Press Report: Fiona to Run for England
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
