ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

ARWEN THORNE was crowned Schools International champion in Belfast on Saturday.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club teenager made her England debut and achieved a winning throw of 41.03m in the javelin competition at the Mary Peters Stadium.

Arwen finished nearly two metres clear of her nearest rival in an event which featured pupils representing England, Wales, Scotland, and hosts Ireland.

Arwen, who had pocketed a silver medal at last week’s English Schools Championships, at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, was joined in Belfast by club mates, Mia Johnson and Lucca Tardivel, who both represented Wales.

Mia celebrated a gold medal from the 4x300m relay after contributing towards a winning time of 2:43.83, and achieved a bronze medal after posting 24.40 seconds in the 200m.

Lucca produced the Welsh team’s performance of the day with a time of 21.95 seconds for a silver medal in the 200m.

ALBA MARCH and Erin Barnard produced a double success story at Blackburn on Sunday.

The West Cheshire sprinters secured 200m victories at the third round of the Northern Track and Field League Premier West Division.

Alba clocked 25.5 seconds to win the A race and Erin posted 27.4 seconds for victory in the B race.

Alba also added a 100m win with a time of 12.7 seconds, while Erin posted a new personal best of 13.3 in the B race for second place.

Danielle Erskine achieved 9.62m for victory in the B triple jump and Megan Kettle won the B hammer with 37.35m.

Other important West Cheshire point scorers were Jacob Gardner, Andy Parker, Lewis Parsons, Alan Littler, Paul Morrison, Lewis Morris, Scott Wells, Graham Wells, Dave McKay, Beth Manson, Eleanor Wheeler, Joy Hickman, Emma Nutt, Liliana Boelger, Anita Boreham, Favour Akpan, Kara Stoll, and Satine Wearden.

MATCH RESULT: 1 Blackburn Harriers & AC 449 points; 2 Trafford AC 401; 3 Sale Harriers Manchester 397; 4 West Cheshire AC 312; 5 Bury AC 276; 6 Wirral AC 238.

OVERALL POSITIONS (after third round): 1 Trafford AC 17 league points (1216.5 match points); 2 Blackburn Harriers & AC 16 (1154.5); 3 Sale Harriers Manchester 9 (1029); 4 West Cheshire AC 9 (968.5); 5 Bury AC 7 (906); 6 Wirral AC 5 (853.5).

The final round will be held at Longford Park Stadium, Trafford, on Sunday, August 30.

DYLAN GLEDHILL starred for West Cheshire in Saturday’s third round of the Under 14 and Under 16 Youth Development Track and Field League.

Dylan won the under 16 boys javelin event with a throw of 43.44m at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

He was joined in the winners’ circle by Amelia Owen who won the under 16 girls shot (10.24m), and B discus (18.62m); by Jack Arnold who cleared a winning height of 1-35m in the under 14 boys high jump; and by Isla Lambert who hit 28.41m in the under 14 girls hammer.

Other important West Cheshire point scorers were Charlie Callaghan, Jayden Walls, Kade Harris, Louis Grimes, George Grimsditch, Finley Stewart, Sid March, Dan Crosby, Peter Zajac, Harry Deal, Faith Draisey, Maya Jennings, Amelia Owen, Amber Billington, Harriet Beattie, Sophie Baker, Rose Sheppard, Nia Manson, Megan Hughes, Violet Thorne, Phoebe Hessey, Tristan Lee, Eashan Williams, Luke Gardner, Finley Edwards, Leon Betteridge, Jack Arnold, Jayden Clarke, Henry Wright, Jack McWilliams, Freya Whittaker, Isabelle Wilson, Amber Cogan, Beth Jones, Rosie Grimsditch, Harriet Oliver, Merryn Thorne, Mollie Cooke, and Emily Hamilton.

MATCH RESULT: 1 Liverpool Harriers & AC 594 points; 2 Wirral AC 559.5; 3 Sale Harriers Manchester 515.5; 4 Preston Harriers 473.5; 5 Blackburn Harriers & AC 449.5; 6 West Cheshire AC 381.

