Press Report: Fiona and WCAC women win at weekend

FIONA COOK celebrated success at the Cheshire Ring 100 miles Race.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club member won the inaugural fixture starting and finishing in Manchester and forging together the Bridgewater Canal, Macclesfield Canal and Trent and Mersey Canal.

Fiona clocked a time of 16 hours 32 minutes 54 seconds to win the women’s title, nearly three hours ahead of her nearest rival, and finished third overall behind men’s winner Charles Thull (16:07:36) and runner-up, Benj Akyol (16:29:40).

KEELY SMITH pointed West Cheshire ladies team to top spot at the opening round of the Borders Road Running League.

Keely posted 37:52 for the undulating 9.8km course at Tattenhall, on Sunday, for second place in the women’s race and was supported by Claire Harris (eighth in 39:29), Julie Taillard (ninth in 39:48), Lottie Rowedder (10th in 40:05), Emma Nutt (18th in 42:13), Joy Hickman (27th in 43:46), Anest Muller (52nd in 47:12), Sallyann Harper (59th in 48:25), Eleanor Williams (64th in 48:45), Deb Bemand (65th in 48:48), Agnieszka Shaw (73rd in 49:35), Amy Mills (76th in 50:08), and Claire Williams (97th in 52:37).

Lewis Morris headed the West Cheshire men to the finishing line, posting 31:44 for fifth position.

He was backed up by Michael Young (seventh in 32:04), Steve Fernyhough (52nd in 36:11), Neil Hershaw (86th in 37:37), Chris Shaw (88th in 37:40), Wullie McGarrell (102nd in 38:21), Luke Pearson (103rd in 38:26), Paul Morrison (107th in 38:35), Rob Little (111th in 38:43), Andrew Clague (144th in 40:18), Ian Pritchard (175th in 42:10), Paul Cain (188th in 42:36), Mark Robinson (192nd in 42:59), Matt Gutteridge (202nd in 43:56), Brian Cremin (222nd in 45:22), and Tony Kennedy (296th in 59:17).

TEAM RESULTS

WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE: 1 West Cheshire 74; 2 Helsby 111; 3 Deeside 125; 4 Chester Tri 191; 5 Wallasey 305; 6 Buckley 312; 7 Eryri 473.

MEN’S DIVISION ONE: 1 Helsby 343 points; 2 Buckley 359; 3 Chester Tri 365; 4 Wallasey 507; 5 Wrexham 933; 6 Ellesmere Port 1009; 7 Wirral 1061.

WOMEN’S DIVISION TWO: 1 Ellesmere Port 136; 2 Prestatyn 149; 3 Pensby 185; 4 UTS 196; 5 Wirral 248; 6 Deestriders 278; 7 Wrecsam Tri 334; 8 Wrexham 344; 9 Tattenhall 413; 10 Birkenhead 453; 11 Cybi 800.

MEN’S DIVISION TWO: 1 Deeside 132; 2 Prestatyn 397; 3 West Cheshire 443; 4 UTS 873; 5 Pensby 938; 6 Birkenhead 1119; 7 Deestriders 1130; 8 Eryri 1213; 9 Wrecsam Tri 1525; 10 Tattenhall 1618; 11 Cybi 2245.

The next fixture will be hosted by West Cheshire AC at Delamere Forest on Sunday, November 16, (11am start).  

JACK ARNOLD and Noah Booth grabbed glory in the North Wales Junior Fell Running series.

Jack won the under 13 boys race series title and Noah secured the under 15 boys series crown.

The West Cheshire pair were joined by Jack’s brother, Sam, who finished fourth under 11 boy, while Nia Manson finished second in her under 15 girls age group, and Thomas Booth finished third in his under 13 boys event.

ALAN LITTLER produced a morale boosting victory ahead of the European Masters Track and Field Championships.

The West Cheshire over-35 sprinter clocked a winning time of 55.60 seconds for his 400m on Sunday at Trafford’s Open Medal Meeting before focusing his sights towards a championship appearance in Madeira between October 8 and 19.

Alan was joined at Trafford by training partner, Nathan Owen, who clocked 11.54 seconds for his under 17 men’s 100m, and a 200m personal best of 23.60.

Poppy McKenna and Freya Whittaker posted under 13 girls 70m hurdles personal bests of 11.66 and 12.99 respectively, while Freya added a new 75m best of 11.69.

And Freya and Poppy both cleared 1-36m in the high jump, while Poppy long jumped 4.04m.

Freya’s sister, Evie, posted a new under 15 girls 200m best of 29.05, cleared a winning height of 1-41m in the high jump, and long jumperd 4.12m.

Saskia Keresturova clocked new under 13 girls 150m (21.59) and javelin (18.34m) personal bests and long jumped 3.90m.

Heidi Anstey clocked a new under 11 girls long jump best of 3.55m, clocked 11.13 in her 75m and 22.29 for her 150m.

Violet Thorne celebrated a hat-trick of victories in the under 15 girls hammer (27.31m), discus (25.12m), and shot put (8.28m).

Arwen Thorne clocked 12.94 in her under 17 women’s 80m hurdles, and her younger sister, Merryn cleared 1-21m in the under 13 girls high jump, hit 11.17m in the discus, and 13.68m in the javelin, while Isla Lambert finished third in the under 13 girls discus with a throw of 14.35m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the opening round of the North Wales Cross Country League at Llanerch Hall, St. Asaph, on Saturday; the 

English National Road Relay Championships on Saturday at Sutton Park, Birmingham; the Chester Marathon, Metric Marathon, and Mini Marathon at Chester Racecourse on Sunday; and the North West Sportshall Athletics League first round at Crewe on Sunday.

FIXTURES for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: 16th November, Delamere (West Cheshire AC); 7th December, Trac Mon, Anglesey (Cybi); 1st February, TBC (Pensby); 1st March, Wallasey; 22nd March, Promenade (Wirral AC); 6th May, Prestatyn, Relays.

THE dates for the four-round West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series being held on the EPSV field (behind the leisure centre), this winter are: Saturdays, October 18, November 29, January 31, and March 7.

THIS winter’s Manchester Indoor Track and Field Open Meetings will be held on Sundays, 30 November 2025; 21 December 2025; 18 January 2026; 8 February 2026; 22 February 2026; 15 March 2026.

THE Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships for 2026 will take place at EIS Sheffield on the following dates:

Seniors, Under 20 and Under 17 on Saturday and Sunday, January 10 and 11, while the Under 15 and Under 13 fixture will be held on Sunday February 1.

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