JESSICA LARK achieved a European Under 20 Indoor Championships standard in Birmingham at the weekend.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club member experienced her first-ever British Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Jessica clocked 4:17.09 for fourth spot in her 1500m qualifying heat behind Olympic bronze medallist, Georgia Bell, before posting 4:25.66 for ninth position in the final.

Jessica will now be hoping to claim a place in the Great Britain squad for the European Under 20 Championships being held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, between March 6 and 9.

CHRISTIAN HOLCOMBE and Charles Ryder are both celebrating national titles.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo impressed at the British Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Lee Valley over the weekend.

Christian won the over-40 men’s triple jump gold medal after achieving 11.99m.

And Charles was crowned a triple champion in his over-75 men’s age group after slicing 0.58 of a second off his 200m personal best to clock a winning time of 31.94 seconds, then won the Long Jump, and completed his hat-trick on Sunday with a victory in the 60m.

NIA MANSON was one of 12 West Cheshire AC members who competed in Saturday’s English National Cross Country Championships.

Nia completed a challenging under 13 girls 3km course at Parliament Fields, London, in a time of 13:56 for 21st position, while her dad, Andy, rounded the 12km senior men’s race in 74:56 for 1,383rd place, alongside Richard Hayes (1,158th in 68:40).

Nancy Farmer clocked 22:31 for 33rd spot in the 5km under 17 women’s race ahead of Cosette Wearden (48th in 23:09).

Jodi Bemand achieved 81st position in a time of 32:33 for the 6km junior women’s race, while Claire Harris rounded the 8km senior women’s race in 37:12 for 159th position.

Sam Oliver was 88th in 40:07 for the 10km junior men’s race, ahead of Sammy Hollins (97th in 40:48) and Henry Robinson (98th in 40:48).

Emilia Pyper (104th in 20:26) and Eleanor Wheeler (232nd in 23:03) completed the under 15 girls 4km course.

SUNDAY’S scheduled Borders Road Running League fixture at Trac Mon, Anglesey, was cancelled due to a weather warning for high winds.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Cross Country League at Woodbank Park, Stockport, on Saturday.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 9. The online entry link is: wcac.niftyentries.com

THE UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships will be held at Nottingham, on Saturday, March 8; and the English Schools Cross Country Championships will be held in West Sussex, on Saturday, March 15.

West Cheshire AC will help organise the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday, March 24, and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Schools Cross Country Match at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Wednesday, April 2.

WEST CHESHIRE AC coaches will be delivering Sportshall Athletics in the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 6-8pm this Friday, with the aim of helping youngsters prepare for the Schools Sportshall Athletics fixtures. Please come along and support the sessions.

THE Cheshire Track and Field Championships will be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11.

The Championships will have full electronic timing and photo-finish for track events and EDM for field events. The Roster competition management system will be used, providing live start lists and results via the Roster App.

As usual, medals will be awarded for the full programme of track and field events for all age groups from under 13s to seniors, together with a small number of events for the Under-11 age group.

Online entries will be accepted in early March.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the first-ever Cheshire Grand Prix Track and Field Meeting on Saturday, April 26, at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track.

The Cheshire Grand Prix will replace the Cheshire Track and Field League and will comprise of four fixtures in total being held at EPSV, Macclesfield, and Warrington.

DATES and venues for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: March 16 at Ellesmere Port; April 6 at Buckley Runners; May 7 at Prestatyn (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.
THE final winter Sale Harriers Manchester Indoor Open Meeting will be held at the Regional Athletics Centre, Sportcity, Manchester. M11 4FF, on Sunday, March 9. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

GRANT DAVIES headed a squad of 12 West Cheshire Athletic Club members to the finish line at Wrexham on Sunday.

Grant rounded the Village Bakery Half Marathon in a time of one hour 13 minutes 24 seconds to finish 48th, behind eventual winner, Omar Ahmed (Birchfield Harriers) who clocked 1:04:35.

Dave Shearer was 43rd in his over-40 over age group with a time of 1:21:04, and Keely Smith posted 1:23:47 for fourth spot in her over-40 age category, behind overall first lady, Anna Bracegirdle (Salford Harriers) who registered 1:13:53.

Steve King (14th over-50 man in 1:24:38), Connor Lee (209th in 1:26:10), Mark Davies (49th over-45 man in 1:28:53), Emma Nutt (18th lady in 1:30:00), Jeff Gifford (fifth over-60 man in 1:31:14), Neil Field (62nd over-50 man in 1:41:25), Amy Mills (31st over-35 lady in 1:45:29), Brian Cremin (386th in 1:46:32), and Kimberly Morris (42nd over-45 lady in 1:57:05) completed the purple-vested contingent.

LOUIS GRIMES and Imogen Fives both celebrated personal bests in Sunday’s Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting held at SportCity.

Louis sliced 1.4 seconds off his previous 200m best to register 26.12 seconds, while Imogen posted new bests of 8.32 seconds in the 60m and 27.61 seconds in the 200m, alongside West Cheshire AC team mate Erin Barnard.

