Press Report: Success Indoors and Out

EMMA HOLMES, Jessica Lark, and Macy Brett produced podium places in Sheffield at the weekend.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club trio impressed at the two-day Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships held in the Institute of Sport Arena.

Emma was crowned under 20 women’s 400m champion after clocking a club record time of 56.02 seconds, ahead of fifth placed club mate Imogen Pughe in 61.78 seconds.

And Emma added a silver medal in the 200m with a club record-breaking time of 24.45 seconds after winning her heat in 24.79 seconds, and her semi-final in 24.60 seconds.

Jessica rounded the under 20 women’s 800m final for a gold medal-winning and new club record-breaking time of 2:10.99 having won her heat in 2:14.17.

And Macy produced an impressive silver medal in the under 17 women’s 60m hurdles final with a time of 9.18 seconds, just 600ths of a second behind the winner.

Cosette Wearden, registered as an under 17 lady, ran in the under 20 women’s 3,000m final and clocked a new under 17 ladies club record time of 10:45.51.

Other West Cheshire AC members in action at Sheffield included Holly Bosworth (27.10) and Lara Fields (28.70) in the under 17 women’s 200m; Jacob Gardner (24.66), Stephen Smalls (27.98) and Theo Shepherd (23.69) in the under 17 men’s 200m, and Macey Jones (8.19) in the under 17 ladies 60m.

TRACY ROGERS, Poppy McKenna and Jodi Bemand secured podium positions representing West Cheshire AC at Tatton Park in the latest round of the Manchester Cross Country League.

Tracy won her over-35 age group race and finished seventh lady overall in a time of 32:04, while Jodi was third in her under 20 ladies race in 34:47, and the pair were backed up by Georgina Duffey (10th under 20 lady in 41:56), Lucie Truett (17th in 34:03), Emma Nutt (39th in 36:14), Anest Muller (13th over-40 in 38:36), Anna Woolgar (fifth over-45 in 37:11), Amanda Newall (20th over-45 in 40:28), Alex Duffey (56th over-45 in 48:11), and Angela Tegg (22nd over-50 lady in 44:18), to earn West Cheshire AC fourth team place in the senior ladies event and fifth place in the veteran team competition.

Poppy finished third with a time of 14:17 in the under 11 girls race, backed up by team mates Heidi Wetherall (31st in 16:32) and Isla Lambert (66th in 19:51) to earn ninth team spot.

Dylan Gledhill (20th in 13:36), Max Henderson (34th in 14:28), and Jack Owen (59th in 15:34) completed the under 13 boys event.

Nia Manson (9th in 14:04) and Lauren Higgins (14th in 14:53) teamed up in the under 13 girls race. 

Lewis Morris (18th in 16:21), Noah Woolgar (31st in 16:58), and Ben Newall (37th in 17:26) represented West Cheshire AC in the under 15 boys race.

Emilia Pyper (14th in 18:19), and Eleanor Wheeler (29th in 20:01) completed the under 15 girls race, while Nancy Farmer (11th in 24:16) rounded the under 17 ladies event.

Paul Morrison (161st in 46:57), Dave Alexander (22nd over 50 man in 41:32), and Andrew Clague (sixth over-55 man in 40:11) completed the senior men’s race.

THE West Cheshire AC Annual Presentation Evening will be held on Friday, February 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester. Follow this link to purchase tickets: https://wcac.niftyentries.com

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Northern Under 15s and Under 13s Indoor Track and Field Championships being held on February 4 at Sheffield. The online entry link is: www.race-results.co.uk

WEST CHESHIRE AC has a busy schedule of fixtures lined up for the year ahead.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit will host two pre-season open track and field meetings, as well as host the Cheshire County Schools Track and Field Championships, and the English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional A and B Finals.

The Cheshire Schools Championships take place on Saturday, June 8, while the English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional A and B Finals will be held on Wednesday, June 5, and Wednesday, June 12.

West Cheshire AC will compete in the Under 13/Under 15 Youth Development League West Premier Division at Bebington Oval on Saturday, April 20; at Liverpool on Sunday, May 19; at Preston on Sunday, June 23; and at Trafford on Saturday, July 20.

And the Club will participate in the Under 17/Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League North West Division One at Blackpool on Sunday, April 28; at Leigh on Sunday, May 26; and at Wigan on Sunday, June 30.

The Club’s Northern Track and Field League squad will take part in West Premier Division fixtures at Blackburn on Saturday, May 18; at Litherland on Saturday, June 15; at Trafford on Sunday, July 14; and at Ellesmere Port on Saturday, August 17.

West Cheshire AC will also host their annual Secondary Schools Track and Field Cup match on Wednesday, May 1; and the annual Cheshire v Merseyside Year 7 Schools Track and Field fixture in July.

FIXTURES this weekend include the North Wales Cross Country League on Saturday, at Dolgellau, where the junior races start at 10.30am (under 15 Boys) and senior races at 1pm. The cross country course at Dolgellau is near the Leisure Centre but parking at the Leisure Centre is very limited so parking will be in the main Dolgellau Town Centre car park (Postcode: LL40 1UU). Sunday sees the Four Villages Half Marathon take place at Helsby (10.30am start).

ENTRIES are open for the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Winter Series being held on Sundays, January 28, February 18, and March 10. More information at this link: https://saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series

THE Cheshire AA Road Race Grand Prix fixtures have been announced for 2024: Four Villages Half Marathon on January 21; High Legh 10k on March 17; Chester Spring 5 Miler on April 10; Christleton 5k in Mid May; Dunham Massey Park Run on May 25; Warrington Park Run on July 20; Sandbach 10k on August 18; and Crewe Park Run on September 14.

FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk