Press Report: WCAC Duo Lead the Way in Home Ultra

ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

MICHAEL YOUNG and Fiona Cook made it a West Cheshire Athletic Club double success story on Saturday.

The duo were crowned first man and first lady respectively at the Chester 50 Miles Ultra Race that finished on their home track at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Michael clocked six hours 55 minutes 20 seconds to finish eight minutes 41 seconds ahead of runner-up Stuart Gater (Shrewsbury AC), and Jon Park was third in 7:10:51.

Fiona, who is preparing to represent England later this month at the Anglo Celtic 100km Race in Limerick, Ireland, posted a winning time of 7:49:43 to finish 15 minutes 39 seconds clear of runner-up Kelly Marie Staunton (Wigan Harriers), and third-placed Jenna Seddon who clocked 8:38:55.

This well-marked ultra-marathon links trails along the North Cheshire Way and the Sandstone Trail taking in Helsby Hill, Delamere Forest and Frodsham.

SIDNEY SHORROCK achieved a European Championships qualifying standard at the Winter National Long Throws fixture at Loughborough in discus on Sunday, securing a gold medal with a new personal best throw of 45m 81cms.

EMMA HOLMES and Niamh Le’Gall are celebrating new indoor club records after impressive results in the United States.

Emma was crowned Western Athletic Conference 400m champion after clocking 55.40 seconds at The Podium in Spokane, Washington, and added a new club record of 23.89 seconds for second spot in the 200m.

Niamh posted a new club record of 54.77 seconds in the 400m and added 24.16 seconds in the 200m.

LEWIS MORRIS broke his own under 17 age group and overall club record at the Trafford 10k Road Race with a time of 30 minutes 25 seconds to finish 25th.

EMMA NUTT headed West Cheshire women’s charge on Sunday at the latest Borders Road Running League race.

Emma negotiated the 7.75km course in Birkenhead Park with a time of 31:47 for 10th place in the women’s race, backed up by Claire Harris (12th in 32:06), Sonia McNichol (16th in 32:33), Joy Hickman (27th in 34:21), Sallyann Harper (44th in 36:25), Deb Bemand (60th in 38:29), and Amy Mills (65th in 39:09).

Matthew Douglass pointed West Cheshire’s men to the finish line, clocking 26:07 for 10th position, supported by Graham Wells (61st in 28:39), Scott Wells (64th in 28:45), Paul Morrison (65th in 28:47), Phil Woodley (89th in 29:47), Jeff Gifford (119th in 30:59), Kevin Eaton (134th in 31:45), Andrew Clague (152nd in 32:41), Brian Cremin (161st in 33:08), Andy Carter (211th in 36:55), and Dave Tiernan (265th in 50:38). 

OVERALL LEAGUE STANDINGS (after Race Four)

WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE: 1 Helsby 457 points; 2 West Cheshire 570; 3 Deeside 693; 4 Chester Tri 735; 5 Wallasey 918; 6 Buckley 1181; 7 Eryri 2210.

MEN’S DIVISION ONE: 1 Helsby 1276; 2 Buckley 1325; 3 Chester Tri 1847; 4 Wallasey 1997; 5 Wrexham 3174; 6 Wirral 3506; 7 Ellesmere Port 5860.

WOMEN’S DIVISION TWO: 1 Prestatyn 587; 2 Wirral 602; 3 Ellesmere Port 756; 4 UTS 809; 5 Wrexham 1016; 6 Pensby 1205; 7 Deestriders 1388; 8 Wrecsam Tri 1400; 9 Birkenhead 1799; 10 Tattenhall 2514; 11 Cybi 2632.

MEN’S DIVISION TWO: 1 West Cheshire 1668; 2 Deeside 1835; 3 Prestatyn 1882; 4 Eryri 3688; 5 Birkenhead 4058; 6 UTS 4111; 7 Pensby 4722; 8 Deestriders 4940; 9 Wrecsam Tri 5002; 10 Cybi 8631; 11 Tattenhall 10529.

THE next round is scheduled to be staged by Wirral AC on Sunday, March 22, dependent on confirmation of a new venue as the New Brighton course is not available.

FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Saturday (10am start); the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Saturday; the England Athletics Under 15s and Under 17s Indoor Combined Events Championships, at Sheffield, on Saturday and Sunday; and the Chester 10k Road Race, on Sunday.

WEST CHESHIRE is hosting a Seniors and Masters Open Track Meeting on Saturday, April 11, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, featuring One mile, 3,000m and 10,000m events, with the 10,000m incorporating the Northern Masters Championship.

The entry fee is £7.50 per event for track events and £10 for the 10,000m, and track events start at 10am.

The online entry link is: https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2026/GBR/throwspent-middist/

Enquiries relating to track events to: [email protected]

All competitors must be registered with a UKA affiliated club.

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

FIXTURES for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: March 22, (to be confirmed); April 19, Delamere Forest; May 6 (to be confirmed), Prestatyn, Relays.

THIS winter’s final Sale Harriers Manchester Indoor Track and Field Open Meeting will be held at the Regional Athletics Centre, Sportcity, Manchester. M11 4FF, on Sunday, March 15. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/winter-indoor-series/

FIXTURES for this year’s Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix are: Round One, Saturday, April 25, at Macclesfield; Round Two, Sunday, May 17, at Crewe or Macclesfield; Round Three, Sunday, July 5, at Ashton Under Lyne; Round Four, Sunday, September 13, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

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