31st March 2017

GET PREPARED FOR THE TRACK AND FIELD SEASON
Don’t forget it’s the pre-season track and field trials this week. If you can’t make it on Thursday evening or Saturday morning, please check out the open meetings in the fixtures at the foot of this newsletter.

Team managers and coaches need to chart your progress and the trials and open meetings will provide a perfect start for the year ahead.

Important: there’s no training at the track during the trials.

TRIO TEAM UP FOR ULTRA SUCCESS
Three club members secured success at the inaugural Chester 52 miles Ultra Marathon. Wullie McGarrell, Richard Hayes and Neil Webster completed the route along the river Dee and trails through Helsby, Frodsham and Delamere Forest.

Wullie clocked nine hours 44 minutes, ahead of Richard with 9:46, and Neil who posted 9:52 to earn the club a team victory ahead of runners-up Helsby Running Club, and third-placed 100 Marathon Club.
MORE INFO

DUO PREPARE FOR NATIONAL FINAL
Michael Maxwell and Uzezi Onomerike will represent Cheshire at the UK Sportshall Athletics Final next month. The pair starred for their county to earn the under 13 boys a team victory at the North West Regional Sportshall Final and they are now preparing for the National Final being held at Sportcity, Manchester, on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 April.

GEORGINA STARS AT THE PALACE
Georgina Duffey represented Childer Thornton Primary School at the British Schools Duathlon Championships. The club member included a new personal best for her swim and rounded the 800m at Crystal Palace to finish 136th overall based on her combined times for both events.
RESULTS

WILLIAM REPRESENTS MERSEYSIDE
William Wright represented Merseyside at the recent English Schools Cross Country Championships, completing the junior boys race at Norwich in 14 minutes 40 seconds for 264th position.

ANDY AGONY AT MISSING PODIUM FINISH
Andy Starkey finished fourth in his over 55 age group with a time of 39:40 at the Cheshire 10k Road Race.

SAUGHALL SECURES SILVER
Saughall All Saints celebrated a silver medal performance in the Cheshire Primary School Sportshall Athletics Final held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.
After winning the Chester Schools Final in February, Saughall All Saints, one of 300 schools taking part throughout Cheshire and Warrington, produced a superb performance in the final.

COUNTY PRIDE AT ANNUAL CROSS COUNTRY MATCH
Several club members capitalised on home advantage on Monday night. Jamie Richardson, Henry Robinson, Sophie Grainger, and Jodi Bemand contributed towards a double team success story for Cheshire against Merseyside in the annual end of season Year Seven Schools Cross Country Match, organised by the club, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

The Cheshire quartet faced opposition from club mates Imogen Pughe, Lara Battersby and Henrietta Duffey who all represented Merseyside.

The team score was decided by the first 10 finishers’ positions from each county being added together, with Cheshire beating Merseyside 84-131 in the girls event, and Cheshire beating Merseyside 86-123, while Cheshire beat Merseyside 170-254 in the combined boys and girls overall competition.

YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU
We still need volunteers for the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race we’re organising on Wednesday 12 April 12, (7pm start). If you can help please email Dennis Wall ASAP

FIXTURES
Thursday, 30 March (6.15-8pm) – West Cheshire AC Pre-Season Track & Field Trials, Ellesmere Port Sports Village Track.
Saturday, 1 April (9.50am-12 noon) – West Cheshire AC Pre-Season Track & Field Trials, Ellesmere Port Sports Village Track.
Saturday, 1 April (10am) – Alder Hey Halewood 5km Series, Environment Centre, Okell Drive, Liverpool .
Saturday, 1 April: Trafford AC medal open meeting (U11, U13, U15 Enter on the day) from 12 noon. More info
Saturday, 1 April: Blackpool Winter warm-up open. More info
Saturday, 1 April: City of Stoke AC open (10am). More info
Sunday, 2 April: Warrington open (Enter on the day, from 11am). More info
Sunday, 2 April (9am): ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon, Old Stretford, Manchester. More info
Sunday, 2 April (9am): BTR Liverpool 10 and Vitality Half Marathon, Pier Head, Liverpool. More info
Wednesday, 5 April: Telford open (Early evening meeting in school hols, limited range of events U11-U17, 7pm start, pay on the day). More info
Wednesday, 5 April (7.45pm): Wirral AC track endurance series 10k, Bebington Oval . More info
Sunday, 9 April: Wirral AC open meeting (more info on the club A-Board).
Sunday, 9 April: Wigan Harriers Spring open. More info 

WEST CHESHIRE ATHLETIC CLUB helped fly the county flag at two fixtures over the weekend.

Five members travelled to Norfolk to run for Cheshire at the English Schools Cross Country Championships, while 10 members competed for the county at the North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Championships.

Katie Clarke was second home for the senior girls team at Norfolk after finishing 48th in the field of 301 finishers with a time of 14 minutes 27 seconds, helping her county secure 14th team position.

Katie’s sister, Issy, achieved second spot for the ninth-placed Cheshire team in the intermediate girls race after negotiating the fairly flat and fast course in 13:38 for 52nd position overall out of a field of 345 runners.

Ethan Greenland rounded the 324-strong senior boys event in 108th place with a time of 24:23, claiming fourth counting position for Cheshire who secured sixth team position.

Dave Dentith (171st in 20:30) and Jac Goodall (205th in 20:39) secured fourth and fifth counting places for the 27th-placed Cheshire intermediate boys team.

MICHAEL MAXWELL and Uzezi Onomerike combined for the winning Cheshire under 13 boys team at Sportcity, Manchester, at the North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Championships.

Maxwell powered his way to a winning standing triple jump of 6.94m and Onomerike achieved 2.26m for fourth spot in the standing long jump.

The pair were joined at the event by club mates Matthew Webb, Nathan Partington and Tom Weaver who competed in the under 15 boys all-rounder event.

Webb finished third after clocking 20.2 seconds in his two lap, hitting 10.10m in the shot and 2.65m in the standing long jump, while Partington was 14th and Weaver 22nd.

The West Cheshire squad of Emma Ashcroft, Izzy Whittlestone, Halle Howell, Isla Shillington and Imogen Pughe combined to earn Cheshire fourth spot in the under 13 girls team event.

LAURA TURLEY clocked a new 300m personal best of 41.35 seconds at the Sale Harriers Indoor Open Meeting held at Sportcity, Manchester.

ROB LITTLE headed a trio of West Cheshire AC runners home at the Wilmslow Half Marathon.
Little posted one hour 18 minutes 12 seconds for seventh place in his over 40 age group, ahead of Everest adventurer Alex Staniforth who clocked 1:23:31, and Luke Ellis in 1:28:26.

NEIL CARTER and Ian Ackroyd represented West Cheshire AC at the Wigan Half Marathon, where Carter posted 1:43:52 and Ackroyd clocked a new personal best time of 1:44:17 for 12th and 15th positions respectively in their over-55 age category. In the accompanying Run Wigan Festival 5k, Pam Ackroyd also recorded a PB, her time of 22:41 carving nearly three minutes from the club FV55 record.

RORY WILLSON achieved a new Delamere 5k parkrun personal best time of 19:06 for second position, ahead of West Cheshire club mates Sion Roberts in 10th place and Lily Moorhouse (16th lady).

Andrew Clague finished second in 18:37 at the Chester 5k parkrun, ahead of other West Cheshire finishers Andy Carter (10th in 19:48), Sam Hollins (13th in 20:35), Joe Foy (15th in 21:06), Patrick Tait (23rd in 22:08), Bob Benson (29th in 22:22), Peter Smith (61st in 24:37), Tony Kennedy (81st in 25:48), Graham Wells (88th in 26:13), and Brian Beattie (111th in 27:35).

