Press Report: Marathon Man Michael First at Chester
MICHAEL YOUNG celebrated success at the Chester Marathon.
The West Cheshire Athletic Club distance runner won the 26.2 miles race and also broke his club’s record for the distance after crossing the Grosvenor Park finishing line in a time of two hours 27 minutes 31 seconds.
Keely Smith, also representing West Cheshire AC, finished second in the women’s race with an impressive time of 2:58:28.
Other West Cheshire AC members who completed the event included third over-35 lady Fiona Cook who clocked 3:10:18, David Shearer 2:52:34 (10th over-35 man), Steve Fernyhough 2:52:37 (seventh over-40 man), Steve Duffy (3:00:14), Neil Field (4:14:29), Mark Davies (4:19:51), and Jane Barker 4:46:47.
Liz Renondeau, who represents West Cheshire AC on the track, won the Chester Metric Marathon representing Cheshire Dragons and posted 1:42.12.
West Cheshire AC’s Steve King 1:46:59 (third over-45 man), Andy Carter 1:55:06 (second over 50 man), and Angela Tegg 2:19:09 (second over-45 lady), all achieved age group podium positions in the Chester Metric Marathon, supported by club mates David Irving (2:15:32), Julian Tegg (2:19:09), Phil Gent (2:24:06), Isabel Robertson (2:43:51), and Mark Povey.
JAMIE RICHARDSON, of West Cheshire AC, was first home for the victorious North West Under 17 Men’s team after finishing sixth overall at the London Mini Marathon.
SISTERS Ruby and Aimee Phillips, and Noah Woolgar, all of West Cheshire AC, completed a 1-2-3 respectively in the Chester Marathon Fun Run on the Roodee.
NEIL FINEGAN, Jodi Bemand and Fraser Campbell achieved podium places in their age group races at the opening round of the North Wales Cross Country League at Wrexham.
Finegan won his over-45 age group in 32:21, while Bemand was second in her under 17 ladies age category with 24:32, and Campbell finished third under 20 man in 31:58.
They were joined by Paul Morrison (fifth under 20 man in 33:44), Andrew Clague (fourth over-50 man in 34:12), and Richard Hayes (sixth over-50 man in 34:55) to earn fifth place in Men’s Division One and third spot in the Veterans Division.
Bemand was backed up by Claire Harris (fourth lady in 26:29), Ellie Robinson (10th over-45 lady in 29:17), Henrietta Duffey (seventh under 17 lady in 29:33), Debra Bemand (fifth over-50 lady in 29:44), and Alex Duffey (15th over-45 lady in 34:15), to earn fifth spot in the Women’s Division One league table and fifth place in the Veteran Women’s Division.
Henry Robinson completed the under 17 men’s race in third position with a time of 22:13.
A TOTAL of 237 youngsters represented 33 different schools at the second round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.
Daniel Walker (Tarporley) finished ahead of Christleton duo Joseph Smythe and Noah Woolgar in the year eight boys race, while Ruby Phillips (Whitby) won the year eight girls race.
Emilia Pyper and Eleanor Wheeler (both Bishop Heber) finished first and second ahead of Edith Carr (Upton) in the year seven girls race, while Thomas Rimmer and Ruben Connor (both Kings), and Oliver Eaton (Upton) finished first, second and third in the year seven boys event.
Anna Birkett-Evans (The Firs) won the year six girls race ahead of Farndon duo Harriet Beattie and Freya Hinkley, while Leo Anstey (Boughton Heath) won the year six boys race ahead of Christleton’s Dylan Chandler and Tarvin’s Ben Walker.
Ben Brassington (Newton) won the year five boys race ahead of Sidney Carr (Acresfield) and Noah Booth (Upton Heath), while Emma Gauller (Willaston) won in the year five girls race ahead of Overleigh’s Lucia Connor and Amelia Snowden (Tattenhall).
Annabel Smith (St Martins) won the year four girls event ahead of Ave Holmes (Newton) and Elsie Jones (Willaston), while Arthur Williams (Tattenhall) won the year four boys race ahead of Acresfield pair Joseph and Benjamin Stenton.
Ethan Edge (Christleton) won the year three boys race ahead of Jack Jones (Our Ladys) and Jack Arnold (Upton Heath), while Farndon pair Zara Evans and Molly Quinton finished first and second in the year three girls race ahead of Hettie Styrme-Walker (Kings).
The next round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series will be held on Saturday, November 6, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk