by Dennis Wall

ATHLETICS

BRIAN WRIGHT grabbed glory in Northern Ireland on Sunday.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club chairman won his over-70 age category prize at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon with a veteran personal best time of 1:39:02.

Brian improved his club record for the 13.1 miles distance by more than three minutes and the performance places him in the top 25 UK ranking list for the over 70 age group.

JACK GANNON clocked 35:06 for 12th position and seventh place in his 20-39 age group at the Birchwood 10k Road Race. 

FATHER and son, Graham and Scott Wells, celebrated impressive performances at the latest Trafford AC Open Track and Field Meeting.

Graham, running in the over-50 age group, won his 3,000m heat in a time of 10:01.53, and Scott rounded the under 18 men’s 800m in a new personal best time of 2:00:07.

JOSEPH MORRISON won the Senior Men’s one mile race on Friday night, at the North Wales Endurance Open Meeting.

Joseph clocked 4:16.61 to finish ahead of his brother, Paul, who posted 4:44.66 at the fixture held at Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay.

Sarah Hunter rounded the Female Masters International 3,000m at the same fixture in a new personal best time of 10:31.03 for victory in her over-35 age group and third position overall.

Luke Pearson achieved 10:09.02 for second spot in the senior men’s 3,000m, while Beth Jones clocked a new personal best of 2:51.61 in the under 14 girls 800m.

WEST CHESHIRE AC is looking for helpers to set up the course and marshal at the opening round of the Wirral Multi Terrain League Race Series being held at Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston, on Tuesday, September 1 (7pm race start). Anyone who can help should email Mike Lamb ASAP at: [email protected]

FIXTURES this weekend include the Mid Cheshire Summer 5k Race, at Kingsley, on Friday; the final round of the Northern Track and Field League at Trafford on Sunday, a Trafford AC Medal Meeting on Monday, and the Cilcain Mountain Race, on Monday.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the final round of the Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix being held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Sunday, September 13. The online entry link is: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29271

WIRRAL AC are organising an Open Track and Field Meeting for Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s, and Under 18s on Wednesday, September 16 (6-9pm) at Bebington Oval. Further details: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29479

Still no change in the women’s top 3 at the end of July. Emma is clear of Anest, with Joy one point behind in 3rd. Paul is a point clear of Andrew in the men’s tables, with Jeff clear in 3rd.

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

SARAH HUNTER celebrated a new age group club record at the Ellesmere Port 5k Road Race.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club runner clocked 17:59 around the Capenhurst course to slice five seconds off her over-35 women’s 5k record time set at Shrewsbury last month and win her age group prize at Capenhurst.

Sarah, who finished fourth lady overall at Capenhurst, is now just nine seconds adrift of the overall women’s 5k club record set by Joanne Bailey in 2001.

Joy Hickman continued her rich vein of form by posting 21:02 to knock 10 seconds off the over 60 women’s 5k club record which she set at the same fixture last year and the time is the best any over-50 or older woman has recorded whilst a member of West Cheshire.

Joy won the over-60 age group prize, while Rosie Grimsditch clocked 21:39, the first 5k time in the new under 14 age group since April.

Father and son, Graham (fourth over-50 man) and Scott Wells (10th under 20 man), were first and second home for West Cheshire at Capenhurst with times of 17:23 and 17:25 respectively.

Finlay Stewart clocked 17:47 for 14th spot in his under 20 age group and Ellis Hancock finished with a time of 19:40 for 22nd place in the under 20 age category.

Neil Hershaw posted 19:36 for third position in his over-60 age group, while Jeff Gifford was sixth in the over-60 age category with 20:04.

Emma Nutt secured 14th place in the senior ladies age group with a time of 20:49.

George Grimsditch finished 24th in his under 20 age group, clocking 21:22, and Sallyann Harper was fourth in her over 50 age category with a time of 23:28.

Luke Burgess (Deeside AAC) won the race in 14:46, and Eden O’Dea (Deeside AAC) won the women’s race in 16:46.

FIXTURES this weekend include the North Wales Endurance Open Meeting at Deeside Stadium, Connah’s Quay, on Friday; the England Athletics Under 16 and Under 18 Combined Events Championships, at Bedford, on Saturday and Sunday; the Island Games and Menai Track and Field Open, on Saturday; and the Birchwood 10k Road Race, near Warrington, on Sunday.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the final round of the Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix being held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Sunday, September 13. The online entry link is: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29271

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Final Fling Open Throws Meeting taking place at Wrexham on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18s on Saturday; and Under 20s, Seniors and Veterans on Sunday.

Online entries by email to: [email protected]

ENTRIES are being accepted for the Blackburn Harriers Under 10s and Under 12s Open Quadrathlon Competition being held on August 19. This is a simplistic 4 events for Under 12 athletes only to get a competition opportunity. It is a short 2 1/2 hours event where everyone will be able to partake in all 4 events with medals available for the top 3 in each event as well as the overall Quadrathlon winner. More details and entry link: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29493

WIRRAL AC are organising an Open Track and Field Meeting for Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s, and Under 18s on Wednesday, September 16 (6-9pm) at Bebington Oval. Further details: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29479

THE dates and venues for this year’s Wirral Multi Terrain Race Series are: September 1, Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston; September 8, Royden Park; September 15, Harrison Drive, Wallasey; September 22, Arrowe Park, Birkenhead. The online entry page is: https://wirralmultiterrain.niftyentries.com/Wirral-Multi-Terrain-Series-2026

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

FIXTURES for the 2026-27 Borders Road Running League are: 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.

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

ATHLETICS

by Dennis Wall

FOUR West Cheshire Athletic Club members are celebrating record-breaking performances.

Joy Hickman, Graham Wells, Sharon Stoll and Nia Manson all impressed at weekend fixtures held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village and Trafford.

Joy, who had improved her over-60 age group five miles record to 35:18 at Birkenhead Park last month, sliced 18 seconds off her one mile time set in April to clock 6:31.6 during Friday’s Helsby Track Night held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Graham, who had produced an over-50 men’s 3,000m club record of 10:00.72 at Trafford, improved his time to 9:55.6 at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Friday.

Sharon broke the over-55 women’s hammer club record by hitting a mark of 26.57m at Trafford on Sunday.

And Nia established a new mark for the under 16 girls 3,000m of 11:45.4 at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Friday night.

Scott Wells rounded the under 18 men’s 800m at the Trafford Grand Prix Meeting in a new personal best time of 2:00.46, and Alan Littler, preparing for the British Masters Championships, clocked a new over 35 men’s personal best of 2:05.31.

Joseph Morrison posted 1:48:62 in the men’s 800m, while Dan Walker clocked 1:57.98, and Paul Morrison rounded the 800m in 2:03.12.

Lewis Morris registered 4:00.17 in the under 18 men’s 1500m; Kara Stoll powered her way to 44.24m in the under 20 women’s hammer, while Danielle Erskine hit 25.35m in the senior women’s javelin and her mum, Debra, achieved 24.09m in the over-60 women’s hammer.

Phoebe Hessey celebrated new under 16 girls personal bests in the 100m (13.57) and 200m (28.37), while Saskia Keresturova achieved new under 14 girls bests in the javelin (23.05m) and long jump (4.45m), and Freya Whittaker achieved a new under 14 girls best in the 100m (14.56).

Josh Stirling blasted his way to a new under 18 men’s 400m best of 52.25, while Isla Lambert achieved an under 14 girls discus best of 19.17m.

Other West Cheshire members in action at Trafford on Sunday included Dylan Gledhill who posted 25.02 in the under 16 boys 200m and 42.87m in the javelin, and John Velasquez clocked 26.59 in the under 16 boys 200m and 42.57 in the 300m.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the final round of the Cheshire Track and Field Grand Prix being held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Sunday, September 13. The online entry link is: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29271

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Final Fling Open Throws Meeting taking place at Wrexham on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s and Under 18s on Saturday; and Under 20s, Seniors and Veterans on Sunday.