Bob Freeman (seventh in 22:06) headed West Cheshire’s charge at the Ellesmere Port 5k ParkRun, ahead of Julian Tegg (14th in 23:56), Paul Morrison (15th in 23:58), Harvey Tegg (18th in 24:47), Jodi Bemand (second lady in pb of 25:15), Henrietta Duffey (fifth lady in 27:23), and Stephanie Jones (sixth lady in 27:34).

CHESTER KING’S SCHOOL won the Chester Primary Schools Cross Team Team Competition organised at Ellesmere Port Sports Village and hosted by West Cheshire AC.

Seven schools fielded a full team of 16 runners at the event which comprised of girls and boys races for years three, four, five and six, and attracted 22 schools and more than 300 pupils.

King’s finished ahead of runners-up Saughall All Saints, and joint third placed Oldfield and Overleigh St Mary’s.

ENTRIES are still being accepted for the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wenesday, April 12. Further details can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

FIXTURES this week include the Cheshire Primary and Secondary Schools Sportshall Athletics Finals at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Friday, (March 24); the Northern Men’s and Women’s Road Relay Championships and under 15 and under 17 5k road race at Stanley Park, Blackpool, on Saturday; and the annual Year Seven Boys and Girls Cheshire v Merseyside Cross Country Match at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday, (March 27), 5pm start.

ETHAN GREENLAND and Katie Clarke spearheaded West Cheshire AC’s charge at the latest round of the Borders Road Running League.

Greenland, who was the first under 20 man to complete the 5.15 miles course at Manley Mere, posted 14th spot overall in a time of 29 minutes seven seconds, while Clarke was the first under 20 lady to finish, clocking 32:27 for fifth spot in the women’s race.

Greenland was supported by Rob Little (26th in 29:41), Graham Wells (45th in 30:58), Richard Hayes (55th in 31:26), David Dentith (59th in 31:33), Andrew Clague (64th in 31:42), John Parlevliet (66th in 31:48), Andy Carter (71st in 32:14), Chris Palmer (77th in 32:49), and final team counter Trevor Holmes (85th in 33:21).

Issy Clarke backed-up her older sister, Katie, by finishing sixth lady in 33:34, ahead of Anest Muller (10th in 34:19) and final team counter Keely Smith (19th in 36:23).

Other West Cheshire AC finishers included Mark Davies (88th in 33:27), Greg Jones (91st in 33:43), Bob Freeman (103rd and third over 60-man in 34:33), Bob Benson (117th in 35:24), Rory Willson (119th in 35:30), Patrick Tait (127th in 35:51), Julian Tegg (151st in 37:58), Ellie Robinson (33rd lady in 38:11), Ian Ackroyd (156th in 38:14), Pam Ackroyd (third over-50 in 39:08), Lisa Davies (46th lady in 40:01), Harri Britton (177th in 40:11), Clare Mallon (55th lady in 40:53), Peter Smith (185th in 41:06), Darren Shillington (186th in 41:21), Anne-Marie Tait (58th lady in 41:34), and Angela Tegg (69th lady in 42:48).

TEAM RESULTS (after Round Five)

MENS DIVISION ONE: 1 Wallasey 1657 points; 2 Buckey 1694; 3 West Cheshire 2225; 4 Wirral 2513; 5 Helsby 3016; 6 Prestatyn 4106; 7 Deestriders 6005.

MENS DIVISION TWO: 1 Chester Tri 2193; 2 Wrexham 2845; 3 Abergele 3378; 4 Ellesmere Port 4204; 5 Cybi Striders 4492; 6 Tattenhall 4871; 7 Eryri 6337; 8 Wrecsam Tri 6959; 9 Deeside 7097; 10 Birkenhead 7323.

WOMENS DIVISION ONE: 1 West Cheshire 263; 2 Wallasey 371; 3 Wirral 463; 4 Helsby 469; 5 Buckley 522; 6 Chester Tri 526; 7 Prestatyn 610.

