Press report: Youngsters impress in Preston; Seniors press on in London

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club experienced a pleasing start to their track and field league campaign.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit started life in the top division of the under 13 and under 15 North of England Youth Development League with a fourth place finish at Preston.

Many of the purple-vested youngsters achieved new personal bests and delivered impressive performances at the first of four rounds to be held during the next few months.

Evie Tipping spearheaded her club’s charge with a double success story in the under 15 girls hammer (37.44m) and discus (22.13m) alongside B discus winner and team mate Emma Ashcroft (17.31m).

Tipping received support in the under 15 girls ranks from Anna Crayston who clocked a new 300m personal best of 43.60 seconds for second spot, Lauren Jones, Lucia Pyne, Tamsin O’Keefe, Abigail Cartwright, Ceris Gaffney, Nia Forshaw, and Sophie Cribb.

Jodi Bemand (12.40 seconds) and Lara Battersby (12.60) combined for precious points in the under 13 girls 70m hurdles, while Stephanie Jones (21.70) and Fatoumatta Bojang (21.10) teamed up in the 150m sprint, and Stephanie won a thrilling long jump contest with 4.24m alongside team mate Ava Byrne who delivered 4.03m for third place in the B event.

They were backed up by Imogen Pughe, Carys Roberts and Isla Shillington who secured valuable points from the 75m, 1200m, javelin and high jump competitions.
Adam Howe (31.90m) and Daniel Pond (21.61m) teamed up for the under 15 boys team that also featured Matthew Webb, Nathan Partington, Matthew Douglass, Isaac Tait, Harvey Tegg, Ivor Smith, William Wright and Dylan Bugg.

Jamie Richardson (2:33.0) and Sammy Hollins (2:33.4) finished first and second respectively in their under 13 boys 800m races, and they were backed up by Fergus Garland, Jake Lee, Ben Mustafa, Regan Stubbs, Henry Robinson, and Harley Shakespeare-Wetton.

PROVISIONAL MATCH RESULT: 1 Sale Harriers 606.5 points; 2 Preston Harriers 487.5; 3 Leeds City 467; 4 West Cheshire 435; 5 Gateshead Harriers 356; 6 Liverpool Harriers 350.

ANDY CARTER celebrated a new personal best time of three hours six minutes 22 seconds at the London Marathon.

Carter was the first of six West Cheshire AC members who completed the 26.2 miles course in the capital, ahead of Ian Gloyne-Phillips (3:14:20), and Wullie McGarrell (3:17:08) who also both posted new personal bests.

Keely Smith, who warmed up for the marathon by contributing towards a women’s team victory for West Cheshire AC at the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race earlier this month, clocked 3:24:41 to better her previous best achieved at the recent Wrexham Marathon, ahead of Luke Ellis with a new personal best of 3:29:12, and Dave Bish (4:55:13).

WEST CHESHIRE AC’s Northern Track and Field 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 Track and Field League at Ellesmere Port on Sunday, May 7; before travelling to Eccles on Sunday, July 2; going to Warrington on Sunday, July 30; and hosting round four in Ellesmere Port on Sunday, September 3.

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 for West Cheshire AC include the first round of the Under 17 and Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League at Wigan’s Robin Park Stadium on Sunday (11.15am start); the North Wales 10 Miles Road Race at Wrexham on Saturday (2pm); and the Trafford AC Open Medal Track and Field Open Meeting on Monday, (12 noon).

The Ysgol Dinas Bran Hill Race takes place on Wednesday, May 3, (7.15pm); and the West Cheshire AC Schools Track and Field Cup will be held at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Track on Thursday, May 4, (4pm start).