WCAC in the frame at season opener

THREE West Cheshire Athletic Club youngsters secured a place in the frame at the opening cross country fixture of the season.

Carys Roberts, Issy Clarke and Lucia Pyne all achieved impressive starts to their winter campaign at Winsford in the first round of the North Staffordshire League.

Roberts finished second in the under 11 girls` race and was backed up by Georgina Duffey in seventh position and by Martha Willetts who secured 14th spot.

Clarke negotiated the 17 women`s race in second place, ahead of clubmate Beth McMahon who was 12th.

And Pyne strode her way to third position in the under 13 girls` event, supported by team mates Sophie Grainger (16th), Jodi Bemand (32nd), Stephanie Jones (39th), and Henrietta Duffey (44th).

Under 20 junior Katie Clarke rounded the senior women`s race in fourth position and was backed up by Anest Muller (23rd), Ellie Robinson (52nd), Zeinab Weyers (65th), Lisa Davies (89th), Pam Ackroyd (106th) and Kay Hayes (123rd).

Sion Roberts spearheaded the under 15 boys` charge in fifth spot ahead of team mates Harvey Tegg (17th), Matthew Douglass (24th), Andy Prigg (39th), and Charlie Clarke (42nd).

Ethan Greenland finished seventh in the under 17 men`s race, ahead of Tristan McFarlane (16th), Patrick Tait (21st) and Rory Willson (27th), while Issac Tait (10th) and Henry Robinson (23rd) combined in the under 13 boys event.

Fergus Garland (12th) was the first of five West Cheshire finishers in the under 11 boys` event, ahead of Dan Willetts (23rd), Louis Tegg (24th), Leo Green (25th), and William Line (27th).

Dave Alexander completed the men`s race in 28th position, ahead of Richard Hayes (45th), Bob Benson (163rd), John Parlevliet (185th), Greg Jones (187th) and Peter Smith (240th).

Hollie Jones (29th), Lily Moorhouse (36th) and Molly Jones (38th) combined for West Cheshire AC in the under 15 girls event.

ANDY CARTER was West Cheshire AC`s first finisher of the Chester Marathon after clocking three hours 14 minutes four seconds.

He was joined at the event by club mates Keely Smith (39th lady in 3:32:01), Julian Tegg (463rd in 3:32:01), Neil Carter (28th over 55 man in 3:45:04), Wullie McGarrell (81st over 50 man in 4:00:50); and Neil Webster (150th over 45 man in 4:00:50).

West Cheshire AC duo Mark Povey (46th over 45 man in 2:28:08) and Sarah Hughes (64th over 40 lady in 2:56:41) completed the Chester 26.2km Metric Marathon.

GLOBETROTTING West Cheshire AC member Tom Booth has celebrated a double success in New Zealand.

Booth won the YMCA Auckland Domain Series 10k Race in 37:14 and secured victory in the Hope Street 15k Race in a time of 54:29, as well as claiming a new personal best time of 16:45 in the O`Hagans 5k Race.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being held from Chester Racecourse on Boxing Day. Further details can be found at: http://wcac.niftyentries.com/Events/Preview/ebf6bf46-8ec2-420f-9a19-8d36564a0b7c

FIXTURES this weekend include the first round of the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday.

Local pupils in years three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, are being invited to take part in the free of charge fixture with registration from 9am for a 10am start.

West Cheshire AC will be represented at the opening round of the North West Indoor Sportshall Athletics League at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, on Sunday (12.30pm start).