MATT JACKSON and Louise Webb celebrated success at the popular Essar Chester Round the Walls race.

Jackson, representing Liverpool Harriers, posted a winning time of 21 minutes 35 seconds after negotiating the multi-terrain 6km event hosted by West Cheshire Athletic Club, nearly one minute ahead of his nearest rivals.

And Webb, a member of Birmingham-based Birchfield Harriers, clocked 24:16 for victory in the women’s race, 39 seconds clear of second-placed Emily Kearney (Wirral AC), and Vale Royal AC’s Kate Titlow who was third in 25:20.

Jackson carved a decisive lead from the start of the race in front of the Chester racecourse grandstand and powered his way to the men’s title in the field of 493 finishers, ahead of runner-up, Leon Foster (Leeds City AC) in 22:43, and third-placed James Smith (Southampton AC) in 22:51.

The annual event attracted nearly 500 finishers, including six runners from America, one from Spain, one from Switzerland, and four finishers were competing on their birthday. Liverpool Harriers’ Andrew McQue was fourth in 23:05, ahead of Ian Wetherall, (Sale Harriers), who posted 23:08 for fifth spot, Ieuan Kearney (Wirral) in sixth place with 23:40, Helsby’s Colin Bishop, who was seventh in 23:43, Chester Tri’s Adrian Bellwood, eighth in 23:46, Wirral’s Arran Kearney, ninth in 23:50, and tenth-placed Simon Roberts in 23:53.

Deeside’s Ethan Ackroyd posted 24:32 for 20th position, just one place ahead of West Cheshire’s first three finishers Dan Mitchell in 24:41, Everest adventurer Alex Staniforth who clocked 24:56 for 28th spot, and Jac Goodall (29th in 25:11).

Ellesmere Port Running Club’s Nicola Whitfield Bird finished fourth lady in 26:08, ahead of Sarah Kearney (Wirral), fifth in 26:18, Wrexham’s Emma Crowe (sixth in 26:22), Pensby’s Lisa Grantham (seventh in 26:40), Helen Whitby of Vale Royal (eighth in 27:02), Wrecsam Tri’s Helen Davies (ninth in 27:20), and Wirral’s Aileen Kearney (10th in 28:11).

Host club, West Cheshire AC’s other finishers included Greg Jones (53rd in 26:54), first over-60 veteran Joe Joy in 27:32, Rob Freeman (third over 60 veteran in 28:14), Julian Tegg (100th in 29:43), Ian Ackroyd (121st in 30:27), Daniel Jeory (143rd in 31:06), Phil Howe (241st in 34:07), Brian Beattie (third over 70 veteran in 36:19), and Andrew Gore (445th in 43:28).

Well done to all who took part today – results are now available here.

CARYS ROBERTS, Isaac Tait and Katie Clarke secured West Cheshire Athletic Club a hat-trick of victories at Stafford.

The trio won their respective age group races during the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country League held at Stafford Common.

Roberts finished 11 seconds clear of her nearest rival in the under 11 girls race in 6:20 to claim the overall title, finishing ahead of supporting West Cheshire club mates Georgina Duffey (seven minutes 12 seconds); Jessica Lark (7:14); Ruby Carlile (7:27); and Martha Willetts (7:52), to earn West Cheshire third team prize overall.

Tait powered his way to success in the under 13 boys race with a time of 10:13 to finish the three-round series in fourth position, ahead of team mate Henry Robinson who clocked 11:29.

Clarke continued her rich vein of form by winning the overall under 20 age group award and finishing second woman overall, after finishing second in the senior ladies race with a time of 21:33.

The junior race ace was backed up by Anest Muller, who finished fourth overall in her over 35 age group, Ellie Robinson, Pam Ackroyd, Lisa Davies, Kay Hayes, and Anne-Marie Tait to earn West Cheshire third team place in Division Two.

Dave Alexander and Issy Clarke were both presented with runner-up awards in their respective age groups. Alexander finished second overall in his over 45 age category after finishing 15th in the men’s race at Stafford in 29:49, and Clarke registered second place overall in her under 17 ladies age group after finishing third at Stafford in 16:55.

Alexander was backed up at Stafford by team mates Richard Hayes (31:24), John Parlevliet (32:04), Andrew Clague (32:16), Greg Jones (32:22), and Peter Smith (41:14), to help secure West Cheshire sixth team position in Division Two.

