult twisting and steep descent to the bottom of the beeches. 
Turn right then a long climb; first up 'the beeches which is a lovely beech lined path; then right up the Wrekin's main drag till you reach the summit for the second time. 
Straight on down another steep descent (the spine) then straight over at the bottom and up a short stiff ascent up 'little hill' or 'the bump'. 
Left down nasty descent then right at the bottom. 
After 500m bear right again. Continue along a series of taxing switchbacks till you join the outward path. 
Then over the style, left and a 400m downhill grassy run in to the finish.