OVERALL POSITIONS (after third round): 1 Liverpool Harriers & AC 18 league points (1850 match points); 2 Sale Harriers Manchester 14 (1587.5); 3 Wirral AC 12 (1583.5); 4 Preston Harriers 9 (1444); 5 Blackburn Harriers & AC 7 (1308); 6 West Cheshire AC 3 (1202).

The final round will be held at Bebington Oval, on Saturday, August 1.

SARAH HUNTER secured second spot in her age group at Sunday’s Huxley Five Miles Road Race.

The West Cheshire runner clocked 28:53 for second place in her over-35 age category and was sixth lady overall.

Sarah was joined at the fixture by Luke Parker who was fourth in his under 21 age group and 69th overall in 31:37, and Neil Hershaw was seventh in his over-60 age group and 82nd overall with a time of 33:15.

FIXTURES this weekend include the England Athletics Under 16 and Under 18 Track and Field Championships, at Bedford, on Saturday and Sunday; the Northern Masters Track and Field Championships, at Trafford, on Sunday; and the Preston Docklands Marina 5k Race, on Sunday.

ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

HARRIET WHEELER has produced another impressive national title-winning performance.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club teenager, who won the England Athletics Under-20 women’s javelin title in Bedford last week, powered her way to the English Schools Championship title during the weekend at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

Harriet, representing Cheshire, produced a winning throw of 50.54m to secure victory in the Senior Girls javelin event.

Club mates, Arwen Thorne and Alba March, also achieved podium places at Birmingham.

Arwen registered a throw of 44.32m to pocket a silver medal in the Intermediate Girls javelin, and Alba contributed towards a silver medal for Cheshire in the Senior Mixed 4x100m relay final.

Alba also posted 12.15 seconds in her 100m heat, while Kara Stoll finished fifth for Cheshire in the Senior Girls hammer with 45.16m, and Maya Jennings clocked 42.20 seconds for eighth spot in the Intermediate Girls 200m final.

Lewis Morris represented Cheshire in the Senior Boys 3,000m and posted 8:48:48 for eighth position, while Violet Thorne spun the Junior Girls discus for Merseyside and achieved 29.63m for 10th spot; Dun Xue hit 36.12m for Cheshire in the Senior Boys discus for 10th place; and Ella Bibby clocked 58.37 for Merseyside in her Senior Girls 400m heat.

THE quartet of Kara Stoll, Lewis Morris, Arwen Thorne and Emma Bradley celebrated victories for West Cheshire in Sunday’s third round of the Under 18 and Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Kara delivered 45.40m for top spot in the Under 20 women’s hammer, while Lewis rounded the Under 18 men’s 1500m in 4:17.0.

Arwen and Emma completed the victorious quartet by winning the Under 18 women’s A and B javelin competitions with 39.78m and 27.11m respectively.

They were backed up by other important point-scoring club members Jacob Reese, Ruby Billington, Eleanor Wheeler, Louis Russell-Holdsworth, Evan Miller, Beth Manson, Erin Barnard, and Satine Wearden.

FIXTURES this weekend include the third round of the Under 14 and Under 16 Youth Development Track and Field League, on Saturday, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village; the Schools International Track and Field Championships, being held on Saturday, at Belfast, Northern Ireland; and the Northern Track and Field League third round being held at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Sunday.

No change in the top 3’s between the end of May and June. Emma is clear of Anest, with Joy close in 3rd. Paul and Andrew are level in the men’s tables, with Jeff clear in 3rd.

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

by Dennis Wall

PLEASE PLAY A PART IN DRIVING THE CLUB FORWARD…

Are you interested in athletics and would you like to help shape your club for the future?

West Cheshire AC is looking for new Committee members, and this is the ideal opportunity for you to have your input and help bring new initiatives and drive the club forward.

In particular we are looking for a Chairperson to take over from November 2026, but new candidates for all roles are always welcome. The About Us page of the club website gives a breakdown of current club committee members and their roles.

