2004 News

Race News

In the 3rd cross-country League race at Holme Lacy Simon Norwood had his best run this season, finishing in 8th position. Without our best runners, the men's team dropped a place to finish 4th overall. Our ladies' team of Sonia, Joy and Sue Evans are still third.

The Mortimer Forest race was a great success, with a record 311 entries. Graham and Russell would like to thank everyone who helped with the organisation, especially those who stayed for the whole morning. There were many favourable comments from competitors about how well organised and marshalled the race was.

Mortimer Forest Hill Race 12th December 2004

The 2004 race was won by Rodger Lamb - MV40 (pictured) of Mercia Fell Runners in a time of 1:06:25, behind him was a large field of over 300 runners out to 'enjoy' the dry conditions and a fine selection of hills! First lady home was Camilla Stewart. Our most matured finisher was 72 years young. We would like to thank all the runners and marshals for making the race a great success! See you all next year! Well done to all category winners.

Please find the race results listed below:

Full Results

News - 21st November 2004

The second round of the Herefordshire Cross Country League, promoted by Ludlow Runners on the testing six miles High Vinnals course, produced a worthy winner in veteran Tim Taylor (Hereford Couriers). His time of 38.48 was only four minutes slower than the previous year despite distance added on to by-pass an especially dangerous descent and much muddier conditions underfoot. Kevin Nash made a welcome return from his summer of cycling to finish 7th (40.55), with the remainder of the Ludlow A team composed of Simon Norwood 13th, Mick Ligema 23rd and an in-form Mark Warren 24th all helping to take third team place; Mark having benefited from the cross-training that won him the best local competitor prize in the recent Leisure Centre Triathlon. Once again there was enormous support from our other club runners and Ludlow fielded no fewer than five complete teams out of nineteen in the men's race.

The women's race, over a distance of three miles, was won by Rachel Hatfield (Wye Valley) in 22.41. Ludlow's Sonia George, 6th, combined with Joy Miles 8th and Wendy Breakwell 9th to push our A team up to third place. The B team of Gemma Morgan, Sue Evans and Sally Yapp was sixth.

Russell, Rob Monteith, Richard Hornsby, Wendy and Joy took part in the Suicide 6 race at Sedgely on 21st November. In the last race of the Welsh Fell Championships at Rhobell Fawr, Colin was 9th in 54.54 and Russell 16th in 58.05 over the approx. 6 mile course, amongst 67 runners.

Young Athletes

The younger members of the Club are still doing well in both school and League races. Jaala Kenchington won her race in the U-12 age group, making her champion after 3 wins. Cerian Lancaster has won her 2 races in the U-15 age group and Zara Burford was third, making her a contender for a medal. In the U-12 boys race Charlie Byatt was 4th on his debut for the Club, and Guy Gregory improved to be 6th. Adam Clarke was 9th in the U-13 boys race.

Cerian won a gold medal in the Year 8/9 girls race at the Inter-Counties Schools cross-country event at Coventry. Megan Lloyd was 13th in her first race for the County and Zara Burford was 56th out of 100 runners. Ted Nichols was 11th in the Year 7 boys race, the second Shropshire runner home.

News - 17th October 2004

It was déjà vu all over again as Mike Fawcett (Wye Valley), last year's champion, won the first round of the 2004/5 Herefordshire Cross Country League by the narrow margin of 12 seconds from Tim Clarke (Hereford Couriers). It took Mike a mere 49 minutes 21 seconds to cover the 7+ miles of a tough course encompassing three climbs and corresponding descents between the valley of Croft Castle and the heights of the Iron Age fort. Running close on their heels in third place and first MV40 was Ludlow's Colin Lancaster (50.05). Ludlow 'A' took third place out of 19 in the team race, ably assisted by Simon Norwood (12th), Russell Mapp (13th) and Greg Smith (24th). Other finishers in the men's event were Simon Powney (28th), Mark Warren (30th), David Yapp (35th), David George (37th), Paul Elliott (42nd), Jon Utley (43rd), Clive Richardson (44th and 3rd MV 45), John Lyden (45th), Chris Good (49th), Graham Wood (52nd), Mike Livingston (66th), Chris Morgan (78th), Jason Stuchbury (83rd) and Tony Hewson (84th).

Ludlow also filled third team place in the women's race over a somewhat shorter course. The winner was Rachel Hatfield (Wye Valley) in a time of 31.47, helping to take her club to top spot, but the ever-improving Ludlow trio of Sonia George (7th), Joy Miles (8th) and Wendy Breakwell (14th) put up a good fight. Gemma Morgan was 18th, Sally Yapp 23rd, Jo Sharp 25th and first FV45, with Elaine Blenkharn 30th.

