Wenlock Olympics

7 mile road race

Sunday 9th July 2006

Just one B&R runner completed the road race at the Wenlock Olympics but Roger Beacham's journey to Shropshire was rewarded by his being second placed O60 athlete. His time of 55-22 for what is advertised as a 7 mile course but has apparently been measured as quite a bit longer, earned him 30th place out of 65 finishers. He was only edged out of first place in his age category by Birchfield's exceptional athlete Gordon Orme (47-35). A good result considering that Roger had gone to support his daughter Emily in the triathlon event.

Leading men finishers:

1 Nick Andrews (Telford AC) 39-54

2 Darren Rowlands (Wrexham AC) 41-38

3 John Gormson (Newport RC) 42-59

Leading women finishers:

1 Louise Taylor (Telford AC) 44-15

2 Miranda Wheatley (St. Edmunds Pacers) 50-16

3 Lucy Dalton (Telford H) 50-59

It' worth noting that the Wenlock Olympics are held annually and include either a road race or an off road race (a few years back it was through the National Trust woodland on Wenlock edge).  The organising committee seem to be hoping for their events to have a higher profile to tie in with the London Olympiad in 2012 given the importance of the Shropshire event in the history of the modern Olympic Games (click here to see more of the story at the Wenlock Olympics web-site) .

(PA)