Lauren Higgins equalled her indoor 600m personal best time of 1:46, while Evie Whittaker and Freya Whittaker cleared 1-35m and 1-30m respectively in the under 15 and under 13 girls high jump competitions.

FAVOUR AKPAN achieved a new indoor senior women’s triple jump personal best of 12.07m while representing Nottingham in the British Universities and Colleges Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield, alongside Jamie Richardson, representing Sheffield, who clocked a new 3,000m personal best time of 8:12.70.

FIXTURES this weekend include the English National Cross Country Championships, will be held at Parliament Hill, London, on Saturday; the UK Athletics Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday; and the Borders Road Running League at Trac Mon, Anglesey, on Sunday.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 9. The online entry link is: wcac.niftyentries.com

THE UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships will be held at Nottingham, on Saturday, March 8; and the English Schools Cross Country Championships will be held in West Sussex, on Saturday, March 15.

West Cheshire AC will help organise the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday, March 24, and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Schools Cross Country Match at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Wednesday, April 2.

WEST CHESHIRE AC coaches will be delivering Sportshall Athletics in the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 6-8pm this Friday, with the aim of helping youngsters prepare for the Schools Sportshall Athletics fixtures. Please come along and support the sessions.

THE Cheshire Track and Field Championships will be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11.

The Championships will have full electronic timing and photo-finish for track events and EDM for field events. The Roster competition management system will be used, providing live start lists and results via the Roster App.

As usual, medals will be awarded for the full programme of track and field events for all age groups from under 13s to seniors, together with a small number of events for the Under-11 age group.

Online entries will be accepted in early March.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the first-ever Cheshire Grand Prix Track and Field Meeting on Saturday, April 26, at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track.

The Cheshire Grand Prix will replace the Cheshire Track and Field League and will comprise of four fixtures in total being held at EPSV, Macclesfield, and Warrington.

DATES and venues for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: February 23 at Trac Mon, Anglesey; March 16 at Ellesmere Port; April 6 at Buckley Runners; May 7 at Prestatyn (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 final winter Sale Harriers Manchester Indoor Open Meeting will be held at the Regional Athletics Centre, Sportcity, Manchester. M11 4FF, on Sunday, March 9. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

Only one change in the top 3s of the West Cheshire AC Women’s Endurance League at the end of January, as Debra Bemand moves into 3rd place behind leading women Claire Harris and Emma Nutt. Michael Young continues to lead Paul Morrison and Jeff Gifford in the men’s competition.

See the Races page for full tables. Please address any queries to [email protected].

JESSICA LARK and Mia Johnson both pocketed silver medals at the weekend.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club pair impressed at the England Athletics Indoor Track and Field Championships held in Sheffield.

Jessica clocked 2:08.52 for second spot in the under 20 women’s 800m having won her qualifying heat in a time of 2:12.95.

And Mia posted a new personal best and new under 15 girls 200m indoor club record of 25.37 seconds to secured second position in the final after winning her first round heat with 25.61, and producing 25.41 for victory in her semi-final.

Alba March posted 8.09 seconds in her under 17 women’s 60m heat, and Jacob Gardner clocked a new under 17 men’s 200m personal best of 23.41 seconds.

Beth Manson clocked 43.75 seconds in her under 17 women’s 300m, while Maya Jennings posted 43.04 seconds in her under 15 girls 300m.

Lauren Higgins rounded the under 15 girls 800m in a time of 2:32.62, while Nathan Brassington negotiated the under 20 men’s 60m hurdles in a new personal best of 8.67 seconds, and Ruby Billington cleared 1-46m in the under 17 women’s high jump.

POPPY McKENNA, Nia Manson, Rose Sheppard, Florence Hain, and Heidi Wetherall combined to earn West Cheshire AC team gold medals in the under 13 girls age group at the final round of the North Wales Cross Country League.

Poppy finished in third spot at the Marches School, Oswestry, ahead of Nia (fourth), Rose (eighth), Florence (10th), and Heidi (11th).

Niall Betteridge (fifth) and Jack Arnold (eighth) rounded the under 11 boys race, while Saskia Keresturova delivered third spot and Isla Lambert sixth position in the under 11 girls event.

CLAIRE HARRIS won the over-35 women’s overall individual title after securing fifth spot in the senior women’s race at Oswestry, supported by Anest Muller (30th), Ellie Robinson (45th), Joy Hickman (76th), and Alex Duffey (108th), to earn West Cheshire AC second team spot on the day and overall in Division Two to win promotion to Division One next season. 

Jeff Gifford secured second place overall in his over-60 age category after completing Saturday’s race in 67th position alongside Paul Morrison (41st).

ANNA WOOLGAR finished fourth in her over-50 women’s age group at Kenworthy Woods in Saturday’s Manchester Area Cross Country League.

Emma Nutt finished 10th senior lady, while Harriet Beattie rounded the under 15 girls race in 14th spot, Abby Gamble finished 16th in the under 11 girls race, and Noah Woolgar posted 27th position in the under 17 men’s race.

FAVOUR AKPAN improved her indoor triple jump record by 49cms to 11.85m at the Sheffield Steel Cup Indoor Meeting, where Sam Oliver won his 3k race in 9:15.08.

FIXTURES this weekend include the British Universities and Colleges Indoor Championships in Sheffield on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the Manchester Indoor Open Meeting at SportCity on Sunday.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 9. The online entry link is: wcac.niftyentries.com

THE English National Cross Country Championships, will be held at Parliament Hill, London, on Saturday, February 22; the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships will be held at Loughborough, on Saturday, March 8; and the English Schools Cross Country Championships will be held in West Sussex on Saturday, March 15.

West Cheshire AC will help organise the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday, March 24, and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Schools Cross Country Match at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Wednesday, April 2.

WEST CHESHIRE AC coaches will be delivering Sportshall Athletics in the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 6-8pm this Friday, with the aim of helping youngsters prepare for the Schools Sportshall Athletics fixtures. Please come along and support the sessions.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the first-ever Cheshire Grand Prix Track and Field Meeting on Saturday, April 26, at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track.

The Cheshire Grand Prix will replace the Cheshire Track and Field League and will comprise of four fixtures in total being held at EPSV, Macclesfield, and Warrington.

DATES and venues for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: 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, February 16; and March 9. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

by Dennis Wall

MIA JOHNSON has been crowned a double sprints champion at the Welsh Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club member won the under 15 girls 300m title on Saturday and secured success in the 200m on Sunday at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff.

Mia clocked 25.94 seconds for the 200m and posted 43.52 seconds in her 300m to improve on her pair of bronze medals at last year’s championships.

Maya Jennings finished fourth with a time of 28.33 seconds in her under 15 girls 200m semi-final at the Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships staged at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport Arena.

Poppy McKenna performed well in the under 13 girls high jump with 1.25m for fourth spot to narrowly missed out on a medal before competing in the 800 metres where she clocked 2:35.97 to finish seventh overall.

Amelia Snowden (2:29:79), Nia Manson (2:32.15), and Lauren Higgins (2:34:52) impressed in the under 15 girls 800m.

And Leon Betteridge made his indoor debut with a solid under 13 boys 800m performance of 2:37:07 to finish seventh with a personal best.

SEVERAL West Cheshire AC members produced impressive results on Saturday at the Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships held at Knights Grange, Winsford.

Nancy Farmer finished second in the Senior Girls race ahead of fourth-placed Hayley Holland.

Lucas Sawyer secured second spot in the Minor Boys race ahead of Leon Betteridge (third).

Poppy McKenna finished second in the Minor Girls race ahead of Heidi Wetherall (13th), Florie Hain (20th), and Belle Thompson (38th).

Scott Wells (fifth), Daniel Walker (seventh), Noah Woolgar (11th), Thomas Rimmer (13th), Ben Newall (14th), and George Jeffries (25th), completed the Intermediate Boys race.

Eleanor Wheeler was fifth in the Intermediate Girls race, while Dylan Gledhill was ninth in the Junior Boys race ahead of Sidney Carr (15th), Eliot Quaglierini (18th), and Max Henderson (21st).

Nia Manson secured third spot in the Junior Girls race ahead of Amelia Snowden (fifth), Harriet Beattie (sixth), Rose Sheppard (10th), Sophie Baker (13th), Harriet Buckley (18th), and Felicity Cooper (20th), and Ellis Hancock rounded the Senior Boys race in 12th position.

LOUIS GRIMES improved his 600m club record to 1:37.75 at Sunday’s Manchester Indoor Open Meeting.

Imogen Fives ran a new 60m personal best of 8.38 seconds and a new 200m personal best of 27.68 seconds to shave 0.42 off her previous best.

And Alba March experienced her first outing this winter and came away with a new 60m personal best of 8.08 seconds to warm up for the English Championships.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Area Cross Country League third round fixture on Saturday, at Kenworthy Woods/University Playing Fields, the North Wales Cross Country League final round at The Marches School, Oswestry, on Saturday; and the England Athletics Indoor Championships for Under 15s, Under 17s, and Under 20s at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 9. The online entry link is: wcac.niftyentries.com

THE English National Cross Country Championships, will be held at Parliament Hill, London, on Saturday, February 22; the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships will be held at Loughborough, on Saturday, March 8; and the English Schools Cross Country Championships will be held in West Sussex on Saturday, March 15.

West Cheshire AC will help organise the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday, March 24, and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Schools Cross Country Match at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Wednesday, April 2.

WEST CHESHIRE AC coaches will be delivering Sportshall Athletics in the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 6-8pm this Friday, with the aim of helping youngsters prepare for the Schools Sportshall Athletics fixtures. Please come along and support the sessions.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the first-ever Cheshire Grand Prix Track and Field Meeting on Saturday, April 26, at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track.

The Cheshire Grand Prix will replace the Cheshire Track and Field League and will comprise of four fixtures in total being held at EPSV, Macclesfield, and Warrington.

DATES and venues for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: 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, February 16; and March 9. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk