Press Report: Lark Sets Mark to be in Frame for Games

JESSICA LARK is staking a claim for an England vest at the Youth Commonwealth Games.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club teenager achieved a qualifying standard performance at the recent Trafford Grand Prix meeting. Jessica clocked a new 1500m personal best and club record time of 4:24.29, and is now hoping to be selected for England at the fixture scheduled to be held at Trinidad and Tobago on August 4th to 11th.

Jessica played her part in helping West Cheshire AC achieve third team position in Saturday’s Northern Track and Field League West Premier Division first round match at Ellesmere Port Sports Village. She clocked a winning 800m time of 2:11.3, more than 10 seconds clear of her closest rival, and teamed up with Imogen Pughe, Laura Turley, and Jodi Bemand to win the 4x400m relay in a time of 4:07.6.

Jamie Richardson (15:53.0 in 5,000m), Paul Morrison (12:02.0 in ‘B’ 3.000m steeplechase), Alan Littler (1.65m in ‘B’ high jump), Imogen Pughe (12.9 seconds in ‘B’ 100m, 58.5 seconds in ‘B’ 400m, and 2:20.1 seconds in ‘B’ 800m), Laura Turley (58.3 seconds in ‘A’ 400m), and Kate Moulds (4:46.5 in 1500m) also tasted success. Laura combined with Yasmin Smith, Carys Manson, and Ruby Wisbey to secure success with 50.3 seconds in the 4x100m relay.

Other important point scorers included Alfie Lane, Fergus Garland, Andy Parker, Brad Spurdens, Fraser Campbell, Henry Robinson, Victor Oyesola, Will Scott, Dave McKay, Will Rattray, Tom Shillington, Carys Manson, Ellie Robinson, Joy Hickman, Ruby Wisbey, Megan Kettle, Sharon Stoll, Debra Erskine, Danielle Erskine, and Debra Bemand.

TEAM RESULT: 1 Sale Harriers Manchester 400 points; 2 Wirral 354; 3 West Cheshire 347; 4 Blackburn Harriers & AC 325; 5 Trafford 312; 6 Team Isle of Man 310.

GRAHAM WELLS was the first of 25 West Cheshire AC finishers at Sunday’s Chester Half Marathon, posting 1:18.17 for 51st position.He was backed up by Jon Park (1:20:49), Steve King (1:21:55), Fiona Cook (1:23:30), Steve Duffy (1:23:23), Andrew Clague (1:26:00), Steve Roberts (1:33:36), Isaac McKenna (1:33:32), Steve Hillier (1:34:26), and Danny Paddock (1:34:27).

Emma Nutt posted 1:38:19, ahead of Clare Mallon (1:40:41), Neil Field (1:40:17), Brian Cremin (1:42:41), Andy Carter (1:46:02), John Blake (1:46:56), Paul Cain (1:47:38), Wullie McGarrell (1:50:17), David Morris (1:51:27), Phil Gent (1:51:55), Claire Williams (1:53:13), Steve Fernyhough (1:59:01), Stephen Ball (1:59:44), Kim Morris (1:59:08), and Manu Manamel (1:59:29).

EMILIA PYPER, Nancy Farmer, and Wullie McGarrell all celebrated West Cheshire AC age group records at Friday night’s Christleton 5km Road Race. Emilia posted 19:35 to beat her under 13 girls record set last month, but Nancy took the under 15 girls record with 19:22. Wullie improved the over 55 men’s club record by 24 seconds in clocking 17:17 and finishing second on the night in his age group.

Jamie Richardson (15:04 for second under 20 men’s position) was the club’s first finisher, ahead of Sammy Hollins (16:20), Paul Morrison (17:38), Noah Woolgar (17:43), Jacob Owen (17:50), Henry Robinson (17:55), Mark Davies (18:32), Lewis Morris (18:37), Dave Alexander (18:42), Kyran Ilich (18:46), Richard Hayes (18:55), Jodi Bemand (19:02), Jack Sheppard (19:24), Andy Carter (19:36), Neil Field (20:01), Fraser Campbell (20:29), Claire Harris (20:14), Eleanor Wheeler (20:41), Ben Newall (21:12), Oliver Dowell (21:23), David Morris (21:22), Olivia Haywood (22:39), Traci Shipley (22:42) and Debra Bemand (23:55), . 

FIXTURES this weekend include the Northern Inter Counties Under 15s and Under 17s Track and Field Championships on Saturday, at York; the Chester Ultra 100 miles Race at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday; and the Youth Development Under 17s and Under 20s Track and Field League second round being held at Wrexham on Sunday.

ENTRIES are now open for the annual Tattenhall Tough Team Race being held on the evening of Friday, June 23. The race is for teams of three – female, male or mixed – and is about 9 miles long with a mixture of roads and trails. Full details are at: https://tattenhallrunners.niftyentries.com/Tough-Team-2023

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the Cheshire Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships (Saturday, June 10), at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track, as well as Cheshire Track and Field League match on Sunday, September 3; and a Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, July 8.

West Cheshire AC will also host the North West Regional B Final of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, June 14; the Chester Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Monday, June 19; the Ellesmere Port and Neston Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 23; and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Track and Field Schools Championships on Wednesday, July 5.