Telford Athletic Club shines as Phoenix Flyer 5km hits near record number

Telford Athletic Club, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, were delighted with a near record turn out for the 40th Phoenix Flyer 5km road race - writes Paul Sanderson.

The second race in the DRE & co sponsored Sexarathon Race Series.

428 runners completed the 3 lap course around the streets of Dawley which started and finished in the traffic free High Street, just two short of the all-time record number when 430 finished the 2019 race.

The Phoenix Flyer Race started in 1985, from the then Phoenix School and Sports Centre, it was a flat and fast lap course that always attracted a high quality field from throughout Shropshire and the West Midlands.

Telford AC's GB International Mark Flint held the course record when he ran 13.59 in 1990 - while Bridgnorth's Amanda Wright ran the women’s fastest of 16.30 in 1994.

When local roads became too busy for the big fields that the race attracted, the race was reluctantly moved on police advice, to the school playing fields in 2000.

Claire Martin 16.41 and Chris Davies 14.47 held the records on that course.

When the Phoenix School closed and was replaced on a new site, by the newly built Telford Langley School, the race had to move as well and in conjunction with Dawley Town Council, for the 2014 race.

A new course was designed that involved three laps around the town, starting and finishing in a traffic free High Street.

The current course has records held by Marc Scott, winner of the British 10k road title this year, won the 2024 race in 14.57.

Claire Martin holds the women’s record of 17.24 when as an over 40 runner she won the 2018 race. Claire, the current Telford AC club president, has won the race an amazing 17 times from 1995 onwards.

The race was started in 1985, by Dawley resident and one of the Telford AC founder members Dave Jackson.

He has organised the race ever since, having run in many of them as well. The race missed two years due to Covid, but has been held every year since it started with this year being its 40th birthday.

This years race started by the Dawley Town Mayor Ben Carter and again supported by the Town Council, saw two waves of runners providing over 90 minutes of non stop sporting action.

The women’s race was won by the reigning Sexarathon Champion Beth Tabor from Tipton Harriers, who won the race for the 3rd consecutive year in 18.23 with Shrewsbury's Naomi Cook second in 18.41, the 14th fastest on this course.

Hartshill's Megan Tibbetts finished third in 18.53, improving her best by just over a minute.

James Neilson, another Tipton Harrier won the men’s race improving five seconds on his 2025 time as he crossed the line in 16.04.

Local runner Tom Walker-Evans, moved through field on every lap and came home second in 16.36, with Oswestry's Ryan Stokes knocking 13 seconds off his previous best as he took third place in 16.39.

Other prize winners on the night were:

4th: Phillipa Oreshko, Telford AC and Jack Agnew, Mercia 5th: Allegra Soutar, Cannock and Stafford and Charlie Lewis, Shrewsbury AC 6th: Kate Wells, Telford AC and Tom Holden Tipton Harriers

Under 20: Emily McCabe, Telford AC and Kane Salmon-Hodges, Tipton Harriers. Over 35: Katie Staien, Phoenix Runners and Rob Weston, Shrewsbury AC. Over 40: Sarah Mackness, Stoke and Gabe Morris, Shrewsbury AC. Over 45: Gayle Gilbody, Telford AC and Paul O Brien, Telford AC. Over 50: Jan Cook, Shrewsbury AC and David Mole Tipton Harriers. Over 55: Rachel Coupe, Telford AC and Robin Guy, Newport RC. Over 60: Janet Stuart, Pontesbury Runners and Paul Coupe, Telford AC. Over 65: Gill Bowden, Maldwyn Harriers and Andy Clarke, Oswestry Olympians. Over 70: Sue Johnson, Mercia and Peter Johnson, Mercia. Over 75: Naomi Wrighton, Telford Harriers and Chris Clarke, Shropshire Shufflers. Over 80: Iain Day, Shropshire Shufflers. Over 85: Derek Osborne, Broseley.

The next race in the Sexarathon Series is the Shropshire 4 from the Shropshire Golf Course Club House, Granville Park, Muxton on Wednesday 10th June.