Online entries by email to: [email protected]

ENTRIES are being accepted for the Blackburn Harriers Under 10s and Under 12s Open Quadrathlon Competition being held on August 19. This is a simplistic 4 events for Under 12 athletes only to get a competition opportunity. It is a short 2 1/2 hours event where everyone will be able to partake in all 4 events with medals available for the top 3 in each event as well as the overall Quadrathlon winner. More details and entry link: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29493

WIRRAL AC are organising an Open Track and Field Meeting for Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s, and Under 18s on Wednesday, September 16 (6-9pm) at Bebington Oval. Further details: https://meets.rosterathletics.com/public/competitions/details/about?id=29479

ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

SIX West Cheshire club records were broken at the final round of the Youth Development Track and Field League.

Dan Crosby, Jayden Clarke, Dylan Gledhill, Emily Hamilton, and the under 16 boys 4x300m relay team of Kade Harris, Jayden Walls, Louis Grimes and Dylan Gledhill all celebrated success at Bebington Oval.

Dan cleared 1.80m in the under 16 boys high jump to improve the previous best mark by five centimetres, while Jayden improved the under 14 boys high jump (1.55m) and shot put (9.57m) records by 10cms and 4cms respectively.

Dylan powered his way to an under 16 boys 300m club record time of 38.6 seconds, and Emily hit a new under 14 girls discus record mark of 22.87m.

The under 16 boys relay team of Kade, Jayden, Louis and Dylan then combined to clock a club record 4x300m relay time of 3:40.2, improving the previous best performance by seven seconds.

Faith Draisey cleared a winning height of 1.90m in the under 16 girls pole vault.

Amelia Owen grabbed glory in the under 16 girls shot put with a distance of 9.53m, and spun the discus to a winning mark of 18.82m in the B event.

Lucas Sawyer rounded the under 14 boys 1500m in a winning time of 4:31.9.

And Isaac Thompson won the under 14 boys B 80m hurdles in 16.3 seconds.

Other important points scorers included George Grimsditch, Finlay Stewart, Max Henderson, Sid March, Peter Zajac, Harry Deal, Lucy Caldwell, Amber Billington, Nia Manson, Rose Sheppard, Sophie Baker, Violet Thorne, James Wallis, Tristan Lee, Jack Webb, Jack McWilliams, Luke Gardner, Freya Whittaker, Isabelle Wilson, Harriet Oliver, Sakia Keresturova, Beth Jones, Rosie Grimsditch, Merryn Thorne, Darcie Steele, Erin Cheetham, Maisy Roberts-Page, Alice Roberts-Page, and Freya Henderson.

MATCH RESULT: 1 Liverpool Harriers & AC 611 points; 2 Preston Harriers 505; 3 Wirral AC 473; 4 Sale Harriers Manchester 461; 5 Blackburn Harriers & AC 417; 6 West Cheshire AC 398.

OVERALL FINAL STANDINGS: 1 Liverpool Harriers & AC 24 league points (2461 match points); 2 Sale Harriers Manchester 17 (2048.5); 3 Wirral AC 16 (2056.5); 4 Preston Harriers 14 (1949); 5 Blackburn Harriers & AC 9 (1725); 6 West Cheshire 4 (1597).

LEWIS MORRIS clocked a winning time of 15:02 at the Wirral Seaside 5k Race held at Leasowe, just 14 seconds adrift of the course record.

Other West Cheshire finishers included Matthew Douglass (16:19), Sam Oliver (16:32), and Paul Morrison (17:04).

JOY HICKMAN won the over 60 age group award at the Birkenhead Park Five Miles Road Race after posting a time of 35:18.

FIVE West Cheshire officials contributed towards the success of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Sarah Hibbert, Alan Morris, Tim Palmer, Brian Wright and Dave Gough, all performed various roles during the athletics competition held at the Scotstoun Stadium.

FIXTURES this weekend include the British Milers Club Meeting at Bury, on Saturday, and a Trafford AC Track and Field Medal Meeting, at Longford Park Stadium, on Sunday.