Press Report: Members Busy on Country and Road
by Dennis Wall
A TOTAL of 159 youngsters completed Saturday’s opening round of the West Cheshire Athletic Club Schools Cross Country Race Series held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.
Nia Manson (Bishop Heber), Sidney Carr (Upton High), Isla Salisbury (Neston High), Atharva Ganesh (Upton High), Saskia Keresturova (Oldfield), Caleb Newman (Acresfield), Sophie McCready (St Josephs), Niall Betteridge (Hoole), Evie Hulse (Our Lady of Pity), Charlie Diggle (Tarporley), Sophia Harley (Hoole), and Ralph Kellard (Sutton Green) all celebrated success in the sunshine.
Nia won the year eight girls race ahead of Christleton’s Amelia Mafuelo, while Sidney secured success in the year eight boys race ahead of Blacon’s William Smallwood.
Isla won the year seven event ahead of runner-up Freya Wilson (Neston) and Amelia Clarke (Ellesmere Port Catholic High) in third spot, while Atharva won the year seven boys race ahead of Christleton’s Samuel Rhodes.
Saskia delivered top spot in the year six girls race ahead of Farndon duo Zara Evans and Mollie Quinton who were second and third respectively, while Caleb won the year six boys race ahead of Upton Heath’s Jack Arnold and Dee Point’s Zachary Senczyszyn who were second and third respectively.
Sophie won the year five girls race ahead of runner-up Abby Gamble (Guilden Sutton) and third placed Evelyn Edwards (Saighton), while Niall claimed top spot in the year five boys race ahead of Max Molloy (Scholar 1) and Hoole’s Logan Blackburn who were second and third respectively.
Evie won the year four girls race ahead of Hoole’s Arianwen Setters and third place Mia Rees (Acresfield), while Charlie won the year four boys race ahead of Farndon’s Henry Glynn and third placed Otto Holmes (Newton).
Sophia won the year three girls race ahead of Farndon pair Jessica Quinton and Hattie Miller who were second and third, while Ralph won the year three boys race ahead of runner-up Will Chapman (Guilden Sutton) and third placed Alfie Waters (Farndon).
The next round is scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 9.
POPPY McKENNA celebrated victory at the opening round of the North Wales Cross Country League held at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.
The West Cheshire AC youngster won the under 13 girls race and was backed up by Rose Sheppard (sixth), Florence Hain (seventh), and Heidi Wetherall (10th) to secure top spot in the team event.
Leon Betteridge completed the under 13 boys race in fifth position, while Eleanor Wheeler posted sixth spot in the under 15 girls race, Isla Lambert was 13th in the under 11 girls race, and Dylan Gledhill finished 14th in the under 15 boys race.
CLAIRE HARRIS secured third spot in her over-35 age group and 14th position overall in the senior women’s race at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.
Claire was supported by Emma Nutt (11th senior lady and 28th overall), Anest Muller (eighth over-40 and 48th overall), Ellie Robinson (fourth over-50 lady and 56th overall), and Deb Bemand (12th over-50 and 107th overall), to earn West Cheshire third team spot in Division Two.
Neil Hershaw (second over-60 and 59th overall), headed West Cheshire’s men’s team to the line ahead of Paul Morrison (21st senior man and 72nd overall), Andrew Clague (first over-55 man and 73rd overall), Jeff Gifford (fourth over-60 man and 84th overall), and Andy Carter (22nd over-55 man and 141st overall) to earn the club fifth team position in Division Two.Β
The next North Wales Cross Country League race will be held at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham, LL139NG, on Saturday, October 19.
MICHAEL YOUNG grabbed glory in Sunday’s Chester Metric Marathon.
The West Cheshire AC member reached the Castle Drive finishing line in a winning time of one hour 29 minutes 36 seconds.
Club mates Steve Fernyhough (first over-40 man and fifth overall in 1:41:29) and Keely Smith (first over-40 lady and second lady overall in 1:48:17) also achieved podium places.
Other West Cheshire members in Metric Marathon action included Andrew Barratt (2:07:41), Dave Morris (2:11:03), Mark Davies (2:11:09), Stephen Ball (2:15:39), Neil Field (2:16:58), Peter Keresturova (2:18:13), Angela Tegg (2:22:50), Julian Tegg (2:22:50), Kimberley Morris (2:33:43), and Jeff Lambert (3:01:13).
DAVE SHEARER was West Cheshire’s first finisher in the Chester Marathon, posting 3:04:50, ahead of Paul Cain (3:51:36), Richard Hayes (3:52:52), and Richard Hunt (4:41:25).
THE West Cheshire AC Celebration and Awards Evening will be held at 7pm on Friday, October 18, at Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, and the special guest is Lewis Davey who recently returned from the Olympic Games in Paris where he medalled in the 4 x 400m relay.
Tickets for the evening are limited and will be sold on a first come basis. Ticket prices are Β£10 for an adult (Over 18), Β£5 for Under 18s and Β£25 for a family ticket (2 Adults and 2 Under 18s).Β
To purchase tickets click on this link:Β https://wcac.niftyentries.com/West-Cheshire-AC-Celebration-Evening-October-2024
FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Area Cross Country League first round at Heaton Park, on Saturday, and the North Staffs Cross Country League second round at Stafford Common, also on Saturday.
DATES and venues for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: November 3 at Tattenhall; December 8 at Cybi Striders; January 26 at Deestriders; March 16 at Ellesmere Port; April 6 at Buckley Runners; May 7 at either Prestatyn, Chester Tri, or West Cheshire (Presentation Evening).
All races are on Sundays and start at 11am except for the final race which is on a Wednesday evening with a 7pm start and is a relay event.
THIS winter’s Sale Harriers Manchester Indoor Open Meetings will be held at the Regional Athletics Centre, Sportcity, Manchester. M11 4FF, on the following Sundays, 8th December; 22nd December; 12th January; 2nd February; 16th February; and 9th March.
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk