ATHLETICS

by Dennis Wall

LEWIS MORRIS pocketed a bronze medal at Pontefract on Saturday.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club runner registered a time of 18 minutes 33 seconds to finish third in the under 17 men’s 5.68km race at the North of England Cross Country Championships.

Lucas Sawyer achieved sixth position in the under 13 boys 3.23km race, ahead of team mate Atharva Ganesh who was 122nd.

Poppy McKenna clocked 13:29 for 49th spot in the under 13 girls 3.23km event.

Emilia Pyper finished 59th in the under 17 women’s 5km race with a time of 22:40.

Nia Manson rounded the under 15 girls 4.31km race in 68th position with a time of 18 minutes, supported by club mate Harriet Beattie who was 95th in 19:17.

Ellie Robinson (107th in 42:46) and Joy Hickman (115th in 43:49) completed the senior women’s 8.37km race, and Henry Robinson rounded the senior men’s 12.36km race in 48:06 for 139th position. 

ISAAC THOMPSON played his part in a county success story on Sunday at Wigan.

The West Cheshire AC youngster helped earn the Cheshire under 13 boys a team victory at the North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Championships, held at Robin Park Leisure Centre.

Isaac will now represent the Cheshire’s Under 13 boys team at the UK Sportshall Athletics Finals to be held at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Fenton, Stoke on Trent, on Saturday, April 11.

Issac was joined at Wigan by West Cheshire’s Louisa Cogan, Abby Gamble, and Heidi Anstey who helped Cheshire under 11 girls finish second, and by Charles Uchenna who helped Cheshire under 11 boys finish second, and by Amber Cogan (under 13) and Sophie Baker (under 15).

EMMA HOLMES has produced record-breaking performances in America.

The West Cheshire AC sprinter, representing Tarleton State, in Texas, shattered her own 400m record to become the first Texan student to run a sub-54 second or sub-55 second 400m in indoor program history.

Emma not only broke the school record in 53.86 seconds at the Stan Scott Invitational fixture on Friday, but also took home the individual crown in the event.

Emma beat her own school record by over a second, a record she set the previous weekend at the Corky Classic in 55.18 seconds and now owns a top-25 time in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) as well.

FIXTURES this weekend include the third round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday (10am start); the North Wales Cross Country League, at Leaton Farm Estate Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury, on Saturday (10.30am start for juniors, and 1pm start from seniors); the Borders Road Running League at Thurstaston Country Park, on Sunday (11am start); and the Northern Indoor Under 13s and Under 15s Track and Field Championships, on Sunday, at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport Arena (10.15am start).

ENTRIES have opened for the Chester Spring Five Milers Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 15. The entry link is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Chester-Spring-5123

THE Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, February 7, at Knights Grange, Winsford.

FIXTURES for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: February 1, Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston; March 22, New Brighton Promenade; April 19, Delamere Forest; May 6 (to be confirmed), Prestatyn, Relays.

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, February 8; February 22; and March 15. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/winter-indoor-series/

ENGLAND ATHLETICS have announced the date and details for the 2026 Indoor Championships:

March 7-8: England Age Group Combined Events and Junior Para Championships. Entries open on Roster on February 2, closing on February 22. 

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

ATHLETICS

by Dennis Wall

FIONA COOK has been selected to represent England.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club distance running ace will line up for her country at the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km.

The event will take place in Ireland on Saturday, March 21, and the competition sees teams from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland participating.

Fiona, who has received a GB Ultras sponsored invitation for the event said: “I’m so pleased to announce that @gbultras have invited me to be one of their sponsored athletes!!

“It feels pretty overwhelming that such an amazing organisation want me on their team, but I couldn’t be happier.

“GB Ultras have been one of the most welcoming race organisers I have ever had the pleasure to run and volunteer with. The team and community they have created are the reason I have fallen in love with ultra running so much and now I am one of their athletes!

“Thank you so much for having so much faith in me and I promise to put my all into everything, whether it be racing, volunteering or helping to support others in anyway I can! Bring on the 2026 season!”

Fiona will be joined in the England team by Katie Young (Fulham Running Club), Nicole Funnell (Springfield Striders), Sophie Power (Guildford and Godalming), Joseph Turner (Cambridge and Coleridge AC), Hugh Tibbs (Cambridge Harriers), David Barrat (Salford Harriers), and Gary Marshall (Ryde Harriers).

