TEN West Cheshire AC members have been selected to represent their county at the English Schools Track and Field Championships being held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, this Friday and Saturday.

Imogen Pughe (Senior Girls 400m) will be competing for Merseyside, while the following will represent Cheshire: Theo Shepherd (Junior Boys 200m), Nathan Brassington (Intermediate Boys Shot Put), Jamie Richardson (Senior Boys 3000m), Holly Bosworth (Intermediate Girls 200m), Jessica Lark (Intermediate Girls 1500m), Harriet Wheeler (Intermediate Girls Javelin), Yasmin Smith (Senior Girls 100m), Emma Holmes (Senior Girls 200m), Ruby Wisbey (Senior Girls Long Jump).

MATTHEW JONES won his 800m (2:05.3) and 1500m (4:15.7), and posted 14.5 in his 100m for West Cheshire AC at the third round of the Under 17s and Under 20s Youth Development Track and Field League on Sunday at Stockport.

He was backed up by Jamie Richardson who won his 800m (2:06.4), finished second in his 1500m (4:10.7), and was fifth in the discus, while Henry Robinson won his 400m hurdles (66.6) and 2,000m steeplechase (7:42.0), and posted 18.1 in his 100m, and 20.3 in his 110m hurdles.

Alfie Lane clocked 23.7 in his 200m, while Ellis Hancock rounded the B 1500m in 5:00.7, the 3,000m in 11:27.0, and finished third in the B javelin. 

Dun Xue won the discus (29.96m) and hammer (29.36m), and cleared 1-50m in his high jump, while James Rawson won the B hammer (15.01m), hit 15.37m for second spot in the B discus, and hit 28.68m for third place in the javelin.

Holly Bosworth won the 100m (13.2) and long jump (4.67m), and cleared 1-45m in the high jump, while Macy Brett won the 80m hurdles in 12.6, posted 50.7 for second spot in the 300m hurdles, and cleared 1-30m in the high jump.

Yasmin Smith won her 200m (25.9) and Cosette Wearden won the 3,000m in 11:14.2, while Lara Fields won the B 100m (13.8), was second in the B 200m (29.2), and fourth in the 300m (47.5).

Carys Manson won the B 80m hurdles (13.5) and B 300m hurdles (52.4), and posted 29.2 in the 200m, while Kara Stoll won the discus (17.73m) and hammer (30.97m) alongside Harriet Wheeler who won the B discus with 16.15m.

Imogen Pughe finished second in her 100m (13.1), and second in her B 200m (27.1), supported by Jodi Bemand who posted 79.7 for second spot in the 400m hurdles, and was third in her B 100m (15.5).

SUNDAY’S MATCH RESULT: 1 Lancaster & Morecambe AC 541 points; 2 North Wales 471.5; 3 Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC 327; 4 West Cheshire AC 319.5; 5 Stockport Harriers & AC 255; 6 Crewe & Nantwich 224; 7 Southport Waterloo AC 36.

MATCH POSITIONS (after three rounds): 1 North Wales 20 league points (1885 match points); 2 Lancaster & Morecambe AC 19 (1709); 3 West Cheshire AC 14 (1375.5); 4 Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC 11 (1002); 5 Crewe & Nantwich AC 9 (905.5); 6 Stockport Harriers & AC 8 (875); 7 Southport Waterloo AC 3 (459).

SEVERAL West Cheshire AC members completed the Tattenhall Tough Team Race on Friday night.

Steve King, Neil Hershaw, Graham Wells, Phil Woodley, Danny Paddock, Wullie McGarrell, Neil Field, Mark Davies, Andy Carter, Steve Hillier, Ian Pritchard, Clare Mallon, Claire Williams, Isabel Robertson all negotiated the nine miles course.

FIXTURES this weekend include the third round of the Northern Track and Field League at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Sunday (10.30am start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, July 8, and the Cheshire Track and Field League match on Sunday, September 3.

ELOISE ECCLES has been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club ultra-distance runner has been rewarded for her victory in the inaugural Montane Spine Challenger North event.

Eloise stormed her way through 160 miles of the Pennine Way to become the first woman and record holder in the fixture and will now prepare to compete in the IAU 24 hours World Championships to be held in Chinese Taipei on December 2-3.

