Press report: Liz is a Grand Master at Aintree

LIZ RENONDEAU is celebrating a double success story in an England vest after battling against the odds.

The distance running ace, who runs for West Cheshire Athletic Club on the track, had been struggling with injury issues in the run up to the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International event.

And Renondeau believed she was going to have to pull out of the fixture, but a scan, a few physio appointments and a lot of cross training saw her hard work pay off.

Renondeau pocketed an individual bronze medal after finishing third in her over-40 age group in a time of 21 minutes 58 seconds for the 6km course at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool.

And her contribution rewarded England with a team gold medal alongside Kirsty Longley, who won the race in 21:00, Kelly Edwards (fourth  in 22:08), and Louise Rudd (sixth in 22:28). CARYS ROBERTS headed Cheshire Schools’ charge at the Dave Sunderland Cup Inter-Counties Cross Country Match held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.

The West Cheshire AC youngster clocked 13:40 for second spot in the junior girls race supported by county colleagues Hope Smith, Rebecca Dilworth, Hattie Bain, Alice Gale, and Florence Cooke who combined to earn Cheshire team gold.

Roberts was also backed up by West Cheshire AC trio Ruby Carlile, Martha Willetts and Megan White.

Jamie Richardson was 10th in 21:22 after representing Cheshire who finished second in the intermediate boys team competition, supported by club mates Isaac Tait, Sammy Hollins, and Henry Robinson.

Sophie Haslam represented Merseyside and finished 17th with 8:33 in the minor girls event, while Nathan Broomfield and Reece Munro represented Cheshire in the junior boys race.

Lucia Pyne and Imogen Pughe combined for Merseyside in the intermediate girls race against club mate Sarah Kefford who represented Cheshire.

Cumbria won the combined age group team competition ahead of Cheshire and Merseyside who were second and third respectively, ahead of West Midlands (fourth), Shropshire (fifth), Staffordshire (sixth), and Warwickshire (seventh).

JESSICA LARK and Ruby Phillips grabbed glory at the latest round of the North Staffs Cross Country League held at Park Hall Country Park, Stoke on Trent.

Lark won the under 13 girls race, well supported by Amy Phillips (third) and Cerys Rowlands (fifth) as first team overall, while Ruby won the under 11 girls race.

Will Wright rounded the under 17 men’s race in 10th position, while sisters Georgina and Henrietta Duffey were 12th and 13th respectively in the under 15 girls race.

Ellie Robinson (39th), Lily Moorhouse (70th), Alex Duffey (112th), and Hannah Moorhouse (119th) completed the senior women’s race, earning seventh place in Division 2 for the West Cheshire women’s team.

And Paul Morrison (52nd) was first home for West Cheshire AC’s senior men, backed up by Andrew Clague (85th), Andy Carter (101st), and Rory Willson (161st), for ninth place in Division 2 for the West Cheshire men’s team.

JOSEPH MORRISON clocked 2:29:40 in the under 20 men’s 1,000m at the Northern Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting held at Sheffield, to break the long-standing club record by 21 seconds.

ENTRIES are still being accepted for this year’s Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Boxing Day from Chester Racecourse. The online entry link is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Essar-Chester-Round-The-Walls1

FIXTURES this weekend include the UK Cross Country Challenge Races at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday (10.45am start) incorporating the Liverpool and District Cross Country League (2pm start); while the North Wales Cross Country League third round takes place at Dolgellau on Saturday (2pm start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will stage their EGM and AGM on Friday, November 29, (7.30pm start), at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Trackside Community Room.

The next round of the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series takes place at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Saturday, November 30, (9.15am registration for 10am start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC members are being urged to compete in the Cheshire, Northern and English National Cross Country Championships this winter.

The Cheshire event takes place at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, January 4; while the Northern event is at The Camp Hill Estate, Kirklington, Bedale, Yorkshire, on Saturday, January 25; and the English event is at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Saturday February 22. All members should have received an email, to which they should reply if they are interested in taking part in any of these events.