Press Report: Emma off to Commonwealth Youth Games

TALENTED West Cheshire Athletic Club thrower Emma Howe is heading to the Bahamas.

The teenager will represent England at the Commonwealth Youth Games where 71 nations and territories will gather on the island of New Providence for the opening ceremony on July 18.

Howe is ranked number one in the UK under 17 womens age group for the javelin this year after victories in both the Cheshire County Clubs and Schools Championships, and the Mason Trophy Inter Counties Schools Championships held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

The youngster, coached by Dave McKay, Jenny Manning and Dan Gilroy at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track, won the UK Javelin Carnival title at Loughborough in May and will be looking to match or better her personal best of 47.68m achieved last month which secured the England Athletics Championship title.

England Athletics team leader Scott Grace said: “We are very excited as we anticipate a very successful Commonwealth Youth Games. We are taking a team that has the potential to produce some very impressive performances and we are now working with them and their coaches to ensure the best possible performance.

“On the team there are young athletes who have already enjoyed success in International Championships.

“But the team staff are also very impressed by athletes who have made great progressions this year to earn selection. It’s a privilege to be able to give them the opportunity to compete at this level. Having seen how athletes who have competed at previous Games have performed and then gone on to impress at senior level.

“We are sure we will be made very welcome by the people of the Bahamas and look forward to being a part of a memorable Games.”

Athletes who have competed at previous Commonwealth Youth Games include British record holder for 100m and 200m Dina Asher-Smith, 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games long jump silver medallist Jaz Sawyers, and sub 10 seconds 100m man Chijindu Ujah.

Howe is planning to make a big impact this weekend when she is targeting a podium place at the English Schools Championships being held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium where she will compete alongside West Cheshire clubmates Evie Tipping, George Hyde and Ethan Milligan.

WEST CHESHIRE AC members produced a number of outstanding performances on Sunday during a team victory at Eccles in the second round of the Cheshire Track and Field League.

DAN MITCHELL of West Cheshire AC finished first overall at the Halifax Marathon in a time of three hours nine minutes 51 seconds.

He took the lead after the first couple of miles and held off the competition right to the end of a hilly two-lap course, just days after winning a one mile track race at Deeside with a time of 5:07.

KEELY SMITH of West Cheshire AC was first lady and eighth overall in Sunday’s Wirral Ultra Race, clocking 5:19:13, which was nearly one hour ahead of the second lady.

CLARE MALLON of West Cheshire AC posted a new personal best time of 1:45:10 at the Southport Half Marathon on Sunday, ahead of Rosemary Rogers who clocked 1:50:04.

ANDY CARTER of West Cheshire AC clocked a new personal best time of 36:36 for 44th spot at the Alderley Edge By-Pass 10k, ahead of Bob Little who posted 36:47 for 48th place.

MARK DAVIES of West Cheshire AC posted a new Chester Park Run personal best time of 18:22 for third spot on Saturday.

WEST CHESHIRE AC’S quartet of Dave Alexander (eighth), Mark Davies (24th), Ellie Robinson (63rd), and Angela Tegg (75th) completed the Robbie Webster Wobbler Trail Race at Helsby.

EDWARD WOODHEAD represented West Cheshire AC at the English Fell Running Championship and finished eighth.

CHESHIRE celebrated a 225-223 team victory against Merseyside in the annual Year Seven Schools Athletics Competition hosted by West Cheshire AC and held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday night.

ENTRIES close on July 24 for the Northern Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 Track and Field Championships being held at Leigh Sports Village, on August 19 and 20. Further details at: www.northernathletics.org.uk

FIXTURES this week include the Deestriders Off Road Grand Prix Race at Shotton on Thursday, (July 6), 7.30pm start; and the Chester Primary Schools Athletics Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Friday (1pm field events, and 4.15pm track events).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will compete at the third round of the Northern Track and Field League this Sunday at Wigan’s Robin Park Stadium (11.30am start).