England Team manager, Robbie Britton, said: “Once again I’m delighted we’re taking a strong team to the Anglo Celtic Plate, one that is bristling with experienced 100k runners and others new to the distance with huge potential.

“With the announcement of a World 100km Championships in Spain for September we know the competition will be strong, but this year we hope to bring back team gold for both the men’s and women’s race.”

Andrew Heyes, England National Endurance Manager for Off-Track added: “The Anglo-Celtic Plate provides a vital platform for athletes to test themselves, experience international competition, and continue their development towards potential World Championship selections and GB representation. What is great about this event is that it’s not just about individual performance – there is a strong team aspect that plays a key role in preparing athletes for global championships.”

WULLIE McGARRELL won his over-60 age group category at Sunday’s Helsby Four Villages Half Marathon.

Wullie clocked one hour 24 minutes and was joined on the podium by Neil Hershaw who finished second in the over 60 age group with a time of 1:26:06.

Keely Smith finished second over-40 lady and fourth lady overall with a time of 1:24:01, and Michael Young was third in his over35 age category and seventh overall with 1:11:53.

Other West Cheshire finishers included Dave Shearer (1:16:35), Isaac McKenna (1:20:05), Duncan Harris (1:26:50), Jeff Gifford (1:30:34), Emma Nutt (1:31:52), Andrew Clague (1:34:42), Mark Robinson (1:35:10), Ian Pritchard (1:35:50), Ian Gloyne-Phillips (1:36:02), Luke Ellis (1:38:24), Brian Cremin (1:37:41), Steve Hillier (1:40:29), Julie Douzant (1:40:21), Laura Farmer (1:44:55), Phil Gent (1:48:22), Julian Tegg (1:52:11), and Angela Tegg (1:52:11).

WEST CHESHIRE AC’s Under 11 girls pocketed team bronze medals at the final round of the North West Sportshall Athletics League held on Sunday, at Greenbank Sports Academy, Liverpool.

Heidi Anstey, Abby Gamble, Hermione Allison, Lyra Allison, Chloe Golightly, and Louisa Cogan combined for a place on the podium.

Sophie Baker secured a bronze medal in the under 15 girls age group, and other West Cheshire team members included Toby Honeyborne-Kelly, Sammy Thwaites, Aiden Wall, Charles Uchenna, Will Rigby, Isaac Thompson, James Wallis, Harriet Oliver and Amber Cogan.

EMMA HOLMES and Niamh Le’Gall have clocked new West Cheshire AC indoor club records at the Owen Hewitt Invitational Meeting held in Norman, Oklahoma.

Emma, representing Tarleton State, posted a new under 23 women’s 200m record of 24.30 seconds, and clocked 55.18 seconds in her 400m, while Niamh, representing East Texas, registered a new under 20 women’s 60m record of 7.66 seconds.

LEWIS MORRIS rounded the British Milers Club 3,000m at the English Institute of Sport Indoor Arena in Sheffield with a time of 8:41:01, while club mate Dan Walker clocked 2:00.66 for the 800m.

ERIN BARNARD posted 8.76 seconds in the under 17 women’s 60m and 28.30 for the 200m at the Sale Harriers Indoor Meeting in Manchester alongside club mate Kade Harris who clocked 8.24 and 26.84 for his 60m and 200m respectively.

Alan Littler rounded the men’s 600m in 1:29, while Rose Sheppard clocked 1:50 in her under 15 girls 800m, and Eleanor Wheeler posted 28.39 seconds for her under 17 women’s 200m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Northern Cross Country Championships at Pontefract, on Saturday; the and the North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Championships at Robin Park, Wigan, on Sunday.

ENTRIES have opened for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 15. The entry link is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Chester-Spring-5123

THE Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be held on Saturday, February 7, at Knights Grange, Winsford.

FIXTURES for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: February 1, Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston; March 22, New Brighton Promenade; April 19, Delamere Forest; May 6 (to be confirmed), Prestatyn, Relays.

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, February 8; February 22; and March 15. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/winter-indoor-series/

ENGLAND ATHLETICS have announced the date and details for the 2026 Indoor Championships:

March 7-8: England Age Group Combined Events and Junior Para Championships. Entries open on Roster on February 2, closing on February 22. 

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

At the end of 2025, Anest is a point ahead of Joy in the women’s Endurance League, with Emma a further point behind in 3rd. Paul is two points head of Andrew in the men’s tables, followed a further five points back by Michael, Jeff and Ian.

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

by Dennis Wall

MIA JOHNSON and Holly Bosworth both medalled at the Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo impressed in the regional fixture held at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport Arena on Saturday and Sunday.

Mia clocked a new under 17 women’s 200m club record of 25.10 seconds in her semi-final, before posting 25.16 seconds for second position in her final, and added a bronze medal in the 300m final with a season’s best time of 41.24 seconds.

And Holly achieved a silver medal performance in the under 20 women’s 200m with a season’s best time of 25.29 seconds having won her qualifying heat with a time of 25.49 seconds, and ran a season’s best 400m time of 59.04 seconds for fifth spot in the final.

Josh Stirling was another record-breaker in Sheffield after clocking an under 20 men’s 200m time of 24.25 seconds in his qualifying heat, and he posted a new 60m personal best of 7.50 seconds.

Jess Mann registered 26.06 seconds for fourth spot in the under 17 women’s 200m final having clocked a season’s best time of 25.99 seconds in her semi-final.

Ruby Billington cleared a season’s best of 1-60m for sixth position in the under 17 women’s high jump.

Beth Manson produced a season’s best time of 27.45 seconds in her under 17 women’s 200m heat to qualify for the semi-finals and posted 43.85 seconds in her 300m heat.

Maya Jennings posted 27.54 seconds in her under17 women’s 200m qualifying heat.

Nathan Owen clocked 7.73 seconds in his under 17 men’s 60m semi-final having qualified with a heat time of 7.62 seconds.

Alba March equalled her under 20 women’s 60m personal best of 8.01 seconds in her semi-final after clocking 8.10 seconds in her qualifying heat.

Amelie Bodie registered a season’s best under 20 women’s 60m time of 8.43 seconds and produced a 200m time of 27.28 seconds.

And Alan Littler warmed up for the British Masters and European Masters by posting a new senior men’s indoor 400m personal best time of 56.14 seconds, the same time as he ran in Maderia at the European Masters in October.

SAM HOLLINS registered a time of 32:36 at the Valencia 10k Road Race, just seven seconds off equalling the senior club record.

LEWIS MORRIS won the under 17 men’s race at Tatton Park in the Manchester Area Cross Country League on Saturday and then rounded the under 20 men’s 800m for a time of 2:05.77 in his qualifying heat at the Northern Indoor Championships in Sheffield on Sunday.

Lucas Sawyer finished fourth in the under 13 boys race at Tatton Park, ahead of Jack Arnold (26th) and Finley Edwards (59th).

Abby Gamble rounded the under 11 girls race to finish seventh ahead of Arianwen Setters who was 38th.

Poppy McKenna (14th), Rosie Grimsditch (27th), Florence Hain (37th), Heidi Wetherall (42nd), and Beth Jones (76th) completed the under 13 girls race.

Max Henderson (16th) and George Grimsditch (35th) rounded the under 15 boys course, and Nia Manson (18th) completed the under 15 girls event.

Sam Arnold (59th) completed the under 11 boys race, while Emma Nutt (65th) and Anest Muller (112nd) rounded the senior women’s course, and Paul Morrison (124th), Andrew Clague (269th) and Ian Pritchard (289th) finished the senior men’s race.

SEVEN West Cheshire AC youngsters have been selected to represent Cheshire at the North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Championship Finals.

Toby Honeybourne-Kelly, Abby Gamble, Heidi Anstey, Louisa Cogan, Amber Cogan, Sophie Baker, and Isaac Thompson will be in action at the Robin Park Arena, Wigan, on Sunday, January 25.

The Under 11s competition starts at 10:30am, while the Under 13s and Under 15s competitions start at 1:30pm.