Lucia Pyne was presented with third prize overall in her under 13 girls age group after finishing seventh at Stafford with 6:30, one second behind sixth placed team mate Imogen Pughe, while Jodi Bemand clocked 7:25.

Sion Roberts (15:41), Harvey Tegg (16:26), Matthew Douglass (16:41), and Liam Farrell (16:41) helped West Cheshire finish second overall in the under 15 boys team competition.
Ethan Greenland (19:59) finished 19 seconds adrift of third-placed training partner, Ethan Ackroyd (Deeside AAC), who was presented with the overall runners-up prize in the under 17 men’s age group.

Rory Willson (22:49), Alex Mason (23:08), and Patrick Tait (23:40) completed West Cheshire’s contingent of under 17 finishers.

Reece Munro (6:36), Dan Willetts (6:56) and Leo Green (7:12) combined for West Cheshire in the under 11 boys race, while Beth McMahon (20:06) completed the under 17 ladies race, and Eve Duret (12:01) and Lily Moorhouse (14:37) completed the under 15 girls race.

LAURA TURLEY of West Cheshire AC celebrated success at the Manchester Indoor Open Meeting. The under 20 junior sprinter clocked a personal best of 8.12 seconds in the 60m and posted a new 300m pb of 42.31 seconds.

West Cheshire’s George Hyde powered his way to a new under 17 men’s shot put best of 15.85m, while Ethan Milligan cleared 1.90m for second spot in the under 20 men’s high jump.

Alan Littler clocked 41.70 seconds in the men’s 300m, and Joseph Morrison posted 1:30:13 in the under 20 men’s 600m.

THE countdown is on for Monday’s Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being hosted by West Cheshire Athletic Club from Chester Racecourse.

The popular festive fixture which starts at 10.30am on Boxing Day, has attracted an entry limit of 500 runners who will tackle a course of approximately 6km.

BIRCHWOOD Forest Park, Warrington, is the venue for the Cheshire County Cross Country Championships, on Saturday, January 7, and the closing date for entries is Saturday, December 31.

THE Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be held at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, February 4, and Warrington will be the setting for next year’s Cheshire AA Track and Field Championships on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, and for the Cheshire Schools Track and Field Championships on Saturday, June 10.

FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be obtained by logging onto: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

1. WCAC Endurance Points Competition.

The revamp of scoring from that used in previous years has provided a much closer competition. Your comments would be welcomed.

In the absence of any comments I was proposing providing the usual first 3 awards, male and female at the end of the season (the main trophies need returning for engraving). Partway through the year I suggested, in response to Jon Tipping’s e-mail inviting comments on the Presentation evening, a dialogue on the awards as the Points Competition is different from the rest of the club awards, but nothing happened.

2. WCAC Road Running Championship.

This was an experiment so I was intrigued to read on the club web site that the there would be awards at the presentation evening.

I have had only one response since the final result was issued.

I have to express disappointment over the lack of support for most of the GP races and also for some of the other individual races added in to give you more choice to make up 8 scoring races. Only 4 of the 20 races (all Borders League races) had 25 or more WCAC senior and older Cheshire club runners. The number of races increases to 6 if we reduce the number to 20 or more runners and to 9 races if the number is reduced even further to 15, but the Chester Spring 5 (18 WCAC seniors) adds a further race into this total.

Against these totals for comparison I have 56 males and 20 females (senior and older) this year in the Points Competition.

I am not convinced this serves any useful encouragement and it would need a radical rethink if the club wants a Road Running Championship.

I am aware that the club has had some significant success in the Borders League over the past two seasons and is continuing to do so. Also particularly this winter it has been rather good to see us finishing teams in cross country events. Both of these aspects were the original major motivation for introducing some form of club endurance competition, particularly which does not compare performances between athletes (the points competition).

Actions – for you!

Comments, suggestions, etc are invited – including discontinue one or both competitions ( I would not be offended – I might then get some free time for other interests!).

Are you happy with the points competition as currently constructed?

Do you want a Road Running Championship – of some form?

