WCAC Newsletter #263, 06-03-20

WHAT A START TO THE YEAR!

Many congratulations to Ewan Bradley, Joseph Morrison, George Hyde, and Michael Young for their recent club record performances. 

Ewan improved his own Under 20 indoor pole vault record, and also achieved the Under 20 indoor high jump record of 4.59m for a silver medal during a busy weekend in Glasgow and footage of his pole vault can be found on the Club Facebook page.

Joseph broke the club indoor (and outright) 800m record before winning a bronze medal at the British Universities’ Championships in Sheffield, and appeared on TV at the British Athletics Indoor Championships.

George broke his own Under 20 indoor shot put (7.26kg) record at Sheffield, 

Michael clocked 2:43:18 in the TX Marathon at Austin, Texas, the fastest ever performance by a West Cheshire AC Man aged 20-34.

NEW CLUB TRAINING GROUP

Tim Durrant and Georgina Moulton are starting an Under 11s Middle Distance Training Group at the EPSV Athletics Track every Thursday between 6.30-8pm, starting on Thursday 12th March. If you are interested in attending please come along.

CLUB TRACK AND FIELD TRIALS

Club Members are being urged to sign up for the annual Club Track and Field Trials being held at the EPSV Track on Saturday March 28, and Thursday, April 2. Members need to sign the signing up sheets ASAP on the A-Board in the Trackside Community Room.

RACE DIRECTORS COURSE

Any West Cheshire AC members wanting to become a qualified Race Director can book on a course scheduled for Saturday 11^th July, at The Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, Chester. This is a one-day course for which a certificate of attendance is given and lunch and teas/coffees are provided. The capacity for the course is 30; and bookings are taken on a first come first served basis. The Club will pay the course fee of any member wanting to attend as we need qualified Race Directors for our hosted fixtures.  

Booking details can be found here.

WELL DONE STEVE FERNYHOUGH!

Steve Fernyhough achieved sixth spot at the Chester Ultra 50 miles Race with a time of seven hours 23 minutes for the testing course which was completed by 297 competitors.

Steve had to navigate a well-marked ultra-marathon trail along the River Dee, the North Cheshire Way and the Sandstone Trail taking in the Old Dee Bridge, Chester Racecourse, Helsby Hill, Frodsham and Delamere Forest.

WELCOME ABOARD AARON!

Well done to Aaron Scott who recently attended an Assistant Club Coach Course at Wavertree, Liverpool, and now has a assistant club coach qualification.

If any helpers or parents of West Cheshire AC members want to become qualified coaches, they will be fully supported by the Club who will pay for their coaching courses. Please email Dennis if you are interested at [email protected] 

Further details about coaching can be found here.

HELP NEEDED FOR CHESTER SPRING FIVE MILES ROAD RACE

West Cheshire AC are organising the popular Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race at Cheshire Sports Club, Upton, Chester, on Wednesday, 15th April, (7pm start). If you can help out please email Dennis ASAP at: [email protected]

CLUB HOODIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Any Club member who has recently ordered a Club Hoodie can now pick it up from the EPSV Track Office after a track training session.

PICK UP YOUR CLUB FIXTURES CARD…

West Cheshire AC members wanting a list of 2020 track and field and road race fixtures can now collect their fixtures card from the EPSV Track Office at track training sessions.

BEST WISHES

This Saturday sees the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships taking place at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, and Sunday sees the Chester 10k Road Race coming under starter’s orders.

Best wishes to all our athletes and officials!

YOUNG ATHLETES OVER THE BALES RACES

West Cheshire AC youngsters who are Under 9, Under 11, or Under 13 and wanting to compete in Sale Harriers Young Athletes Cross Country Over The Bales Races at Crossford Bridge Athletics Track, off Dane Road, Sale, on Sunday, 15th March, can enter online here. 

SPIKES FOR SALE

Any Club members wanting to buy discount priced 6mm spikes for track shoes (£1.60 for a set of 12 spikes), should see Tim Durrant at Club track training sessions.

WHY NOT BECOME AN ATHLETICS OFFICIAL?

Level 1 officials courses for field judges, track judges, and timekeepers are being held at Macclesfield on Saturday, March 28, If you would like to attend any course on this day which is ideally timed just before the outdoor track and field season, please contact Dennis with your receipt after booking your place at the following link.

EPSV TRACK CLOSURE

Delamination work on the EPSV Track is scheduled to take place from Monday 16th March by White Line before the new season gets underway. The EPSV Track will be out of bounds during this work which is scheduled to take 10 days to complete with drying and curing times, but the work is weather dependent which could affect the exact starting date. 

HELPERS NEEDED FOR CHESTER JUNIOR PARKRUN

Club member Mark Gallagher is working on setting up a 2km Junior parkrun at the Countess of Chester Country Park every Sunday morning (9am start) from April for 4-14 year olds. Further details can be found here.

BE SEEN AND BE SAFE

All Club members training at night on routes that involve crossing roads and where there is traffic are reminded to wear bright and reflective clothing. Please be safe.

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.

All youngsters attending track training sessions should bring along warm clothing, preferably waterproofs, hats, gloves, as well as a bottle of water.

CLUB KIT

Anyone wanting to purchase club vests and/or hoodies is 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]

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.

IT’S GOOD TO TALK

Members and parents are reminded to look at the following links for updates about any Club training sessions being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions:

FACEBOOK: West Cheshire AC, West Cheshire AC Road Running, West Cheshire AC Jnr to U20 middle distance group

WEBSITE: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/westcheshireac

WEEKLY PRESS REPORT This week’s Club press report can be found here.

2020 TRACK & FIELD FIXTURES UPDATE

Club Trials Part One – Saturday 28th March at Ellesmere Port (10am-12 noon)

Club Trials Part Two – Thursday 2nd April at Ellesmere Port (6-8pm)

Youth Development League U13s/U15s North Premier West Division:

Round One – Saturday 16th May at Preston

Round Two – Saturday 6th June at Ellesmere Port

Round Three – Saturday 18th July at Bebington Oval

Regional Match – Saturday 8th August at Middlesbrough or Trafford

Youth Development League U17s/U20s North Premier West Division:

Round One – Sunday 26th April at Ellesmere Port

Round Two – Sunday 24th May at Leigh Sports Village

Round Three – Sunday 21st June at Blackpool

Northern League Division One:

Round One – Saturday 2nd May at Blackburn

Round Two – Sunday 7th June at Trafford

Round Three – Sunday 12th July at Preston

Round Four – Saturday 1st August at Ellesmere Port

Cheshire League:

Round One – Sunday 19th April at Wrexham

Round Two – Sunday 5th July at Stockport

Round Three – Sunday 2nd August at East Cheshire

Round Four – 12th or 13th September at Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port Schools Year 5/6 Quad Kids Competition – Thursday 30th April at Ellesmere Port
English Schools Track and Field Cup County Round – Wednesday 6th May (12 noon start) at Ellesmere Port

Cheshire AA Track & Field Championships – Saturday and Sunday, 30th and 31st May at Ellesmere Port

English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional B Final South – Wednesday, 3rd June (11am start) at Ellesmere Port

West Cheshire AC Schools Track & Field Cup – Wednesday 10th June (4pm start) at Ellesmere Port

Year 7 Cheshire v Merseyside Schools Match – Monday, 6th July (5pm start) at Ellesmere Port

Chester Primary Schools Track & Field Championships – Monday, 13th July (Field AM, Track PM) at Ellesmere Port

West Cheshire AC Club Championships – Saturday 5th September at Ellesmere Port

FIXTURES

Monday, March 9: Cheshire County Schools Sportshall Athletics Finals, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, (12.30-3pm)

Saturday/Sunday, March 14/15 – England Athletics Indoor Under 15s and Under 17s Combined Events Championships, at Sheffield

Saturday, March 14: English Schools Cross Country Championships, at Sefton Park, Liverpool (12.30pm start)

Saturday, March 14 – British Masters Cross Country Championships, at Rhug Estate, Corwen (12 noon start)

Sunday, March 15 – Borders Road Running League Round Five, at Wrexham, (11am start)

Sunday, March 15 – Sale Harriers Indoor Open Meeting, Manchester