So if you want to find out more, please drop us a line on: [email protected] and let us know if you have a specific area of interest or expertise you feel would be useful or if you simply want to join the Committee.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Many happy returns to the following club members who celebrate their birthdays this week:

Steve Fernyhough, Christian Holcombe, Jack Sheppard, Jacob Reese, Josh Stirling, Zara Evans, Hamish Robinson.

SATURDAY MORNING TRAINING IS ON

Please note that the run-jump-throw training session tomorrow Saturday (11th July), between 10am and 12 noon, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track is taking place.

BEST WISHES!

Good luck to the 10 West Cheshire AC members who have been selected to take part in this weekend’s English Schools Track & Field Championships being held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium:

Violet Thorne (Discus), Satine Wearden (Hammer), and Arwen Thorne (Javelin) will be competing for Merseyside, while the following members will be competing for Cheshire: Lewis Morris (3000m), Dun Xue (Discus), Alba March (100m), Harriet Wheeler (Javelin), Kara Stoll (Hammer), Jess Mann (200m), and Maya Jennings (300m).

HARRIET, NIAMH, AND MIA CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS…

Many congratulations to Harriet Wheeler, Niamh Le’Gall and Mia Johnson who are celebrating national title victories.

Read more at: https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/2026/07/07/press-report-duo-crowned-england-champs/

THIS WEEKEND…

Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11: English Schools Track & Field Championships, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham: https://esaa.org.uk/competitions/track-and-field-championships/

Sunday, July 12: Under 18 and Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League, Ellesmere Port Sports Village: https://www.ukydl.org.uk/

Sunday, July 12: Wilmslow Summer 10k: https://run-northwest.niftyentries.com/Wilmslow-Summer-10K-2026

Sunday, July 12: Arrowe Park 5 Miler: https://racewirral.niftyentries.com/Arrowe-Park-5-Miler-2026

Sunday, July 12: Chirk 10k: https://www.welshathletics.org/en/competition/current/view/chirk-10k-run-2026

Good luck to all West Cheshire AC athletes and officials! 

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR CLUB

Alan Littler needs to know who is available to represent the club at the next round of the Northern Track and Field League taking place at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Sunday 19th July. Please contact Alan ASAP at: [email protected]

HELPERS NEEDED…

Volunteers are needed for the following fixtures at Ellesmere Port Sports Village:

Sunday, July 12 (10.15am-5.30pm) – Under 18 and Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League. 

Saturday, July 18 (10.15am-5.30pm) – Under 14s and Under 16s Youth Development Track & Field League

Please email Dennis ASAP if you can help at: [email protected]

BORDERS ROAD RUNNING LEAGUE LATEST…

The following dates and host clubs were agreed at Monday night’s AGM: 

Race 1 – 04/10/2026 – Wrecsam Tri at Llandegla

Race 2 – 01/11/2026 – Birkenhead

Race 3 – 06/12/2025 – Eryri at Trac Mon

Race 4 – 31/01/2027 – West Cheshire (or UTS)

Race 5 – 28/02/2027 – UTS (or West Cheshire)

Race 6 – 21/03/2027 – Deeside AC or Wrexham AC

Relay & Presentation night – Wednesday 5th May or 12th – Deeside AC or Wrexham AC

NBs:

UTS and West Cheshire will agree between them who does which date.

BRRL Chairperson to contact Deeside and Wrexham about Race 6 and 7

10/04/2027 and 17/04/2027 remain as possible “spares”

All dates and venues are subject to availability and will be confirmed later.

SCHOOL GAMES CLOSING DATE…

If you are an athlete and would love to compete for the English regional teams at the School Games National Finals in September, you must complete an expression of interest form by 23:59 on the 12th July 2026. The form link is here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LGf4yXKLQkumNXapiOBDZRK13yJdibVMsIHYPo503lxUQkU4U01EMDBJTjQzOVFYT0szUFpJUEMyOS4u

PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO URGENTLY HELP YOUR CLUB

Volunteers are always needed to assist with club track training sessions on Tuesdays (from 6pm) and Thursdays (from 6.30pm). Please help if you can!

