Press Report: Success for trio at Spring Five

by Dennis Wall

LEWIS MORRIS, Steve King and Joy Hickman all tasted success at the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club trio finished first in their respective age group categories at the event organised by their club from Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, which attracted 325 finishers.

Lewis clocked 26 minutes 14 seconds to finish first in his under 20 age group and fourth overall; Steve posted 28:20 for top spot in his over 50 age group and was 19th overall; and Joy won her over 60 age category in a new club record time of 35:52.

The trio finished behind winner, Ben Taylor (Pensby Runners), who clocked 25:36, and Fay Hughes (Wirral AC), was first lady in 28:47.

Lewis and Steve combined with West Cheshire AC’s Matthew Douglass (fifth in 26:18), and Steve Fernyhough (15th in 27:55) to win the men’s team prize.

There was a total of 24 West Cheshire AC finishers, including Luke Pearson (21st in 28:33), Ben Newall (third under 20 man in 28:38), Paul Morrison (27th in 28:51), Graham Wells (second over-50 man in 29:20), Scott Wells (fourth under 20 man in 29:20), Fraser Campbell (36th in 29:33), Jamie Fisher (56th in 30:56), Claire Harris (third senior lady in 31:20), Ellis Hancock (seventh under 20 man in 31:45), Rob Little (ninth over-45 man in 33:10), Luke Ellis (17th over 40 man in 33:26), Andrew Clague (eighth over 55 man in 33:53), Paul Cain (10th over 55 man in 34:51), Georgina Duffey (second under 20 lady in 36:22), Dan Hooker (12th under 20 man in 38:45), Neil Field (28th over 50 man in 39:36), Agnieszka Shaw (ninth over 40 lady in 39:59), Alex Duffey (12th over 50 lady in 46:06), and Jeff Lambert (28th over 40 man in 47:59).

LEWIS MORRIS sliced 15 seconds off David Moorcroft’s under 17 men’s 3,000m club record from 1999 with a time of 9:04:06 at the Liverpool Harriers Open Meeting held at Wavertree.

POPPY McKENNA starred for West Cheshire AC at Sunday’s Warrington AC Spring Open Track and Field Meeting.

The youngster won the under 13 girls 70m hurdles in a time of 12.30 seconds, cleared 1-25m for victory in the high jump, and rounded the 1200m in a time of 4:06.30 for second spot.

Alan Littler achieved 1-73m for success in the senior men’s high jump, while Aoife Roberts posted 13.94 seconds and 28.93 seconds for victories in her under 15 girls 100m and 200m heats, and rounded the 800m in 2:37.62 for success in her heat.

Jacob Gardner won his under 17 men’s 100m heat in 11.81 seconds and posted 23.81 seconds in his 200m, while Arwen Thorne won the under 17 women’s javelin with 37.19m and added 12.77 seconds in the under 17 women’s 80m hurdles, and long jumped 4.44m.

Dylan Gledhill hit a new under 15 boys javelin personal best of 36.45m for victory and clocked new personal bests in the 200m (27.93) and 300m (44.05) for silver medals.

Merryn Thorne posted 16.56 seconds in her under 13 girls 70m hurdles, cleared 1-15m in the high jump, and hit 9.76m in the javelin, while sister, Violet, won the under 15 girls javelin with 18.45m, clocked 13.81 seconds in the 75m hurdles, and hit 8.11m in the shot put.

Immy Fives clocked 27.65 seconds in the under 17 womens 200m alongside Erin Barnard who posted 28.17 seconds, and clocked 43.86 in her 300m.

Heidi Wetherall rounded the under 13 girls 800m in 2:56.86, and Nia Manson posted 5:07.43 in the under 15 girls 1500m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Hale Five Miles Road Race on Sunday; and the Trafford AC Open Medal Meeting, on Monday, at Longford Park Stadium, Trafford.

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 entry link is: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=26414

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.

COUNTY Officials Secretary, Tim Palmer, has arranged a Level 1 Track Judge and a Level 1 Field Judge course to coincide with the first match of the new Cheshire Track & Field Grand Prix being held on 26th April at EPSV.

The details of these are: Level 1 Track Judge – OV2604TR – 26/04/2025

Level 1 Field Part 1 and 2 – OV2304FD – 23/04/2025 & 26/04/2025

This initiative will hopefully strengthen the number of officials in the county and provide an opportunity for anyone wanting to take the first step towards becoming a qualified official.

ONLINE entries are now being accepted for the Cheshire Track and Field Championships being held at Ellesmere Port, on Saturday and Sunday, 10 and 11 May via this link.

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.

THE Borders Road Running League relays and presentation evening will take place on Wednesday, May 7, at Prestatyn.

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