Wenlock Olympics success

The 123rd Wenlock Olympic Games, which tested the sporting talents of more than 1,000 athletes from the county and beyond, have been hailed a success by organisers.

The games - which were founded by Dr William Penny Brookes in Much Wenlock in 1850 and are regarded as the forerunner to the modern Olympics - attracted more than 1,250 entries from athletes from as far afield as Norway.

The four-day event kicked off on Friday with quick cricket and volleyball and came to an end yesterday with golf.

Sporting events across the games also included athletics, tennis, triathlon, fencing, archery, bowls, badminton, clay pigeon shooting and cycling.

This year, all participants were rewarded for taking part with medals specially produced by the Birmingham Royal Mint to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of founder Dr Penny Brookes.

As well as the sporting events, the Special Olympics torch Flame of Hope was lit at the games on Sunday and is now on an 800 mile journey across 45 British towns and cities before it arrives in Leicester on July 25, heralding the start of the 2009 Special Olympics Summer Games.

Among the guests of honour were former athletes Robbie Brightwell and Ann Packer, who made history when they famously embraced after she won the 800 metres on the track at the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964.

Mr Brightwell, who was captain of the men's British team, grew up in Donnington and gained his athletics training in Shrewsbury.

Crowds also welcomed former Olympic medal winner Tommy Godwin who was one of the greatest track racing cyclists of his time. He won two bronze medals in the 1948 London games and a bronze at the 1950 British Empire Games.

Yachtsman Paul Anderson, who won a bronze medal in the 1968 Olympics and is a former chief executive of Special Olympics GB, joined the ceremony to light the Special Olympics flame.

Helen Cromarty, PR and sponsorship secretary, said the atmosphere and enthusiasm made this year's event one of the best ever.

She said: "It was fantastic. We had more that 1,200 competitors and that many of more spectators.

"The weather was lovely except for the end of the golf yesterday when the heavens opened on the last few golf teams.

"The medals went down really well and there was a choice of four olympians to present them, it was very inspirational. We can't wait for next year."

The full results are on the following pages

123^rd Much Wenlock Olympian Games (2009)

RESULTS

5 –a-Side U/11 Football

Gold: Broseley; Silver: Buildwas; Bronze: Much Wenlock

-------------

Volleyball

Inter Schools Girls Tournament

Gold: Gausdal VGS (Norway)

Silver: Meale Brace

Inter Schools Boys/Mixed Tournament

Gold: William Brookes School 'A'

Silver: William Brookes School 'B'

Bronze: William Brookes School Yr 10

-------------

Badminton

Girls' Competition

Singles

Gold: Lucy Nicolaides

Silver: Ella Ruxton

Bronze: Thea (Norway)

Doubles

Gold: Lucy Nicolaides & Ella Ruxton

Silver: Solveig & Asne (Norway)

Bronze: Magda Kowaleska & Megan Howley; Kiristen & Thea (Norway)

Boys' Competition

Singles

Over 14:

Gold: Oliver Crossley

Silver: Andy Marlowe

Bronze: Matthew Jones & Luke Martin

Age 14:

Gold: Tom Sherlock

Silver: Josh Hand

Bronze: Chris Taylor

Toby Gwynne

Under 14:

Gold: Tom Wood

Silver: Ian Barden

Bronze: Ryan Jones

Jordan Lee

Boys Doubles:

Gold: Oliver Crossley & Matthew Jones

Silver: Curtis Taylor & Tom Wood

Bronze: Sarah Barden & Tom Sherlock

Toby Gwynne & Josh Hand

-------------

Tennis

Inter County Match - Shropshire v Staffs

Mini Red:

Gold: Shrops (29 Pts)

Silver: Staffs (11 Pts)

U/11 Girls:

Gold: Shrop (8 Pts)

Silver: Staffs (2 Pts)

U/11 Boys:

Gold: Staffs (8 Pts)

Silver: Shrops (2 Pts)

Mini Orange:

Gold: Staffs (30 Pts)

Silver: Shrops (10 Pts)

Mini Green:

Gold: Staffs (22 Pts)

Silver: Shrops (18 Pts)

-------------

Fencing

Men's Foil:

Gold: Max Weedon (Army)

Silver: Thomas Clarke (Nottingham)

Bronze: Daniel Barnes (Abington)

Matthew Duggan (Cressy)

Men's Secondary Comp:

Gold: David Charles-Hendy (Wrexham)

Silver: Peter James (Shrewsbury)

Bronze: Paul Ford (Droitwich SPA)

Benjamin Jellicoe (King Edward's School)

Ladies Foil:

Gold: Emma Potter (B'ham City Uni)

Silver: Olivia Keys (Team Melia)

Bronze: Chloe Dickson (Dunfermline)

Rebecca Douglas (Hellfire & Gladiators)

Ladies Secondary Comp:

Gold: Rachel Lasance (Tameside)

Silver: Rebecca Smith (Stourport)

Bronze: Lyn Robinson (Star Sword)

Natalie Brown (Cardiff Uni)

Highest Placed Vet:

Gold (Men): Steve Potter (Stourbridge)

Gold (Women): Lyn Robinson (Star Sword)

Highest Placed Cadet:

Gold (Men): Thomas Clarke (Nottingham)

Gold (Women): Olivia Keys (Team Media)

Highest Placed Shropshire Fencer:

Gold: Aiden Byrne (Shrewsbury)

U/13's Team Comp:

Gold: Triangle

Silver: Much Wenlock

Bronze: DHB

Fourth: Hellfire & Gladiators

-------------

Archery

Ladies Compound:

Gold: Tamsin Williamson (GNAS) – 820 Pts

Silver: Sandra Roberts (Greenbank CoA) – 810 Pts

Ladies Recurve:

Gold: Kay Lucas (Long Mynd) – 742 Pts

Silver: Tejinder Mudan (Litchfield Archers) – 736 Pts

Bronze: Nicola Ball (Long Mynd) – 735 Pts

Ladies Longbow:

Gold: Amanda Slack (Alsager) – 236 Pts

Jr Ladies Recurve:

Gold: Lora Ankers (Chase Archers) – 691

Gents Compound:

Gold: Paul Rudge (Telford) – 838 Pts

Silver: Steve Prowse (Wolves CoA) – 834 Pts

Bronze: Paul Arrowsmith (Telford) – 826 Pts

Gents Recurve:

Gold: Steve Whitehead (Litchfiield Archers) – 788 Pts

Silver: Karl Greatrrex (Litchfield Archers) – 770 Pts

Bronze: Lee Harper (Telford) – 759 Pts

Gents Longbow:

Gold: Ian Johnston (Telford) – 431 Pts

Silver: Lee Ankers (Chase Archers) – 313 Pts

Bronze: Sam Dixon (Bowbrook) – 304 Pts

Jr Gents Compound:

Gold: Jamie Arrowsmith (Telford) – 508 Pts

Jr Gents Recurve:

Gold: Joe Brandfield (Telford) – 761 Pts

Silver: George Churchill (Bromyard Bowmen) – 760 Pts

Jr Gents Barebow:

Gold: Matthew Jenkins (Telford) – 144 Pts

Novice:

Gold Martin Whiting (Greenbank CoA) – 688 Pts.

ATHLETICS

Bowls results

Men's Singles Competition

Winner: D Edwards. Score 21

Runner-up: Ian Jones. Score 19

Ladies' Singles Competition

Winner: Liz Mumford. Score 21

Runner-up: Ann Rickus. Score 18

Doubles Competition

Winners: J Langford & R Chatham 21

Runners-up: K Carter & A Jones 6