Eloise described the Challenger North course as ‘the better end of the Pennine Way, the section of the course with the most wow factor,’ and there’s no doubt she enjoyed herself during the race, taking in the scenery in the long hours of daylight.

During the latter part of the race Eloise may or may not have been involved in a stand-off with a raging bull, which could also have been a sheep, or more than one. She took a 3-minute power nap on a stile somewhere along Hadrian’s Wall. And around the time the fog descended over the Cheviots, a kind volunteer gave her what she described as a mind-blowingly strong coffee that turned the final stretch into Kirk Yetholm into a journey of delirium. None of this knocked her off course though and she won in resounding fashion, enjoying a lead in the region of 20 miles over her nearest rival.

Eloise demonstrated immense strength and resilience that makes her so good over these long distances. Sleep deprivation can grind down a runner’s ability to make decisions, but Eloise pushed through and enthusiastically embraced the adventure.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club celebrated team victories and individual medal performances at the weekend.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit won the latest round of the Northern Track and Field League at Bebington Oval on Sunday.

The purple-vested members combined to post a winning points total of 392, ahead of second placed Isle of Man with 336 points, host club Wirral AC with 334.5 points, fourth placed Blackburn Harriers on 302 points, Trafford in fifth with 285, and Sale Harriers in sixth spot with 226.

JESSICA LARK bagged a bronze medal at the England Athletics Championships in Chelmsford.

The talented teenager clocked a new under 20 women’s 1500m personal best time of 4:20.07 to secure third spot after winning her qualifying heat in 4:26.54.

Harriet Wheeler hit a mark of 46.27m for third position in the Under 18 women’s javelin competition, while Emma Holmes clocked 56.52 seconds in her 400m heat and Yasmin Smith posted 12.62 seconds in her 100m heat.

WEST CHESHIRE AC’s under 11s won their team event at the second round of the Cheshire Track and Field League on Saturday held at Queensway Stadium, Wrexham.

Blake Riley Jones, Edward Graham, Luke Gardner, Jack McWilliams, William Lamb, Alfie Thompson, Fin Edwards, Hamish Rumney, Lucas Benjumea, Saskia Keresturova, Felicity Snowden, Rosie Grimsditch, Heidi Wetherall, Isla Lambert, Molly Gore, Belle Thompson, and Mollie Cooke combined to secure the team victory.

Other performances of note included Mia Johnson equalling the club under 13 girls 200m record of 26.7 seconds on her way to success alongside Lauren Higgins who cleared a winning height of 1-35m in the high jump, and Amelia Owen winning the shot put with 6.03m, backed up by Megan Hughes, Lucy Caldwell, Amelia Snowden, and Harriet Beattie.

Kyran Ilich Croft rounded the men’s 1500m in a winning time of 4:41.4, while Josh Stirling, Daniel Hughes-Shaw, Kadan Cariga-Williams, and Daniel Hooker teamed up for the under 15 boys.

Dylan Gledhill, Noah Booth, Max Henderson, and George Grimsditch concluded their day with success in the under 13 boys 4x100m relay, while Lara Fields (28.4) and Hayley Holland (2:46.1) won their under 17 ladies 200m and 800m races respectively, and Lydia Walker, Erin Barnard, Mae Grant, Bethany Sheppard and Grace Andrews combined for the under 15 girls.

KARA STOLL, Nathan Brassington, Sebastian Hulse, Ruby Billington, and Ursula Archer all pocketed medals representing Cheshire at the Mason Trophy Inter Counties Schools Track and Field Championships at Northwood Stadium, Stoke on Trent.

Kara won the Intermediate Girls hammer with 43.50m, while Nathan hit a winning mark of 13.32m in the Intermediate Boys shot put.

Sebastian cleared 1-60m for bronze medal spot in the Junior Boys high jump, while Ruby was third in the Junior Girls high jump with 1-45m, and Ursula was a bronze medallist in the Junior Girls discus with 19.99m. 

MOLLIE GARRATT ran in the Independent Schools Association Championships 4x100m Relay at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium and helped secure her team a gold medal with a new record time of 56 seconds. 