Do you think we should include younger members – that is, those who are less than 20 years old? This would be a problem in the Road Running championship as there are age/distance restrictions. Also I am not too keen to encourage younger athletes to race frequently on the road. However we should recognize the superb road running performances of two “young” athletes. Using the BDS handicap system Katie Clarke ran 5.4 in the last Borders League race (5.5 miles) and Christy Mageean achieved 7.1 in this year’s Christleton 5K – Katie’s performance is the best so far this year for a female club member of any age and distance, while Christy’s is only 0.1 slower than the best male performance this year – by Tom Booth also over the 5K distance.

I look forward to your responses.

Best wishes for 2017.

John Driscoll 23 December 2016

([email protected])

Sorry, entries for the Essar Chester Round the Walls race are now closed, as the race entry limit has been reached. A start list is available here.

Entry  is £16 or £14 for UKA Affiliated Runners

Congratulations to winners Anest and Graham, second and third-placers Clare, Ellie, Andy and Andrew, and all who took part. Results now available near the bottom of the Road Running page.

THE entry limit for this year’s Essar Chester Round The Walls Race has been achieved.

A total of 500 competitors will line-up for the popular festive fixture being organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club from Chester Racecourse on Boxing Day (10.30am start). Race director, Dave Bish, admitted he is excited as he counts down the days to the event which has attracted a list of entrants who will travel to the city from across the country.

“I’m really pleased that this year’s race has attracted so much interest from runners not just from this area but from all parts of the country,” Bish said.

“A lot of hard work has been taking place behind the scenes to promote the popular race and everyone at West Cheshire Athletic Club is now looking forward to race day arriving. “The local council and the Chester Race Company have been very supportive as we prepare for the event, and I’m sure every runner will enjoy their well deserved mug of hot chocolate after completing the 6km course.”

Host club West Cheshire AC’s entrants will comprise of juniors Greg Jones and Jac Goodall, veterans Rosemary Rogers, Joe Foy, and Brian Beattie, and they will be competing against representatives from neighbouring Chester Tri Club, Ellesmere Port Running Club, Chester Road Runners, Helsby Running Club, Wirral AC, Tattenhall Runners, Buckley Runners, Wrexham AC, Wrecsam Tri Club, Deeside AAC, and Deestriders.

IMOGEN PUGHE of West Cheshire AC celebrated success representing Wirral Grammar School in the latest round of the Merseyside Schools Cross Country League.

Pughe clocked seven minutes six seconds for victory in the year seven girls race held at Wavertree, finishing nine seconds clear of her nearest rival, and now leads the overall standings with one league race remaining.

Pughe’s West Cheshire AC team mate, Lucia Pyne, represented West Kirby in the year eight and nine girls race, and finished eighth in 10:12, ahead of Abigail Cartwright (Wirral Grammar) who clocked 11:44.

ANEST MULLER represented West Cheshire AC at Brecon in the Welsh Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships. Muller finished 13th in the 111-strong field and was fourth in her 35-44 age group after completing a challenging two-lap course in preparation for her appearance in the Welsh National Championships early next year.

ENTRIES close this Friday, (December 16), for the Northern Indoor Track and Field Under 17, Under 20, and Senior Championships, being held at Sheffield. Further details at: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2017

WEST CHESHIRE AC will start their Northern Track and Field League Division One campaign at York. The purple-vested club travel to Yorkshire for the opening match on Saturday, May 6, before hosting round two at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village track on Sunday, June 4. Wigan will be setting for round three on Sunday, July 9, and the final match will be held at Preston on Saturday, August 5.

THE Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track will be the setting for two Cheshire Track and Field League matches next year. West Cheshire AC will host the first round on Sunday, May 7, and the final round on Sunday, September 3, and the club’s other fixtures will take place at Eccles on Sunday, July 2, and at Warrington on Sunday, July 30.

BIRCHWOOD Forest Park, Warrington, is the venue for the Cheshire County Cross Country Championships, on Saturday, January 7, and the closing date for entries is Saturday, December 31.

THE Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be held at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, February 4, and Warrington will be the setting for next year’s Cheshire AA Track and Field Championships on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, and for the Cheshire Schools Track and Field Championships on Saturday, June 10.

FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country Championships at Stafford Common on Saturday (12 noon start). Further details can be found at: http://www.nsccl.org.uk/stafford-common.htm.

The latest Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting takes place on Sunday at Sportcity (10.30am start).

FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be obtained by logging onto: www.westcheshireac.co.uk