All in all 25 of our club members presented themselves on the start line, a near record representing almost a quarter of the total field. Attention now turns to the second round, which will be promoted by Ludlow on the High Vinnals course on November 14th.

News - 5th October 2004

Ludlow Runners fielded five competitors in the Brambles Trust 10K at Stourport on Severn. Out of 258 finishers, the promoting club Kidderminster and Stourport A.C. took the major honours with David Hall first man in 33.37 and Jacqui Phillips first lady in 40.27. Ludlow's Barry Wilson continues to shine, taking 20th place overall and the Male Vet 50 prize in an excellent time of 38.30. Other club competitors were Clive Richardson (42.05), Neil Collins (47.52), Tony Hewson (53.09) and Ann Cruse (55.32).

On the altogether tougher fell racing scene, Russell Mapp represented the club in the category A Black Mountains race out of Crickhowell where he was 13th in 3.05.43 over an 18 miles course that included 5,500 feet of climbing. Jo Sharp, Jane Mapp and Russell also took part in the recent Goodrich fell race.

News - 5th September 2004

A few of our Shropshire summer shows still feature a running race as one of their attractions, notably at Purslow and Montgomery, both of which were well supported this year by members of Ludlow Runners. Cool, unseasonable, showery conditions prevailed at each venue, ideal for the sweaty hill-climbing task ahead. Andrew Yapp (Mercia Fell Runners) was the male winner at Montgomery with Emma Davies (Telford AC) taking top female spot. Best for Ludlow was Colin Lancaster (7th) pressed hard by Russell Mapp (8th). Other finishers included Richard Hornsby (17th), Clive Richardson (25th), Graham Wood (26th), Anne Thorpe (29th and 1st FV 40), Chris Morgan (36th), Gemma Morgan (38th), Jane Mapp(40th) and Tony Hewson (41st and 1st vet 65/70).

The Purslow race with 13 competitors from Ludlow was over the shorter distance of 3.7 miles and included the stiff climb of Clunbury Hill. Here the victors in the Open class were Chris Rimmer (Telford AC) and Lucy Evans (Shropshire Shufflers) with Ludlow's Sue Evans in second place. Simon Norwood and Simon Powney ran well in the Open to finish 4th and 6th respectively as did Colin Lancaster and Russell Mapp to take 1st and 2nd in the veteran category. Anne Thorpe won the ladies veteran prize.

News - 29th August 2004

Ludlow Runners' promotion of the Tenbury Wells 10K in aid of local Round Table charities was the best yet despite hot and humid conditions making any sort of physical effort extremely difficult. A record field of 145 runners set off from the swimming baths to cover a challenging course that included the steep climb through Upper Rochford. First man home was Simon Link (Stourbridge AC) in a time of 37.32 and the first lady Lyn Cox (Tipton Harriers) in 42.24. Seventeen runners represented Ludlow, the fastest being veteran Barry Wilson in 40.53, also winner of the MV50 prize. Other good performances came from Chris Dowden, 10th in 41.10, Simon Norwood 13th (42.08), Clive Richards 32nd (46.42), Paul Elliott 36th (47.10) and David George 48th (49.10). Joy Miles was fourth fastest female in 50.02, whilst Ann Cruse (62.47) took the FV55 prize. After this race on one of the hottest days of summer, runners reported emerging from the changing room's refreshing cold showers still perspiring!

News - 20th June 2004

The Silver Jubilee Man v Horse race at Llanwrtyd Wells produced a shock result. For the first time ever, a man beat the horse to pocket the £25,000 prize from bookmakers William Hill. Running in dry conditions normally advantageous to the quadriped, 27 years old Huw Lobb from Bedford covered the tough 22 miles cross country course in 2.5.19, over two minutes ahead of the first horse Kay Bee Jay. Ludlow's solo full distance competitor was Russell Mapp who finished in a respectable 2 hours 50 minutes. The club also entered three teams in the relay race: Simon Norwood, Jon Utley and Mark Wadsworth (2.45) ----- Graham Wood, Simon Powney and Richard Hornsby (2.47). The ladies relay team of Jane Mapp, Ann Thorpe and Jo Sharp completed the course in a little over three hours.

The recent Hereford Leisure Centre 5K series has ended with the club team of David George, Richard Hornsby and Jason Stuchberry winning the men's team prize. Other good performances included Barry Wilson (18.36), David George (18.42) and 6th overall, Simon Powney (19.31), Richard Hornsby (19.40), Clive Richardson (20.13) and Jason Stuchberry (23.02). Ann Cruse was first over 55 female veteran and Tony Hewson first over 65 male veteran.