Press Report: David Shears 12 seconds from club record

ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club’s David Shearer ran a personal best of 2:39:36 to finish fifth at the recent Galway Bay Marathon, shaving 12 seconds from the club’s over-40 men’s record that had stood since 2004.

Sarah Hunter recorded a time of 2:45:00 in Sunday’s Chicago Marathon, to finish 51st in her over-35 age group. Sarah was joined in Chicago by club mate, Brian Cremin, who registered a new personal best of 3:21:29.

Dave also posted 3:17:50 in full Highland dress at Sunday’s Chester Marathon, where Steve Fernyhough was the club’s first finisher, clocking 3:05:13 for 35th spot in his over 45 age category. Other club members to complete the 26.2 miles course included Harvey Tegg (3:13:39), Kevin Eaton (3:27:40), Jake Hidden Deveson (3:46:08), Rob Little (3:53:45), and Andy Gore (4:38:30).

Jack Gannon finished sixth in his over 35 age group and 12th overall in the Chester Metric Marathon with a time of 1:39:54.
He was backed up by club mates Matthew Douglass (fourth senior man and 14th overall in 1:41:04), Sallyann Harper (fourth over 50 lady in 2:15:37), Peter Kerestur (2:16:12), Amy Mills (14th over 40 lady in 2:21:35), and Melissa Pughe (2:34:18).

FIXTURES the first round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series on Saturday, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village (10am start), with other fixtures taking place on Saturdays, November 28, January 30, and March 6.

THIS season’s Cheshire Clubs’ Cross Country Championships will be held at Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre, on Saturday, January 9.
ENTRIES are now open for the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meetings being held on Sundays, January 24, February 7, February 28, and March 28. Further details: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SaleHarriers-Indoors-Entry-Form-2026-27-3.pdf

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.

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

LEWIS MORRIS (eighth in 38:58), Scott Wells (11th in 40:01), and Noah Woolgar (15th in 44:11) combined for third team spot in the under 20 men’s race at the opening round of the Manchester Area Cross Country League, on Saturday, at Woodbank Park, Stockport.
And they contributed to the men’s 15th team position which featured Matthew Hughes (37:17), Graham Wells (42:04), and Paul Morrison (43:53).
Finley Stewart secured 10th spot in the under 16 boys race with a time of 18:29, while Nia Manson (16th in 21:54) and Beth Jones (62nd in 28:44) completed the under 16 girls race.
Jack Arnold (14th in 15:10), Joseph Whitehart (32nd in 16:23), Daniel Kuzia (44th in 17:14), and Stanley Whitehart (57th in 18:05) combined for ninth team spot in the under 14 boys race.
Emma Nutt (16th senior lady in 36:25) and Anest Muller (22nd over 45 lady in 39:37) completed the women’s race.
And Sam Arnold (39th in 13:12) and Arianwen Setters (45th in 14:37) rounded the under 12 boys and girls races respectively.