SARAH HIBBERT clocked a new 10k personal best of 49:28 for first position in her over-55 age group at the Redditch 10k Road Race, while Neil Field posted 46:30 at the Penny Lane Striders 10k Road Race.

FIXTURES this weekend include the English Schools North West Combined Events Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Stoke on Trent; the Inter Counties Junior Fell Race Championships at Church Stretton, on Saturday, and the Under 17s and Under 20s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture at Woodbank Park, Stockport, on Sunday (10.15am start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, July 8, and the Cheshire Track and Field League match on Sunday, September 3.
West Cheshire AC will also host 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.

JESSICA LARK and Harriet Wheeler both achieved Championship Best Performances on Saturday at the Cheshire Schools Track and Field Championships.

Jessica clocked 2:11.6 seconds at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track to smash the Intermediate Girls 800m record that had stood since 1996.

And Harriet launched the Intermediate Girls javelin to a new record mark of 50.05m, improving the previous record by more than three metres which had been held by Emma Howe since 2017.

Both West Cheshire Athletic Club members will now be focusing their sights on the English Schools Championships being held later this month, and then hopefully selection for England in August at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad.

Sidney Shorrock and Stephanie Jones also claimed new Championship Best Performances at the weekend.

Sidney achieved a new Junior Girls shot put record of 9.68m to improve a mark that had stood since 2018, while Stephanie won the Senior Girls long long title with 5.79m to better the previous record which had been held since 1996.

Impressive performances from West Cheshire AC members were registered by Nathan Brassington, Kara Stoll, Yasmin Smith, Fergus Garland, Isaac Pembleton, Rebecca Smith, Emily Owen, Holly Bosworth, Jack Nash, Matthew Jones, Ruby Wisbey, Beth Manson, Macy Brett, Carys Manson, Millie Warren, Sebastian Whiteley, Theo Shepherd, Jacob Gardner, Evan Miller, Ruby Billington, Charlotte Austin, Grace Fairweather, Eleanor Wheeler, Ellie Stammers, Emma Bradley, Ursula Archer, Sophie Mulcaster, and Grace Andrews.

Nathan hit a winning mark of 12.91m in the intermediate boys shot put, Kara powered her way to victory with 44.68m in the intermediate girls hammer, and Yasmin won the senior girls 100m in 12.4 seconds.

Fergus won the senior boys 400m title win 54.4 seconds, Isaac won the junior boys long jump with 5.30m, Rebecca won the intermediate girls shot put with 10.06m, Emily posted 12.6 seconds in her intermediate girls 100m final, and Holly clocked 25.8 seconds in her intermediate girls 200m final. 

Jack won the intermediate boys 200m final in 23.8 seconds, Matthew rounded the intermediate boys 1500m in 4:18.4, and Ruby Wisbey achieved 5.51m in the senior girls long jump.

Beth clocked 42.5 seconds in her junior girls 300m final, while Macy and Carys posted 50.7 and 51.8 seconds respectively in their intermediate girls 300m hurdles final.

Millie posted 13.0 seconds in her junior girls 100m final and Sebastian hit 10.25m in the junior boys shot put.

Theo posted 23.3 seconds in the junior boys 200m final, while Jacob and Evan clocked 40.0 and 40.6 seconds respectively in the junior boys 300m final.

Ruby Billington and Charlotte cleared 1-40m in the junior girls high jump, while Grace hit 23.71m in the junior girls javelin.

Eleanor rounded the junior girls 1500m in 5:21.5, Ellie cleared 1-35m in the intermediate girls high jump, while Emma negotiated the junior girls 75m hurdles final in 15.3 seconds.

Ursula clocked 28.3 seconds in her junior girls 200m final, while Sophie and Grace rounded the junior girls 800m final in times of 2:42.7 and 2:46.6 respectively.

JACK ARNOLD and Nia Manson both represented West Cheshire AC in the Welsh Junior Fell Running Championships.

Jack won the under 11 boys race and Nia achieved third position in her under 13 girls age group event.

DAVE SUTTON and Steve Fernyhough represented West Cheshire AC at the Scotland Ultra 50 Miles Race.

Dave finished 18th in 14 hours nine minutes 30 seconds and Steve achieved 15:22:55 for 30th position in the event which started in St Johns Town of Dalry and finished in Moffat.

