IAN WETHERALL was one of five West Cheshire Athletic Club prize winners at the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race.

Wetherall finished first in his over-50 age group after registering a time of 25 minutes 32 seconds for fifth position overall at the Boxing Day event organised and hosted by his club, to secure his 13th top-five finish in 15 appearances since 1992.

He was joined in the winners circle at the Chester Racecourse finishing line by Rory Willson, Joe Foy, Lily Moorhouse, and Rosemary Rogers.

Willson posted 28:08 for top spot in his under 20 junior age category and secured 21st position overall, ahead of first over-60 club mate Foy, who clocked 29:44.

Moorhouse delivered a time of 35:47 for top spot in her under 20 junior age group, while Rogers posted 38:33 for first position in her over-60 age category.

Other West Cheshire AC finishers included Stuart Thomas (fifth over 40 man in 30:17), Kerry Riley (third senior lady in 31:22), Ian Ackroyd (eighth over-55 man in 33:28), and Jon Moorhouse (35:46).

Eve Duret was second under 20 junior lady in 37:24), ahead of Mark Povey (37:31), Sarah Hibbert (40:26), Hannah Moorhouse (40:47), and Claire Bennette (44:20).

FIXTURES this weekend include the Cheshire AA Cross Country Championships at Birchwood Forest Park, Warrington, on Saturday (11.30am start), the same day as the Merseyside AA Cross Country Championships at Sherdley Park, St Helens (11am start), and the North Wales Cross Country Championships at the Rhug Estate, Corwen (11.30am start).

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being held on Wednesday, April 10, from Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, Chester. The Link for online entries is here.

ENTRIES are being accepted for the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships being held at Sheffield. Entries close on January 18 for the under 13 and under 15 championships being held on February 3. Further details can be found here.

ENTRIES are also now being accepted for the England Athletics Indoor Championships being held at Sheffield, on this following link.

ELLIOT COX and Carol Parsons celebrated success at the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race.

Cox, representing Buckley Runners, clocked 24 minutes 50 seconds to win the men’s title after completing the 4.5 miles multi-terrain course which started and finished at Chester Racecourse on Boxing Day.

And Parsons, representing Ellesmere Port Running Club, posted 27:39 to win the ladies title.

The popular festive event saw 472 runners complete the race hosted and organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club.

Cox was followed home in the men’s race by runner-up Leon Foster (Leeds City AC) who posted 25:08, and third-placed Jez Brown (Buckley Runners) 25:14.

And Parsons was followed home in the women’s race by runner-up Sarah Hunter (Ackworth Road Runners) in 29:11, and Helen Murray (Knutsford Tri Club) in third spot with 30:40.

Other prize-winners included West Cheshire AC’s Lily Moorhouse (first under 20 lady), Rory Willson (first under 20 man), and Joe Foy (first over 55 man), Wrecsam Tri’s Helen Davies (first over-50 lady), Chester Tri’s Traci Shipley (first over-50 lady) and Michael Waring (first over-50 man), Buckley Runners’ Simon Roberts (first over-45 man), and Wrexham AC’s Iorwerth Jones (first over-70 man).

SOPHIE PERCIVAL has received an invitation to a European Trials Competition.

The talented 21 year old West Cheshire AC thrower who made her England international debut in 2016, will compete at Loughborough on Sunday, February 24.

Percival, who is ranked 10th in the UK women’s javelin list with a best throw of 45.03m, will be aiming to impress at the Loughborough Winter Long Throws Competition.

The event provides an opportunity for the Ellesmere Port-based thrower and Chester University student to be selected for the European Throwing Cup which will take place in Samorin, Slovakia, on March 9 and 10.

Percival’s West Cheshire AC team mates Emma Howe, George Hyde, and Evie Tipping, are also planning to build on a pleasing last 12 months.

Howe, who represented England at the Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas, ended 2018 ranked number three in the UK under 20 women’s javelin ranking list.

Hyde, who made his Great Britain debut at the European Under 18 Championships in Hungary in July, finished 2018 ranked third in the UK under 20 men’s shot put rankings.

And Tipping, who medalled at the Northern Championships, completed 2018 ranked 17th in the UK under 17 ladies hammer throwing rankings.

Other West Cheshire AC members aiming to use the past year as a springboard to a memorable 2019 include Ruby Wisbey, Ewan Bradley, Laura Turley, Ethan Milligan, and Imogen Pughe.

Wisbey ended the year fourth in the 70m hurdles and 11th for long jump in the UK under 13 girls rankings, while Bradley secured 20th spot in the UK under 17 men’s heptathlon ranking list; Turley was 11th in the UK under 23 women’s 400m rankings; Milligan 41st in the under 20 men’s UK high jump rankings; and Pughe finished 2018 ninth in the UK under 15 girls 300m rankings.

WEST CHESHIRE AC’s Christmas Fun Morning at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday attracted 64 members, including overall winner, Jessica Lark.

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Cheshire County AA Cross Country Championships at Birchwood Forest Park, Warrington, on Saturday, January 5, the same day as the Merseyside AA Cross Country Championships, at Sherdley Park, St Helens; and the North Wales Cross Country Championships, at the Rhug Estate, Corwen.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships being held at Sheffield. Entries close on January 18 for the under 13 and under 15 championships being held on February 3. Further details can be found at: https://www.northernathletics.org.uk/

Entries now open here; see here for more information.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To celebrate Christmas and to round the year off with some festive fun, try to attend this Saturday’s Christmas Fun Morning at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sports hall. The event starts at 10am and is scheduled to finish at 12 noon. All those wanting to take part who have not yet informed Ellen Molloy, need to email Dennis Wall ASAP at: [email protected] and bring along a £1 entry fee which will go towards a charity.

Boxing Day sees the Club host and organise the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race from Chester Racecourse (10.30am start). Money raised from the popular event is invested back into the Club such as paying for members to compete in cross country championships, so we need members to help make the event a success. If you can help out please email Dennis at: [email protected]

Please support the events and best wishes to all our athletes and officials. Have a great Christmas!

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER THE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS!

All club members interested in running in the Cheshire, Northern and National Cross-country Championships should follow this link for more information. If you are sure that you want to run, please email your details to Dave Alexander (his address is in the article).

Dave Alexander needs to know by this Saturday if you want to compete in the Cheshire Championships at Birchwood Forest Park, Warrington. All entry fees for the Cheshire, Northern, and National Championships are being paid for by the Club.

CLUB AWARDS EVENING TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets are now being sold for the Annual Club Awards Evening being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester, on Saturday, 2nd February. The link to buy tickets is here.

The Club is appealing to all members to donate raffle prizes for the Awards Evening. If anyone can provide a raffle prize they should contact Mark Duffey or Dennis Wall at Club Training Sessions.

FESTIVE TRAINING UPDATE

Young club members who train at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track are reminded that after the Club Fun Morning this Saturday, there will be no training until Thursday, 3^rd January.

Please check with your club coaches for alternative training arrangements.

INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ENTRIES REMINDER

Entries are now being accepted for the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships being held at Sheffield. Entries close on January 18 for the under 13 and under 15 championships being held on February 3. Further details can be found here.

Entries are also now being accepted for the England Athletics Indoor Championships being held at Sheffield, via this link.

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

All parents of youngsters attending track training sessions are reminded to collect their sons and daughters from the track – not from the car park. The Club wants to ensure everyone stays safe and that every youngster safely leaves every track training session.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Parents wanting to purchase club vests (£17) and/or hoodies (£12) as Christmas presents are reminded that parents Vikki Brett and Joanne Lark will sell club kit at the EPSV Track Office AFTER Tuesday night training sessions.

Payment can be made by cash or by cheque (made payable to West Cheshire AC).

URGENT HELP NEEDED

The Club needs urgent help, support, and assistance from parents during Tuesday evening training sessions at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track (6.30pm-8pm).

The club currently has a waiting list for under 11s, and this situation can only be resolved by asking parents to volunteer on a rota basis at Tuesday night training sessions.

PARENTS who can help should contact Dennis Wall on 07968643038 or email: [email protected]

WINTER WORKSHOPS

Take a look at this link for a number of forthcoming athlete and coaching workshops:

INVITE TO OBTAIN TRACK AND FIELD CERTIFICATE

All Club members are being invited to support our club by completing the Track & Field Online Management Course to help West Cheshire AC look after the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track. Further details can be found here.

PHYSIO SUPPORT

Club member Heather McLintock is a qualified physiotherapist and offers substantial discounted prices for West Cheshire AC members on production of their membership card. Heather can be contacted on 01244 381350 or 07885 462487.

WEEKLY PRESS REPORT

This week’s press report can be found here.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 22: Club Christmas Fun Morning, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall, (10am start).

