by Dennis Wall
FINAL preparations are being made for the popular Chester Round The Walls Race being held on Boxing Day.
Entries have now closed for the 6.4km race, organised annually by West Cheshire Athletic Club with more than 500 runners expected to line-up for the 10.30am start on the grass close to the White Horse Pub.
The runners will complete approximately 2km within the confines of the Roodee before crossing the racecourse near the main entrance. After turning left onto the footpath adjacent to the hotel car park, the race turns left again on the footpath adjacent to the railway arches and then joins the riverside path.
The route follows the riverside path under Grosvenor Bridge, past the Little Roodee Car Park and towards Castle Drive.
The runners cross Castle Drive at the University building to join the City Walls at Bridgegate for an anti-clockwise circuit before returning to the Racecourse via the steps from Nuns Road. From the bottom of the steps the runners will head through the car park in front of the main stands before turning left to cross the racecourse.
After following the main access road the runners turn left onto the grass to finish close to the White Horse pub.
Joseph Morrison and Claire Fuhihage celebrated success at last year’s race which attracted 508 finishers in foggy weather conditions.
Joseph, representing West Cheshire AC, clocked 21 minutes 5 seconds, ahead of runner-up George Morris (Aldershot Farnham and District AC) who posted 21:15, and third-placed Eliot Palmer (Vegan Runners UK) with 21:26.
Claire (Illinois State University) was first lady in a time of 24:06, ahead of Izzy Gelder (Mornington Chasers) who clocked 24:25, and third-placed Sophie Hunt (Chester Tri Club) in 26:38.
NIA MANSON represented West Cheshire AC at the Cardiff Cross Challenge fixture and clocked 12 minutes 20 seconds for 17th spot in the under 15 girls race.
THIS Sunday’s scheduled Borders Road Running League fixture at Delamere Forest has been postponed and will be rearranged in the new year.
THE Cheshire County Cross Country Championships will be held at Kelsall Equestrian Centre, on Saturday, January 3, while the Northern Cross Country Championships, will be held at Pontefract, on Saturday, January 24; and the English National Cross Country Championships, will be held at Sedgefield, on Saturday, February 21.
THE Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, February 7, at Knights Grange, Winsford.
THE North Wales Cross Country Championships will be held at the Treborth Track, Bangor, on Saturday, January 10. Entries can be made via the following link: https://www.entrycentral.com/NorthWalesCCChamps
WEST CHESHIRE AC coaches will be delivering Sportshall Athletics in the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 6-8pm on Fridays, with the aim of helping youngsters prepare for the North West Sportshall Athletics League and Schools Sportshall Athletics fixtures early next year. Please come along and support the sessions.
ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Northern Senior, Under 20 and Under 17 Indoor Track and Field Championships taking place at Sheffield on January 10 and 11, as well as the Northern Under 15 and Under 13 Indoor Track and Field Championships taking place at Sheffield on Sunday, February 1. The online entry link is: northernathletics.co.uk/events/
FIXTURES for this seasonβs Borders Road Running League are: 7th December, Trac Mon, Anglesey (Cybi); 1st February, TBC (Pensby); 1st March, Wallasey; 22nd March, Promenade (Wirral AC); 6th May, Prestatyn, Relays.
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.
THIS winter’s Sale Harriers Manchester Indoor Track and Field Open Meetings will be held at the Regional Athletics Centre, Sportcity, Manchester. M11 4FF, on the following Sundays, November 30; December 21; January 18; February 8; February 22; and March 15. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/winter-indoor-series/
ENGLAND ATHLETICS have announced the dates and details for the 2026 Indoor Championships:
17-18 January: The Under 20 and Senior Combined Events and Senior Para Championships (including Race Walking Championships and British Milers Club on 18 January. Entries open on Roster on 10 November, closing on 17 December.
7-8 February: England Age Group Championships. Entries open on Roster on 15 December, closing on 18 January.
7-8 March: England Age Group Combined Events and Junior Para Championships. Entries open on Roster on 2 February, closing on 22 February.
FIXTURES this weekend include the Brampton to Carlisle 10 miles Road Race on Saturday, with incorporates the Northern Athletics 10 miles Road Race Championships, and the Preston 10 miles Road Race, on Saturday, at Hutton.
FORTHCOMING fixtures include: Saturday, 22 November β Manchester Cross Country League and UK Cross Challenge, at Sefton Park, Liverpool; North Wales Junior and Senior Cross Country League, at Bala; Dave Sunderland Inter County Schools Cross Country Races, at Himley Hall, Dudley; North Staffs Cross Country League, at Park Hall, Longton; Northern Indoor Track and Field Open Meeting, at Sheffield; Saturday, 29 November – West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series Round Two, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village; Sunday, 30 November – North West Sportshall League Round Two, at Crewe Lifestyle Centre.
WEST CHESHIRE AC members are invited to attend the Club AGM, which is taking place at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Trackside Room on Tuesday, November 25, (8:15pm start).
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk
