Press Report: Busy Bemands Batter Bests
MOTHER and daughter Debra and Jodi Bemand have achieved record breaking performances.
The West Cheshire Athletic Club members impressed in back-to-back weekend appearances in Wrexham and Manchester.
Debra posted a new over-50 ladies club record 10k time of 44 minutes 35 seconds at Sunday’s Run North West Trafford Road Race, where her daughter, Jodi, clocked 39:09 which bettered her under 17 club record and is now also an under 20 ladies club record time.
Twenty hours earlier, Debra competed in the senior ladies race at the fourth round of the North Wales Cross Country League held at Wrexham and finished fifth over-50 lady on the day and secured third position overall in the league series, while Jodi finished the under 17 age group series in second place.
Imogen Pughe and Jessica Lark also celebrated club indoor record achievements at SportCity in the Manchester Indoor Track and Field Open Meeting.
Imogen ran 26.53 seconds for the under 20 ladies 200m to smash the previous record which had stood since 2016, and added 8.26 seconds in the 60m and 26.53 seconds in the 200m.
And Jessica posted 1:38.73 for a new under 17 ladies 600m club record and added a new 200m personal best of 28.33, while club mate Megan White clocked 1:55.33 in her 600m.
Holly Bosworth cleared 1-57m in the under 15 girls high jump, while Yasmin Smith clocked an under 17 ladies 60m personal best of 8.41 and 28.24 in the 200m, and Carys Manson new under 17 personal bests of 8.60 in the 60m and 28.99 in the 200m.
Lara Fields (8.62), Lydia Walker (8.63), and Violeta Brooks (9.91) all registered new under 15 girls 60m personal best times and Lara added a 200m best of 28.93, while Laura Turley posted a new senior ladies 200m season’s best of 25.25.
Debra was joined at Wrexham in the ladies race by club mates Claire Harris (eighth senior lady in 26:32), Anest Muller (fourth over-40 lady in 26:54), and Joy Hickman (fourth over-55 lady in 28:40), to earn fifth ladies team on the day and fifth overall in Division One, while the Women’s Masters Team were also fifth on the day and fifth overall.
Jamie Richardson won the under 17 men’s race in 19:58, ahead of Henry Robinson (fifth in 21:59, and second overall in the league series).
Neil Finegan celebrated victory in his over-45 men’s age group overall after winning his age group race on Saturday in a time of 32:19, supported by James Robinson (seventh senior man in 33:52), Andrew Clague (third over-50 man in 34:51 and third overall in his age group), Paul Morrison (fifth under 20 man in 35:05 and third overall in his age group), Davis Sutton (sixth over-45 man in 35:20), and Dave Alexander (fifth over-50 man in 35:45 and second overall in his age group).
West Cheshire AC’s men’s team finished fourth on the day and third overall in Division One, while the Men’s Masters team were sixth on the day and fifth overall.
MICHAEL YOUNG represented West Cheshire AC at the Oulton Park 20 Miles Road Race and finished third with a time of 1:52:53, alongside Liz Renondeau (first over-40 lady in 2:10:22), and Keely Smith (first over-35 lady in 2:12:37).
FIXTURES this weekend include the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, on Saturday; the England Athletics Under 15s and Under 17s Indoor Combined Events Championships on Saturday and Sunday, at the English Institute of Sport Arena, Sheffield; and the Chester 10k Road Race on Sunday.
ANYONE wanting to enter the Dan Gilroy Memorial Open Track and Field Meetings being organised by West Cheshire AC at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Sunday, March 20, and Saturday, March 26, can do so online at: http://wcac.niftyentries.com/Dan-Gilroy-Memorial-Open-Track-and-Field-Meetings
ENTRIES are now open for the popular Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC at Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, Chester, on Wednesday, April 13, (7pm start). The online entry link is: www.niftyentries.com/wcac
