Press Report: Medals all round at Kelsall

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