Press Report: Walls are Full

ATHLETICS
by Dennis Wall

ENTRIES have now closed for the popular Chester Round The Walls Race being held on Boxing Day.
The 6km fixture, organised annually by West Cheshire Athletic Club, has attracted more than 500 entrants who will line-up for the 10.30am start close to the White Horse Pub.

The runners will complete approximately 2km within the confines of the Roodee before crossing the racecourse near the main entrance. After turning left onto the footpath adjacent to the hotel car park, the race turns left again on the footpath adjacent to the railway arches and then joins the riverside path.

The route follows the riverside path under Grosvenor Bridge, past the Little Roodee Car Park and towards Castle Drive.
The runners cross Castle Drive at the University building to join the City Walls at Bridgegate for an anti-clockwise circuit before returning to the Racecourse via the steps from Nuns Road. From the bottom of the steps the runners will head through the car park in front of the main stands before turning left to cross the racecourse.

After following the main access road the runners turn left onto the grass to finish close to the White Horse pub.
Chris Larkin and Izzy Gelder celebrated success at last year’s race which attracted 501 finishers.

Chris, representing Helsby, clocked 20 minutes 18 seconds, ahead of runner-up Lewis Morris (West Cheshire AC) who posted 21:08, and third-placed Sam Hollins (West Cheshire AC) with 22:06.

Izzy (Mornington Chasers) was first lady in a time of 24:23, ahead of Sarah Hunter (Ackworth Road Runners) who clocked 24:45, and third-placed Carol Parsons (Cheshire Dragons) in 26:21.

FIXTURES this weekend include the second round of the North Wales Cross Country League at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay, on Saturday; the English National Cross Country Relay Championships, at Mansfield, on Saturday; and the second round of the Borders Road Running League, at Birkenhead Park, on Sunday.

WEST CHESHIRE AC members are invited to attend the Club AGM, which is taking place at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Trackside Room on Tuesday, November 24, (7:45pm start).

FORTHCOMING fixtures include: Saturday, November 14 – Manchester Cross Country League, at Sherdley Park, St Helens; Saturday, November 21 – North Staffs Cross Country League, at Park Hall, Longton; Saturday, November 21 – Dave Sunderland Inter County Schools Cross Country Races, at Himley Hall, Dudley; Saturday, November 28 – West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village; Saturday, November 28 – Manchester Cross Country League and British Cross Challenge, at Sefton Park, Liverpool; Saturday, November 28 – North Wales Cross Country League, at Bala; Saturday, December 5 – English Schools Cross Country Cup Final, at Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire; Saturday, December 12 – North Wales Cross Country League, at Keele; Saturday and Sunday, January 9 and 10 – Northern Under 17s and Under 20s Indoor Championships, at Sheffield; Saturday, January 16 – Manchester Cross Country League, at Tatton Park, Knutsford; Sunday, January 24 – Manchester Open Indoor Meeting; Saturday, January 30 – North Wales Cross Country League, at Leaton Forest; Sunday, January 31 – Northern Under 14s and Under 16s Indoor Championships, at Sheffield; Sunday, February 7 – Manchester Open Indoor Meeting; Saturday and Sunday, February 6 and 7 – England Athletics Under 16s, Under 18s, and Under 20s Championships, at Sheffield; Saturday, February 13 – North Wales Cross Country League, at Marches School, Oswestry; Saturday, February 13 – Manchester Cross Country League, at Heaton Park, Manchester; Saturday and Sunday, February 20 and 21 – UK Indoor Championships, at Birmingham; Sunday, February 28 – Manchester Open Indoor Meeting.