Press Report: Harriet is up with the Best of Britain

by Dennis Wall

HARRIET WHEELER made her Great Britain debut on Sunday.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club thrower represented the GB under 20 junior team at the Loughborough International against the best javelin throwers in Great Britain and achieved 46.82m to finish fifth.

Harriet, who was the youngest competitor in the event, had registered a new under 20 women’s record of 47.05m at the Cheshire Championships the previous weekend at Warrington.

MATTHEW DOUGLASS was West Cheshire’s first finisher at Sunday’s Chester Half Marathon.

Matthew crossed the Northgate Street finishing line in a time of 1:16:57 for 14th position in the under 35 men’s age category and was 31st finisher overall.

He was backed up by club mates Steve Fernyhough (12th over-40 man in 1:20:37); Graham Wells (fifth over-50 man in 1:23:10); Rob Little (11th over-45 man in 1:24:04); Andrew Clague (17th over-55 man in 1:31:50); Luke Ellis (1:35:10); Kevin Eaton (1:36:29); Sonia McNichol (12th over-35 lady in 1:35:49); Jake Hidden Deveson (1:38:20); Brian Cremin (1:37:18); Steve Hillier (1:39:47); Claire Harris (1:44:49); Phil Gent (1:45:10); Sallyann Harper (19th over-50 lady in 1:48:24); Andrew Gore (1:48); Peter Kerestur (1:46:59); Amy Mills (1:49:50); Melissa Pugh (1:52:48); Stephen Ball (1:59:53).

ELLA BIBBY and Imogen Pughe impressed for West Cheshire on Saturday during the opening round of the Northern Track and Field League West Premier Division fixture.

Ella (12.50 and 59.40) and Imogen (12.80 and 58.30) teamed up for a double celebration in the 100m and 400m at Bury’s Market Street track, and Imogen added a victory from the B 200m in 26.50 seconds.

Satine Wearden won the B hammer with 35.43m and Andrew Gore launched the javelin to a winning mark of 36.13m for maximum points from the B competition.

Other point-scoring performances were achieved by Josh Stirling, Andy Parker, Alan Littler, Paul Morrison, Lewis Morris, Scott Wells, Sam Oliver, Graham Wells, Dave McKay, Dun Xue, Holly Bosworth, Ellie Robinson, Anest Muller, Cosette Wearden, Joy Hickman, Danielle Erskine, Anita Boreham, Claire Smith, and Megan Kettle.

MATCH RESULT: 1 Trafford AC 411 points; 2 Blackburn Harriers & AC 348.5; 3 Sale Harriers Manchester 338; 4 Bury AC 337; 5 West Cheshire AC 305; 6 Wirral AC 284.5.

The next round will take place at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Sunday, June 21.

VIOLET THORNE, Abby Gamble and Toby Honeyborne Kelly celebrated double success stories at the second round of the Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix, at Macclesfield, on Sunday.

Violet powered her way to victory in the under 16 girls javelin (22.24m) and hammer (25.72m), while Abby grabbed glory in the under 12 girls high jump (1-25m) and javelin (12.67m), and Toby triumphed in the under 12 boys high jump (1-25m) and javelin (19.60m).

Heidi Anstey won the under 12 girls 150m in 21.49 seconds, while Harriet Bartlett won the under 10 girls howler throw with 8.80m, and Jacob Gardner clocked a winning time of 23.17 seconds in the under 18 men’s 200m.

Other placed performances for West Cheshire athletes included Max Molloy’s 1-20m clearance in the under 12 boys high jump, Evie Whittaker’s time of 12.44 in the under 16 girls 80m hurdles, Sakia Keresturova’s 4.40m in the under 14 girls long jump, John Velasquez’s 26.48 time in the under 16 boys 200m, Niall Betteridge’s 1:51:81 in the under 12 boys 800m, Hermione Allison’s 11.22m in the under 12 girls javelin, and George Grimsditch’s time of 2:28:15 in the under 16 boys 800m.

The next round of the Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix will be held at Ashton Under Lyne, on Sunday, July 5.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Mid Cheshire 5k Road Race on Friday; the second round of the Under 18 and Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League at Wavertree, Liverpool, on Sunday; and the Northern Under 16 and Under 18 Inter Counties Championships, at Shildon, County Durham, on Monday.

THE first Wirral Multi Terrain 6 Miles Beach and Trail Race of the year is taking place on Tuesday, June 2 (7.15pm start). This one is an open race for all over 16. Enter at: https://wirralmultiterrain.niftyentries.com/

ENTRIES are now open for the Northern Athletics Under 14 and Under 16 Track and Field Championships taking place at Leigh, on June 27 and 28. The online entry link is: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=28375&utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio&fbclid=IwY2xjawR4Ww1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBwbExyNkJJTm8zSUJVYWd3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkko1NZ6HBbUjWjClXOSc-FD9-Wr21uZJifJpJPDJwqScFNHo-4PCSeFEyzE_aem_PM-ZZYJ3MDELGtZv3-bQFg

⁠DEESTRIDERS are inviting entries for their Off Road four miles multi terrain race series taking place at Rowleys Drive, Shotton, on Thursdays, June 4, July 2, August 6, and Friday, September 4. The entry link is: deestriders.niftyentries.com

THE 54th running of the Birkenhead Park 5 Mile Race taking place of Wednesday, July 22, is now live for entries at:https://wirralathleticclub.co.uk/birkenhead-park-5The race starts at 7pm outside St Mary’s Cricket Club, in the Lower Park (near the visitor centre).

ENTRIES are now open for the Ellesmere Port RC 5km Road Race at Capenhurst on Wednesday, August 12 (7.15pm start). The online entry link is: https://eprc.niftyentries.com/Ellesmere-Port-RC-5K-Wed-12th-Aug-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawQWiVxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBwbExyNkJJTm8zSUJVYWd3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpxbwFtruzfnTBcSZRH_vNERWrSvNW2l8K0fPrZeOKJrEkNso_wfzv9XveIo_aem_f_9FJuoUdQFTCe4hg-ohEw

ENTRIES close on Friday, May 22, for the Northern Athletics Under 18, Under 20 and Senior Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hull. The online entry link is: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=28380&fbclid=IwY2xjawRfS1BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBwbExyNkJJTm8zSUJVYWd3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHh7NPkUS6DP9kMep5-VnLgcrUMp66U4GLwfh5ut4mU6gFqYulRn8mm5J71oR_aem_2qCdcHJjl09zX0XSm56CzQ

FIXTURES for the 2026-27 North Wales Cross Country League have been announced.

The first round will be held on October 3 at St Asaph, round two will be on October 31 at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, round three will be at Bala on November 28, round four will be at Leaton Forest on January 30, and the final round will be at Marches School, Oswestry, on February 13.

Races and approximate distances at each round will be: Under 16 Boys – 3 miles; Under 16 Girls and Under 14 Boys – 2.5 miles; Under 14 Girls and Under 12 Boys – 2 miles; Under 12 Girls and Under 10 Boys – 1.5 miles; Under 10 Girls – 1 mile; Women, and Men 65+ – 3-3.5 miles; Men under 65 – 5 miles.

The North Wales Cross Country Championships will be held on January 9, near Prestatyn.

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