WOMENS DIVISION TWO: 1 Ellesmere Port 296; 2 Deestriders 504; 3 Tattenhall 621; 4 Abergele 943; 5 Cybi Striders 980; 6 Wrexham 1323; 7 Wrecsam Tri 1620; 8 Eryri 1708; 9 Deeside 2022; 10 Birkenhead 2115.

GEORGE HYDE helped England defeat Wales in Cardiff at the Welsh Under 20 Indoor International.

The talented West Cheshire AC under 18 junior shot-putter hit 15.69m to finish second behind under 20 team mate Dan Cartwright to secure England a 243-160 overall points team victory.

CARYS ROBERTS, Charlie Beyeler and Eleanor Williams celebrated a clean sweep of victories at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

The trio grabbed success in their respective age groups at all four rounds of the Essar West Cheshire Athletic Club Schools Cross Country Race Series which attracted a total of 46 primary and secondary schools.

Roberts, from Tarporley Primary, claimed the overall year six girls title after finishing ahead of Jessica Hennessey (Newton) and Georgina Duffey (Childer Thornton).

Beyeler (Chester King’s) secured the overall year four boys title after winning the final round ahead of Willaston’s Benjamin Williams and Mill View’s Joseph Ireland.

And Eleanor Williams (Chester King’s) won the overall year four girls award after finishing clear of Ella Hims (Childer Thornton) and Issy Read (Upton Heath) at the final round.

Upton High’s Matthew Holtom claimed the year eight boys title after finishing second at the final round behind Bishop Bluecoat’s Edward Woodhead, while Simon Davies (Upton) finished third, and Abigail Cartwright (Wirral Girls) won the year eight girls title.

Sam Hollins (Upton High) secured success in the year seven boys event after finishing clear of Upton’s Sam Tilston and Christleton’s Sam Oliver at the final round.

Imogen Pughe (Wirral Grammar) claimed victory in the year seven girls race ahead of Christleton duo Sophie Grainger and Stephanie Jones who finished second and third at the final round.

Ewan Millington (Bryn Coch) won the overall year six boys title after finishing third at the final round behind Elliott Bujac (Willaston) and Fergus Garland (Childer Thornton) who were first and second respectively in round four.

Isla Entwistle (Delamere Academy) won the year three girls title after winning the final round ahead of second-placed Grace Henderson (Mill View) and Eccleston’s Millie Cooper in third spot.

Kelsall’s Ieuan Morris won the final year three boys race ahead of Saughall All Saints’ Ben Hackett and third-placed Maxwell Carter (Upton Heath) who is the overall race series winner.

Upton Heath’s Jessica Lark won the year five girls title after winning the final round inches ahead of runner-up Sara Pearson (Frodsham Manor House) and third-placed Isabella Rimmer (Overleigh St Mary’s).

Ben Grantham (Bishop Wilson) and Reece Munro (Eccleston) finished first and second at the final round and ended the year five race series as joint winners, while Leo Ferdenzi (Acresfield) was third at the final round.

WEST CHESHIRE AC pair Adam Carlile and Jac Goodall combined to win the Oulton Park Duathlon Relay title with a time of one hour 12 minutes 29 seconds.

LAURA TURLEY of West Cheshire AC produced a new 60m personal best time of 7.99 seconds at the Sale Harriers Indoor Open Meeting at Manchester.

Richard Farley clocked a seasons best senior men’s 600m time of one minute 27.30 seconds, and under 20 junior Joseph Morrison won his 600m heat in 1:30:83.

Ewan Bradley posted 9.47 seconds in the under 17 men’s 60m hurdles, cleared 3.10m in the pole vault, and long jumped a seasons best of 4.58m, while Alan Littler cleared a senior men’s high jump seasons best of 1.70m, and Danielle Erskine produced a season’s best of 4.82m in the senior women’s long jump.

FIXTURES this weekend include the CAU UK Inter-Counties Cross-country Championships on Saturday at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough; the Under 11s Fun In Sportshall Athletics Competition at Sportcity, Manchester, on Sunday, the same day as the Wrexham Marathon and Half Marathon.