Press report: WCAC are North-west Club of the Year Again

WEST CHESHIRE AC has been crowned North West England Regional Athletics Club of the Year for a second successive year.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit has been recognised for its work throughout the year as a voluntary community organisation.

Club track and field officer, Dennis Wall, and club coaches Jenny Manning, Ellen Molloy and Alan Littler received a plaque and an award from England Athletics officials at the event held at Wigan’s DW Stadium.

“I felt very proud, honoured, and thrilled when I heard that the club had won the regional award for a second successive year,” Wall said.

“Many dedicated athletes, parents, coaches and officials are responsible for the ongoing success at the club because they spend many voluntary hours to ensure everything clicks into place.

“We have 500 enthusiastic members aged from eight to 80 who enjoy running, jumping and throwing, and I always get a buzz from the atmosphere that creates.

“There is something for everyone to enjoy in athletics, from track and field, road running, cross country, and indoor competitions, and it’s been brilliant to see the club going from strength to strength since it was formed in 1998.

“I have been delighted to see West Cheshire AC rewarded for its continued hard work and justify itself as a well respected organisation within local schools, sports partnerships, and within the athletics community.

“But we now need to build on our success by developing a trackside facility at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village site and by encouraging more volunteers to train, compete, coach and officiate.”

CARYS ROBERTS secured success at the opening round of the North Staffs Cross Country League.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club runner clocked a winning time of eight minutes 19 seconds for top spot in the under 13 girls race at Winsford.

She was backed up by Ruby Wisbey (24th in 9:35), Megan White (33rd in 9:46), Grace Scott (52nd in 11:04), and Elvie Postridge (57th in 11:32).

Issy Clarke posted 16:30 for second spot in the under 17 womens race ahead of Eve Duret (seventh in 17:52) and Lily Moorhouse (17th in 22:07) to earn West Cheshire AC top spot in the team event.

Reece Munro clocked 8:01 for second spot in the under 11 boys race, ahead of Oliver Mallon (51st in 11:28) and Hugh Drake (55th in 12:28).

Isaac Tait (fifth in 14:49), Matthew Douglass (eighth in 15:15), Harvey Tegg (19th in 16:08), and Aaron Scott (29th in 17:23), earned West Cheshire AC second place in the under 15 boys team event.

West Cheshire AC duo Jessica Lark (sixth in 7:09) and Eleanor Williams (13th in 7:25) completed the under 11 girls race.

Ryan Cooke (eighth in 14:11), Henry Robinson (ninth in 14:13), Leo Green (23rd in 15:23), Dan Willetts (25th in 15:26) combined for West Cheshire AC in the under 13 boys event.

Claire Harris (4th senior lady in 24:26), Ellie Robinson (12th over-45 lady in 25:12), Claire Mallon (10th over 40 lady in 26:59), Angela Tegg (17th over-45 lady in 27:19), Pam Ackroyd (ninth over-55 lady in 27:40), earned West Cheshire AC sixth position in Division Two of the women’s team event.

Dave Alexander (fourth over-45 man in 30:45) spearheaded West Cheshire AC’s charge to fifth team spot in Division Two of the men’s race, ahead of Andrew Clague (ninth over-45 man in 32:37), Richard Hayes (12th over-45 man in 32:58), Tony Woodall (34:45), John Parlevliet (36:49), debutant Stuart Thomas (37:27), Bob Benson (fourth over-60 man in 39:29), and Peter Smith (46:30).

MARK POVEY of West Cheshire AC clocked 51:46 in the Mersey Tunnel 10k Road Race.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being held on Boxing Day. Further details can be found online at: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Essar-Chester-Round-The-Walls-2017

ENTRIES close on Friday, November 17, for the British Cross Challenge Cross Country event at Sefton Park, Liverpool, being held on Saturday, November 25.

FIXTURES this weekend include the opening round of the North Wales Cross Country League at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, LL13 9NG on Saturday (Juniors 10.30am start, and Seniors 2pm start), and the first round of the North West Sportshall Athletics League at South Cheshire College, Crewe, CW2 8AB, on Sunday (12 noon start).