FIXTURES this weekend include the England Athletics Under 20 and Senior Combined Events Championships at Sheffield, on Saturday and Sunday; the Four Villages Half Marathon on Sunday, at Helsby; the fourth round of the North West Sportshall Athletics League at Greenbank Sports Academy, Liverpool, on Sunday; and the Sale Harriers Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting at SportCity, Manchester, on Sunday.

ENTRIES close on January 17 for 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/

ENTRIES close on January 18 for the Northern Cross Country Championships being 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.

FIXTURES for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: February 1, TBC (Pensby); March 1, Wallasey; March 22, Promenade (Wirral AC); May 6, Prestatyn, Relays.

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, 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:

February 7-8: England Age Group Championships. Entries open on Roster on December 15, closing on January 18.
March 7-8: England Age Group Combined Events and Junior Para Championships. Entries open on Roster on February 2, closing on February 22. 

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

by Dennis Wall

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club enjoyed a memorable day at Kelsall on Saturday.

The purple and gold-vested outfit produced a number of impressive medal performances at the Cheshire County Cross Country Championships held at Kelsall Equestrian Centre.

Lewis Morris celebrated victory in the under 17 men’s race ahead of sixth-placed Scott Wells.

Niall Betteridge (second), Xavier Slinn (fourth), and Toby Honeyborne-Kelly (11th), combined to win team gold medals in the under 11 boys race alongside Hamish Robinson (12th), Sam Arnold (18th), Sam Thwaites (22nd), Jamie Thomas (23rd), Leo McKenna (24th), and Will Rigby (25th).

Lucas Sawyer (second), Leon Betteridge (sixth), and Jack Arnold (10th), celebrated team gold medals in the under 13 boys race, backed up by Zack Kempton (18th), Morgan Edwards (24th), Daniel Kuzia (25th), Xander Whelan (26th), Henry Cobb (27th), and Finley Edwards (29th).

Poppy McKenna (sixth), Heidi Wetherall (eighth), and Rosie Grimsditch (10th) achieved team silver medals in the under 13 girls race, alongside Emilia Hughes (17th), Beth Jones (20th), Mollie Cooke (26th), Zara Sandland (27th), and Jasmine Walker (28th).

Abbey Gamble (third), Heidi Anstey (sixth), and Ivy Bowden (14th), combined to secure team bronze medals in the under 11 girls race alongside Evelyn Edwards (17th), Hermione Allison (18th), Anna Dooley (20th), Chloe Golightly (21st), and Ella Taheri (24th).

Nia Manson secured a bronze medal in the under 15 girls race alongside Harriet Beattie who finished sixth.

Emilia Pyper grabbed a bronze medal in the under 17 women’s race, and Laura Farmer finished ninth in the under 20 women’s race, while Matthew McCreadie registered seventh place in the under 20 men’s event.

Finley Stewart (20th), Dylan Gledhill (12th), and George Grimsditch (13th), delivered fourth team spot in the under 15 boys race alongside Max Henderson (19th).

Sam Oliver (11th), Michael Young (17th), Graham Wells (38th), Paul Morrison (49th), Steve Fernyhough (52nd), and Henry Robinson (55th) secured fifth team position in the men’s race, alongside Adam Harris (62nd), Duncan Harris (64th), Neil Hershaw (70th overall and first in his over 60 age group), Jeff Gifford (77th overall and second over 60 man), Andy Manson (90th), and Ian Pritchard (91st) who were 12th team, and Richard Hayes (98th), and Mark Davies (115th).

Jodi Bemand finished eighth in the women’s race and pointed her club to 10th team position ahead of Emma Nutt (25th), Anest Muller (51st), and Joy Hickman who was 64th overall and second in her over 60 age category.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Area Cross Country League at Tatton Park, on Saturday; the Northern Under 17s, Under 20s and Seniors Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield, on Saturday and Sunday; the North Wales Indoor Championships at Connah’s Quay, on Saturday; the North Wales Cross Country Championships, at Treborth, Bangor, on Saturday.

ENTRIES close on January 17 for 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/

ENTRIES close on January 18 for the Northern Cross Country Championships being 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.

FIXTURES for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: 1st February, TBC (Pensby); 1st March, Wallasey; 22nd March, Promenade (Wirral AC); 6th May, Prestatyn, Relays.

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, 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 on Roster close 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. 

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