Press report: WCAC Spring to Prizes and Records
HOST club West Cheshire Athletic Club capitalised on home advantage at the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race.
Katie Clarke, her sister Issy, and Keely Smith combined to secure the purple-vested outfit success in the women’s team competition, while Katie and Issy both claimed individual awards and club mate Ethan Greenland was presented with the first under 20 men’s prize.
The popular annual fixture, part of the Cheshire Road Running Grand Prix, proved another big hit after attracting a race limit of 500 entries and sponsors Essar, represented by refinery manager, Jon Mason, communications manager, Rebecca Jones, and 15 employees who participated.
Under 20 junior Katie Clarke finished second lady in a new West Cheshire AC female club record time of 30 minutes 42 seconds which had stood since 2001, ahead of her sister, Issy, who was presented with the under 20 prize after clocking a new under 17 club age group record time of 31:54, and Keely who posted 33:10.
Greenland claimed the first under 20 men’s award after finishing eighth overall and posting a new club age group best time of 27:19.
Matthew Sheen (Vale Royal) won the race title with a time of 26:18, ahead of runner-up Paul Jones (Shrewsbury) with 26:28, and third placed Przemyslaw Tomczak (Buckley) who clocked 26:30.
Diane McVey (Wilmslow) won the women’s title in 28:58, ahead of runner-up Clarke, and third-placed Nicola Whitfield-Bird, representing Ellesmere Port Running Club, who posted 31:56.
Lee Jones was Deeside AAC’s first finisher in seventh spot with 27:08, ahead of club mate Ethan Ackroyd (16th in 27:57), and Jez Brown was first home for Buckley (11th in 27:42), while Colin Thompson (14th in 27:53) headed Helsby’s charge, and Steve Hayes (25th in 28:40) was first home for Deestriders.
Other West Cheshire AC finishers included Andrew Clague (35th in 29:29), Alex Staniforth (40th in 29:28), Mark Davies (46th in 29:45), Andy Carter (47th in 29:42), Richard Hayes (66th in 30:39), and under 20 junior Sion Roberts (67th in 30:41).
Chris Palmer clocked 30:47 for 73rd spot, ahead of under 20 junior Tristan McFarlane (91st in 31:48), Trevor Holmes (100th in 32:15), Ben McKean (136th in 33:53), under 20 junior Rory Willson (139th in 34:05), Julian Tegg (160th in 34:29), Ian Ackroyd (220th in 37:09), Beth McMahon (fourth under 20 junior lady in 38:31), Clare Mallon (10th over 40 lady in 38:44), and Angela Tegg (54th over 40 lady in 39:19).
ENTRIES are now being taken for the Cheshire County AA Track and Field Championships being held at Warrington, on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15. The closing date for online entries is May 6, and further details can be obtained online at: http://cheshire.athletics-uk.org/default.asp
FIXTURES this weekend (April 22nd/ 23rd) include West Cheshire AC’s opening round of the under 13s and under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League at Preston’s University of Central Lancashire Athletics Track, PR2 1SG, on Saturday; the UK Sportshall Athletics Final at Sportcity, Manchester, on Sunday; the London Marathon on Sunday; and the Whitley 10k, near Warrington, on Sunday.
The final round of the Borders Road Running League takes place on Wednesday, (April 26), at Wrexham, (7:15pm start).
WEST CHESHIRE AC will start their under 17 and under 20 Youth Development League squad start their campaign at Wigan on Sunday, April 30, before competing at Crewe on Sunday, May 28; Bolton on Sunday, June 25; and at Whitehaven on Sunday, July 23.
West Cheshire AC’s Northern League Division One squad will kick off their season at York on Saturday, May 6; before hosting the second round at Ellesmere Port on Sunday, June 4; travelling to Wigan on Sunday, July 9; and then going to Rotherham on Saturday, August 5.
And West Cheshire AC will host the opening round of the Cheshire League at Ellesmere Port on Sunday, May 7; before travelling to Eccles on Saturday, July 2; going to Warrington on Sunday, July 30; and hosting round four in Ellesmere Port on Sunday, September 3.