Helpers are urgently needed from 5.50pm on Tuesdays and 6.20pm on Thursdays to register everyone on the tablet who attends EPSV training sessions.

BIRKENHEAD PARK 5 MILES RACE

The 54th running of the Birkenhead Park 5 Mile Race taking place of Wednesday, July 22, is now live for entries on this link:https://wirralathleticclub.co.uk/birkenhead-park-5

The race starts at 7pm outside St Mary’s Cricket Club, in the Lower Park (near the visitor centre), The race fee will include:  Chip timing on an accurate accredited course, Memento to all finishers, £100 prize for course record for both male & female runners, cash prize for 1st, 2nd & 3rd male and 1st, 2nd & 3rd female finishers (£50, £30, £10), Free professional photos, Water station available on each lap, and a kid’s 1 mile race with memento (6pm start).Registration will be at the visitors centre at the finish area (Open at 17:15).

CILCAIN MOUNTAIN RACE

Entries are now being accepted for the Cilcain Mountain Race (7.4km, 380m) being held on Monday 31st August.
Incorporating the Welsh Athletics Senior (Short) Inter-Regional Mountain Running Championships & North Wales Regional Championships (enter at least 7 days prior to race to allow your WA affiliation to be checked).
1pm Start from St.Marys Church, Cilcain Show, Clwydian Range, North Wales. No Entries on day. Registration from 10am (U7-U15 Junior races – free entry. Noon start behind showground).

The online entry link is: https://racesignup.co.uk/55th-cilcain-mountain-race?fbclid=IwY2xjawSyED9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBwbExyNkJJTm8zSUJVYWd3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkdOUVYzCUih7rO-0msuqXyftG2v6jCjWu1bJ9wby_EMFVqcWLpiAL4iqxbn_aem_npcmP-klAMEjbnSwYFh73Q

PLEASE HELP TO STAY IN TOUCH
We welcome contributions to your club newsletter from club members. They can be about events that you have taken part in, impending marriages, additions to the family, or anything club-related that other members may be interested in. Feel free to contact Dennis with any news at: [email protected]

ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

HARRIET WHEELER celebrated the England Athletics Under-20 women’s javelin title in Bedford at the weekend.

Harriet launched a magnificent championship-winning throw of 53.95 metres to earn her the national title and a championship best performance.

Competing in a high-quality field and under the pressure of a major championship, Harriet demonstrated remarkable composure and competitive maturity.

Her 53.95m throw was a statement performance – combining technical excellence, power, and confidence at exactly the right moment.

West Cheshire club mate, Niamh Le’Gall, was crowned the under 20 women’s 200m champion, clocking 23.67 seconds to win the title after posting a winning time of 23.81 seconds in her qualifying heat.

MIA JOHNSON produced a 200m personal best, Welsh Under 16 age group best and championship best performance of 24.00 seconds to claim the title at the Welsh Schools Track and Field Championships held at Aberdare.

And West Cheshire club mate, Lucca Tardivel secured second position in the Senior Boys 200m with a time of 21.93 seconds.

Mia and Lucca are now hoping they will be selected for Wales at the Schools International Championships being held on Saturday, July 18, at Belfast, Northern Ireland.

ALAN LITTLER represented Great Britain in the Nordic Masters Track and Field Championships, held at Oslo’s Bislett Stadium.

Alan sliced 0.88 off his nine-year-old 800m personal best to clock 2:06.52 to finish second in his race and first in his M35 age group and posted 55.21 seconds for second place in the 400m and first position in his age group.

CHARLES UCHENNA celebrated two new club records at the third round of the Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix, at Ashton Under Lyne.

Charles won the under 12 boys long jump with 4.17m, secured success in the 75m with 10.10 seconds, and rounded the 600m in 2:01.88 in only his second competition of the season and only his third ever competition.

Henry Wright (9.83m) and Charles Owen (7.14m) hit new under 14 and under 12 boys shot put club records, and Charles added the discus record of 17.67m.

Dan Crosby equalled the under 16 boys high jump record of 1-75m, and clocked 11.79 in the 100m, while Logan Lambert registered a new under 10 boys 75m record time of 13.35 seconds.

Lyra Allison established an under 10 girls long jump record of 3.13m and clocked 12.38 in her 75m, while her sister, Hermione, hit 10.71m in the under 12 girls discus.

Evie Whittaker cleared a new under 16 girls high jump club record of 1-65m, while her sister, Freya cleared a new personal best of 1-46m.

Joy Hickman clocked a new over 60 women’s 100m club record of 17.02 seconds, while Rosie Grimsditch rounded the 1200m in a new under 14 girls club record time of 4:11.95, and Arianwen Setters achieved a new under 12 girls shot put club record of 5.61m.

Heidi Anstey won the under 12 girls 75m in a time of 10.50 seconds, while Kade Harris celebrated a new 300m personal best of 39.33.

Violet Thorne (9.73m) and Amelia Owen (9.60m) achieved new personal bests in the shot put, while Violet cleared a new best of 1-40m in the high jump.

And Arwen Thorne delivered a new under 18 women’s shot put personal best of 12.22m.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will be represented by 10 members at this weekend’s English Schools Track & Field Championships being held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, on Friday and Saturday.

Violet Thorne (Discus), Satine Wearden (Hammer), and Arwen Thorne (Javelin) will be competing for Merseyside, while the following members will be competing for Cheshire: Lewis Morris (3000m), Dun Xue (Discus), Alba March (100m), Harriet Wheeler (Javelin), Kara Stoll (Hammer), Jess Mann (200m), and Maya Jennings (300m).

ARWEN THORNE has qualified to compete at the English Schools Combined Events Championships being held on 19th and 20th September, at Bedford.

Arwen compiled a new personal best points tally of 4,842 to finish runner-up in the North West Regional Round Intermediate Girls Heptathlon Competition held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Arwen’s results were: 15.87 seconds in the hurdles; 1-62m in the high jump; 11.01m in the shot put; 27.89 seconds in the 200m; 4.84m in the long jump; 39.63m in the javelin; and 2:53:47 in the 800m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the English Schools Track and Field Championships, on Friday and Saturday, at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium; the Under 18s and Under 20s Youth Development Track and Field League, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Sunday; the Wilmslow Summer 10k, on Sunday; and the Arrowe Park 5 Miler, on Sunday.

DEESTRIDERS are inviting entries for their Off Road four miles multi terrain race series taking place at Rowleys Drive, Shotton, on Thursday, 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-5 The race starts at 7pm outside St Mary’s Cricket Club, in the Lower Park (near the visitor centre).

HELSBY RUNNING CLUB are holding a track night on Friday, August 7, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, with the first race at 6:30pm and races of 3000m, mile, 800m and 4 x 200m relays. The entry link is here.

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 here.

FIXTURES for the 2026-27 Manchester Area Cross Country League have been announced.

The first round will be held on October 10, at Woodbank Park, Stockport; and other fixtures will take place on November 14 at Sherdley Park, St. Helens; November 28 at Sefton Park, Liverpool; January 16 at Tatton Park, Knutsford; and February 13 at Heaton Park, Manchester.

THE English Road Running Association will stage the 6 and 4 Stage Road Relays at Sutton Park, Birmingham, on Saturday, October 3, and the 12 and 6 Stage Road Relays, at Sutton Park, Birmingham, on Saturday, April 17.

THE English Cross Country Association Cross Country Relays, at Mansfield, Nottingham, will be held on Saturday, October 31, while the English Cross Country Association National Championships, will be held at Thoresby Park, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday, February 20, and the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships and Cross Challenge Final, will be held at Nottingham, on Saturday, March 13.

THE 2026-27 Manchester Area Cross-country League fixtures will, provisionally, be held on October 10 at Woodbank Park, Stockport; November 14, at Sherdley Park, St. Helens; November 28, at Sefton Park, Liverpool; January 16, at Tatton Park, Knutsford; and on February 13, at Heaton Park, Manchester.

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