FIXTURES this weekend include the second round of the Cheshire Track and Field League at Queensway Stadium, Wrexham, on Saturday (11.45am start), the Mason Trophy Schools Inter Counties Track and Field Championships at Northwood Stadium, Stoke on Trent, on Saturday, and the Northern Track and Field League at Bebington Oval on Sunday (10.30am start).

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 Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, July 8, and the Cheshire Track and Field League match on Sunday, September 3.
West Cheshire AC will also host 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.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club soaked up the sun and celebrated a team success at the seaside.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit won the second round of the Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League held at Stanley Park, Blackpool.

Beth Manson, Nia Manson, Ruby Billington, Mae Grant, Emma Bradley, Aiden Hilton, Mia Johnson, Megan Hughes, Lucy Caldwell, and Lauren Higgins all delivered victories.

Beth clocked a winning time of 43.30 seconds in her under 15 girls 300m, while her younger sister, Nia, rounded the under 13 girls 1200m for top spot in the B race.

Ruby and Mae teamed up for maximum points in the under 15 girls high jump with clearances of 1-45m and 1-40m respectively, while Emma hit a winning mark of 18.10m in the under 15 girls B javelin event.

Aiden secured a hat-trick of victories in the under 13 boys 100m (10.20 seconds), 150m (20.0), and 75m hurdles (13.40).

Mia grabbed glory in the under 13 girls 75m (10.20), 150m (19.40), and long jump (4.65m), alongside Megan who delivered success in the B 150m (22.20) and B 800m (2:40.20).

Lucy won the under 13 girls B long jump with 3.66m, and Lauren cleared a winning height of 1-38m in the under 13 girls high jump.

The quartet of Megan, Lucy, Lauren and Mia combined to earn the under 13 girls a victory in the 4x100m relay with a time of 57.30 seconds.

Other important point-scorers in the team success included Jacob Gardner, Josh Sirling, Isaac Pembleton, Evan Miller, Dan Walker, Lewis Morris, Seb Hulse, Will Rawson, Dan Hooker, Macey Jones, Lydia Walker, Millie Warren, Ursula Archer, Grace Andrews, Eleanor Wheeler, Arwen Thorne, Satine Wearden, Nancy Collins, Sam Cooper, Harry McKenna, Max Henderson, Dylan Gledhill, George Grimsditch, Amelia Snowden and Amelia Owen.

TEAM RESULT: 1 West Cheshire AC 499 points; 2 Team Isle of Man Youth 472; 3 Bolton United Harriers & AC 450; 4 Deeside AAC 449; 5 Southport Waterloo AC 429; 6 Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC 327.

The next round is scheduled to be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, July 8.

EMMA HOLMES pocketed a silver medal at the Northern Track and Field Championships in Manchester.

The talented West Cheshire AC teenager broke her under 20 women’s 400m club record after clocking 55.58 seconds for second spot in the final, and also broke the under 20 and senior women’s 200m club record with 24.62 in her heat and 24.89 in her final for fourth position.

Jodi Bemand broke her under 20 women’s 2000m steeplechase club record after posting 7:51.64 for fourth place.

Sharon Stoll hit a mark of 17.23m for fourth position in the women’s hammer, and Fergus Garland finished fifth in the under 20 men’s 400m final with 51.88 seconds.

Ruban Harris achieved a new personal best of 5.61m for seventh spot in the under 20 men’s long jump, while Yasmin Smith posted 12.80 seconds for eighth place in the under 20 women’s 100m final, and Paul Morrison rounded his heat of the senior men’s 800m in 2:06.17.

TRACI SHIPLEY represented Great Britain in the European Triathlon Championships in Madrid and finished 14th in her age group.

Traci achieved 28:31 for her 5km swim, 1:24.34 for her 37.2km bike, and 1:16.30 for her 10km run for a combined time of 3:14.24.

WULLIE McGARRELL (2:58), Jon Park (2:59), and Danny Paddock (3:07) all represented West Cheshire AC at the Edinburgh Marathon.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Cheshire Schools Track and Field Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday (10am start), and the Port Sunlight 5k (10am start) and 10k (11am start) 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 Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, July 8, and the Cheshire Track and Field League match on Sunday, September 3.
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.