Wednesday, December 26: Essar Chester Round The Walls Race, at Chester Racecourse, (10.30am start):

Sunday, December 30: Ribble Valley 10km Road Race/Northern Championships, Clitheroe, (10am start):

Saturday, January 5: Cheshire AA Cross-country Championships, at Birchwood Forest Park, Warrington, (11.30am):

Sunday, January 6: Sale Harriers Indoor Open Track & Field Meeting, SportCity, Manchester (10am).

Saturday, January 12: Manchester Area Cross Country League, at Heaton Park, (12 noon)

Saturday, January 12: North Wales Cross-country League, at Northop, (2pm)

Saturday/Sunday, January 12/13: Northern Indoor Under 17/Under 20 & Senior Track & Field Championships (Sheffield)

Saturday, January 19: Twin Piers 10k Road Race, Colwyn Bay (1pm)

Sunday, January 20: North West Sportshall League Finals, at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes.

Sunday, January 20: Essar Four Villages Half Marathon, Helsby (10.30am):

Saturday, January 26: Northern Cross-country Championships, Pontefract, (10.30am):

Sunday, January 27: Borders Road Running League, Tattenhall (11am)

THIS WEEKEND

This Saturday sees the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Rodbaston College, Penkridge, ST19 5PH, (12 noon start).

And Sunday sees a Sale Harriers Open Track and Field Indoor Meeting being held at SportCity, Manchester, (10am start).

Please support the events and best wishes to all our athletes and officials.

DO YOU WANT TO RUN FOR YOUR CLUB IN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS?

Please can all club members interested in running in either or all of the Cheshire, Northern and National Cross-country Championships follow this link for more information. If you are sure that you want to run, please email your details to the address in the article.

CLUB AWARDS EVENING TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets are now being sold for the Annual Club Awards Evening being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester, on Saturday, 2nd February. The link to buy tickets is here.

The Club is appealing to all members to donate raffle prizes for the West Cheshire AC Annual Awards Evening being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester, on Saturday, 2nd February.

If anyone can provide a raffle prize they should contact Mark Duffey or Dennis Wall at club training sessions.

INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ENTRIES REMINDER

Entries are now being accepted for the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships being held at Sheffield. Entries close on December 14 for the under 17 and under 20 championships being held on January 12 and 13, and entries close on January 18 for the under 13 and under 15 championships being held on February 3. Further details can be found here.

Entries are also now being accepted for the England Athletics Indoor Championships being held at Sheffield, via this link.

PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

All parents of youngsters attending track training sessions are reminded to collect their sons and daughters from the track – not from the car park. The Club wants to ensure everyone stays safe and that every youngster safely leaves every track training session.

EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Parents wanting to purchase club vests (£17) and/or hoodies (£12) as Christmas presents are reminded that parents Vikki Brett and Joanne Lark will sell club kit at the EPSV Track Office AFTER Tuesday night training sessions.

Payment can be made by cash or by cheque (made payable to West Cheshire AC).

PLEASE HELP YOUR CLUB

The Club would be grateful if you and/or a friend can volunteer to help out at the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race, at Chester Racecourse, on Wednesday, 26th December.

Those club members who are running the race should provide someone to help out.

Please email Dennis ASAP to pledge your support at: [email protected]

URGENT HELP NEEDED

The Club needs urgent help, support, and assistance from parents during Tuesday evening training sessions at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track (6.30pm-8pm).

The club currently has a waiting list for under 11s, and this situation can only be resolved by asking parents to volunteer on a rota basis at Tuesday night training sessions.

PARENTS who can help should contact Dennis Wall on 07968643038 or email: [email protected]

WINTER WORKSHOPS

Take a look at this link for a number of forthcoming athlete and coaching workshops.

INVITATION TO OBTAIN TRACK AND FIELD CERTIFICATE

All Club members are being invited to support our club by completing the Track & Field Online Management Course to help West Cheshire AC look after the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track. Further details can be found here.

PHYSIO SUPPORT

Club member Heather McLintock is a qualified physiotherapist and offers substantial discounted prices for West Cheshire AC members on production of their membership card. Heather can be contacted on 01244 381350 or 07885 462487.

WEEKLY PRESS REPORT

This week’s press report can be found here.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 15: North Staffs Cross Country League Round Four, at Rodbaston College, Penkridge.

Sunday, December 16: Sale Harriers Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting, SportCity, Manchester, (10am start)

Saturday, December 22: Club Christmas Fun Morning, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall, (10am start).

Wednesday, December 26: Essar Chester Round The Walls Race, at Chester Racecourse (10:30am start)

Sunday, December 30: Ribble Valley 10km Road Race/Northern Championships, Clitheroe, (10am start):

(Photo courtesy of John Earlston)

SION ROBERTS and Katie Clarke both secured success at Anglesey.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo were first under 20 man and under 20 lady respectively at the third round of the Borders Road Running League held at Trac Mon, Ty Croes.

Roberts posted 28 minutes 17 seconds for the undulating five miles course to finish 10th overall, supported by under 20 junior team mate Jac Goodall (16th in 28:59), Graham Wells (21st in 29:20), Andrew Clague (first over-50 man in 31:24), Danny Paddock (54th in 31:42), John Parlevliet (72nd in 33:05), Rory Willson (100th in 35:22), Ian Ackroyd (116th in 36:47), Dave Tiernan (120th in 37:07), Bob Benson (146th in 39:57), Tony Kennedy (149th in 40:27), Peter Smith (152nd in 41:00), and Brian Beattie (170th in 48:35).

Clarke clocked 33:09 for fifth position in the ladies race, backed up by West Cheshire AC team mates Claire Harris (eighth in 34:40), Issy Clarke (12th in 35:31), and Debra Bemand (third over-45 lady in 37:31).

LEAGUE POSITIONS (after three rounds)

Men’s Division One: 1 Wallasey 944 points, 2 Buckley 992, 3 West Cheshire 1447, 4 Prestatyn 1688; 5 Helsby 1834, 6 Wirral 3092, 7 Deestriders 5278.

Men’s Division Two: 1 Ellesmere Port 951 points, 2 Chester Tri 1377, 3 Wrexham 1500, 4 Birkenhead 3087, 5 Abergele 3495, 6 Cybi 4146, 7 Wrecsam Tri 4417, 8 Tattenhall 5783, 9 Eryri 6122, 10 Deeside 6409.

Women’s Division One: 1 Buckley 206 points, 2 Wallasey 208, 3 Helsby 210; 4 West Cheshire 235, 5 Chester Tri 300, 6 Prestatyn 450, 7 Ellesmere Port 713.

Women’s Division Two: 1 Wirral 148, 2 Deestriders 234, 3 Abergele 345, 4 Eryri 487, 5 Wrecsam Tri 535, 6 Wrexham 652, 7 Tattenhall 671, 8 Birkenhead 873, 9 Cybi 889, 10 Deeside 1414.

The next round will be held at Tattenhall, on January 27.

CARYS ROBERTS and Sophie Grainger contributed towards a Cheshire Schools victory at Winsford.

The West Cheshire AC pair were joined by Holly Weedall, Grace Roberts, Rebecca Dilworth, and Alice Gale to earn the county a junior girls team victory in tough wet and windy conditions at Knights Grange Sports Complex against eight other counties in the Dave Sunderland Cup fixture sponsored by Trajan.

Carys posted 14:03 for fourth spot in the 3km race, and Grainger finished 11th in 14:28, while club mate, Imogen Pughe, representing Merseyside, posted 14:37 for 14th position, and other West Cheshire AC members in action included Martha Willetts and Megan White.

Jamie Richardson finished sixth with 15:08 in the 3.5km junior boys race, ahead of West Cheshire AC team mates Sammy Hollins (16:27) and Dan Willetts (17:09).

Reece Munro (8:19), Luke Parker (8:33), William Line (8:50), George Huyton (9:22), and Murphy Smyth (9:58) teamed up for Cheshire in the 2km minor boys race.

Jessica Lark (9:22), Ruby Carlile (9:40) and Aimee Phillips (10:06) completed the 2km minor girls race, while Lucia Pyne (15th in 17:26) and Abigail Cartwright (20:59) finished the 3.5km intermediate girls event, and Will Wright (21:38), Joseph Hancock (24:08), and Tyr Bujac (24:14) completed the 5km intermediate boys race.

FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Rodbaston College, Penkridge, on Saturday (12 noon start), and Sale Harriers Indoor Open Meeting in Manchester, on Sunday (10am start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC members wanting to compete in the Cheshire, Northern or National Cross Country Championships should follow this link,  then email: [email protected] with their full name and date of birth if they are sure that they want to take part.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships being held at Sheffield. Entries close on December 14 for the under 17 and under 20 championships being held on January 12 and 13, and entries close on January 18 for the under 13 and under 15 championships being held on February 3. Further details can be found at: https://www.northernathletics.org.uk/

ENTRIES for the popular Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being hosted by West Cheshire AC at Chester Racecourse on Boxing Day are full. The link for the start list and waiting list can be found at: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Essar-Chester-Round-The-Walls1