Press report: WCAC Survive in Top Flight

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club will compete in Division One of the North of England Track and Field League next year.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit retained their place in the top flight after experiencing a challenging final round on Saturday at Sheffield Hallam University Athletics Stadium.

Laura Turley, Stephanie Owens, Sophie Percival, Dave McKay, Richard Stocker, James McMahon, and Tony Woodall, all registered victories for West Cheshire.

Turley, who teamed up with Georgia Barlow, Alice Jennings, and Danielle Erskine to clock a winning time of 52.0 seconds in the 4x100m relay, won the 200m in 25.2 seconds.

Owens delivered success in the hammer with 43.46m and B shot put with 9.57m, while Percival nailed a winning throw of 42.41m in the javelin and spun the discus to 28.40m for top spot in the B competition.

Team manager McKay celebrated success with a throw of 53.16m in the javelin, while McMahon achieved 6.17m for victory in the long jump, Stocker claimed top spot in the B hammer (28.98m), and Woodall rounded the 3,000m steeplechase for victory in the B event with 12:18.3.

Richard Farley (1:57.8) and Joseph Morrison (4:19.7) posted new 800m and 1500m personal best times respectively and the pair were backed up by Zac Barnsley, Jacob Simmonds, Andy Parker, Andrew Clague, Graham Wells, Dave Alexander, Alex Kearns, Sam Rimmer, Ethan Milligan, Alan Littler, Angela Tegg, Ellen McMahon, Claire Mallon, and Ellie Robinson.

MATCH RESULT: 1 City of Sheffield 396 points; 2 Wigan 359; 3 City of York 358.5; 4 West Cheshire 320.5; 5 Wakefield 308; 6 Preston 242.

OVERALL STANDINGS (after final round): 1 Wigan 20 league points; 2 City of York 16; 3 West Cheshire 14.5; 4 City of Sheffield 14; 5 Wakefield 12.5; 6 Preston 7.

DAVE ALEXANDER was also third in his age group with a time of 30:52 at the Pie and Peas Five Miles Race at Winsford, ahead of West Cheshire team mates Andy Carter (fourth over-45 man in 31:26), Richard Hayes (34:48), second over-45 lady Ellie Robinson (36:06), Dave Irving (37:36), Clare Mallon (39:19), Angela Tegg (40:47), Anne-Marie Tait (42:25), and Lorraine McFaul (45:10).

ANDREW CLAGUE of West Cheshire AC clocked 17:48.1 for fifth spot in the 5,000m Wirral AC Track Endurance Race Series event at Bebington Oval, ahead of Bob Benson who posted a new personal best time of 20:31.2.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Les Baldwin Memorial Wrexham Games at Queensway Stadium, on Saturday (11am start), and the Terry Davies Memorial Track and Field Open Meeting at Warrington’s Victoria Park on Sunday (11.30am start).

SportCity, Manchester, will host the England Athletics Under 15s and Under 17s Combined Events Championships on Saturday and Sunday.

Forthcoming fixtures include the Trafford AC Grand Prix Track and Field Meeting at Stretford on Tuesday, and the Neil Lavery Memorial Ellesmere Port 5k Road Race at Capenhurst on Wednesday, (August 16), 7.15pm start.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club is encouraging viewers and listeners who have been inspired by the current World Athletics Track and Field Championships to volunteer at their local club.

Anyone interested in competing, coaching or officiating is welcome to attend club training sessions at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6.30-8pm) and on Saturdays (10am-12 noon), and further details can be found online at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

THE opening round of the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series will be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, September 23 (10am start), and other fixtures will be held at the same venue on Saturdays, December 9, March 3, and March 24.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for next month’s Essar Guilden Sutton Six 10k Road Race being held on Sunday, September 17. Further details can be found at: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Essar-Sutton-Six-10k1