Traditionally the first Saturday of January is always the double header of the FA Cup 3rd round and the county cross country championships. This year was no different, and while our local football clubs were trying to progress to the next round and avoid an early exit our athletes were looking to pick up county medals and also hoping to qualify for the Inter Counties Championships and gain county vests to compete in March.
Athletes from Wolverhampton & Bilston AC were out in force in Rugeley for the Staffordshire County Championships and came away with a barrow load of medals. The course was exactly what you would expect in the foothills of Cannock Chase, steep, but that didn’t prevent a number of Wolves athletes walking away as county champions.
Grace Hendy claimed 1st place in the U13 girls race crossing the line in 15.00, Lucy Horton placed 8th in 16.26, Kiki Guest was 12th in 17.12 and Alice Cattell was 14th in 18.02. Enough to claim a team silver medal behind City of Stoke.
There was another win in the U13 boys race with Fred Jones claiming victory in 12.07, Sam Ball picking up a silver medal in 13.08 and Will Hughes completing a clean sweep with the bronze in 1401. Not surprisingly they also won the team gold with the minimum points score available of 6.
And another win in the U15 boys race with Owen Ulfig bagging the gold medal in 15.45, Oscar Davis was second claiming the silver in 16.01, Sam Thusfield was 4th in 16.46, Jack Stockton 5th in 16.53. And another team gold medal with just 7 points. In the U15 girls event Megan White was 5th in 19.14, Zena Asbury was 8th in 20.31, Scarlett Willoughby 10th in 21.16, Ruby Buggins 12th in 22.17 and Macy Read 16th in 23.20 for a team silver medal.
James Neilson was the only member of the club in the U17 mens race but he stormed to victory crossing the line in 22.22 to take gold, and Scarlett Williams was the only representative in the U17 womens race claiming a bronze medal in 26.04. Maria Calleia just missed out on a medal in the U20 womens race placing 4th in 29.33, only 14 seconds off a bronze.
In the senior womens race Zoe Brickley placed 4th in 26.14, Beth Tabor was 7th in 26.27, Emily Simmonds was 32nd in 30.49, Audrey Wilson 33rd in 30.55, Danni Braine 42nd in 34.34, Imogen Harley 45th in 40.28 and Julia Condon 47th in 26.17. The senior womens team placed 4th on the day but with 4 to count Emily, Audrey, Danni and Imogen claimed masters team bronze medals.
In the U20 mens race Tyler Hawley claim an individual silver medal in 36.34, Louie Lambeth took home an individual bronze medal taking 3rd in 37.06 and with Joe St Quinton finished in 9th in 41.56 to complete the three man team and claim a team silver medal.
In the senior mens race Harry Dyall placed 14th in 37.45, Ben Foster was 31st in 39.35, Gareth Briggs placed 40thin 41.47, Rich Amor-Wilkes 46th in 43.36, Dan Brazier made his competitive return to the club with 66thplace in 46.57, Dave Norman placed 71st in 48.58 and Rob Edwards was 76th in 49.46. This was enough for a Senior mens team bronze and also a masters team bronze.
Rich Amor-Wilkes was back in the area again on Sunday morning to take part in the Cannock Chase Trig Point race placing 16th in a time given on the results as 131.39, which I think must be 2.11.39 in real money. And Peter McCullagh took part in the Dirt Run Dudmnaston 10k placing 16th in 50.14.
The sensible ones at the club decided to stay indoors and compete in a open meeting at Sport City in Manchester where Eugene Kyei placed 2nd over 60m in 7.49, Joshua Welford was 1st in his heat over 60m in 7.45 from William Parton in 2nd in 7.56. Willaim also placed 3rd in 24.44 and Joshua was 1st in 23.47 over 200m. Roshane Gordon was 3rd over 200m in 25.90 and 4th in 1.33.71 over 600m. Charlotte Higgins was 4th in 10.15 in the U17 60m hurdles.
Finally, I’ve been asked by the staff at Aldersley to remind people that outside of designated club training the price for track usage is £2.50 for juniors (U16’s) and £4.00 for adults (16+). WV Active members get free track usage as a benefit of their gym membership, but the track will only be available at certain times.
Dave Norman
