POPPY McKENNA and Andrew Clague celebrated victories at Dolgellau on Saturday.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo braved wet and windy conditions to taste success at the third round of the North Wales Cross Country League.

Poppy won the under 11 girls race in 7:50, ahead of team mate, Heidi Wetherall (fourth in 8:36), while Andrew won his over-55 age group in the men’s race with a time of 38:54, alongside club mates Dave Alexander (fifth over-50 man in 37:21) and Jeff Gifford (second over-55 man in 37:54).

Nia Manson was third in a time of 7:47 in the under 13 girls race, while Eleanor Wheeler was fourth in the under 15 girls race, and Jack Arnold finished fourth with 8:13 in the under 11 boys race.

Emma Nutt (19th in 24:46), Anest Muller (fourth over-40 in 26:03), Georgina Duffey (seventh under 17 in 28:47), Joy Hickman (eighth over-55 in 29:41), and Alex Duffey (14th over-45 in 32:56), completed the ladies race.

JESSICA LARK represented West Cheshire AC at the British Milers Club Indoor fixture on Sunday in Cardiff and posted a season’s best under 20 women’s 1500m time of 4:26:34 for fourth position in the A race.

JODI BEMAND travelled to Parliament Hill on Saturday and finished 33rd with a time of 27:16 in the under 20 women’s race at the London Cross Country Challenge.

LINDSAY FISHER and Keely Smith secured podium places at Sunday’s Four Villages Half Marathon in Helsby.

Lindsay was third over-35 lady in 1:24:13, and Keely finished third over-40 lady in 1:24:14.

Steve Fernyhough was West Cheshire AC’s first finisher in the race, posting 1:20:07 for 14th spot in his over-40 age group.

He was joined at the event by club mates Jon Park (14th over-35 man in 1:21:01), Dave Shearer (19th over-35 man in 1:22:27), Graham Wells (22nd over-45 man in 1:25:23), Neil Hershaw (fourth over-55 man in 1:28:10), Andrew Clague (eighth over-55 man in 1:30:34), Fiona Cook (12th over-35 lady in 1:31:37), Ian Gloyne-Phillips (29th over-50 man in 1:34:59), Brian Cremin (1:43:10), Clare Mallon (1:43:17), Julian Tegg (1:56:15), and Angela Tegg (1:56:19).

FIXTURES this weekend include the Northern Cross Country Championships on Saturday, at East Park, Sedgefield; a 9.5km Borders Road Running League Race at Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston, on Sunday (11am start), the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday; and the Welsh Indoor Seniors and Under 15s Track and Field Championships on Saturday and Sunday in Cardiff.

THE West Cheshire AC Annual Presentation Evening will be held on Friday, February 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester. Follow this link to purchase tickets: https://wcac.niftyentries.com

WEST CHESHIRE AC has a busy schedule of fixtures lined up for the year ahead.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit will host two pre-season open track and field meetings, as well as host the Cheshire County Schools Track and Field Championships, and the English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional A and B Finals.

The Cheshire Schools Championships take place on Saturday, June 8, while the English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional A and B Finals will be held on Wednesday, June 5, and Wednesday, June 12.

West Cheshire AC will compete in the Under 13/Under 15 Youth Development League West Premier Division at Bebington Oval on Saturday, April 20; at Liverpool on Sunday, May 19; at Preston on Sunday, June 23; and at Trafford on Saturday, July 20.

And the Club will participate in the Under 17/Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League North West Division One at Blackpool on Sunday, April 28; at Leigh on Sunday, May 26; and at Wigan on Sunday, June 30.

The Club’s Northern Track and Field League squad will take part in West Premier Division fixtures at Blackburn on Saturday, May 18; at Litherland on Saturday, June 15; at Trafford on Sunday, July 14; and at Ellesmere Port on Saturday, August 17.

West Cheshire AC will host the opening round of the Cheshire Track and Field League on Saturday, April 27, and other fixtures will be held on Sunday, June 2; Sunday, July 21; and Sunday, August 25.

West Cheshire AC will also host their annual Secondary Schools Track and Field Cup match on Wednesday, May 1; and the annual Cheshire v Merseyside Year 7 Schools Track and Field fixture in July.

ENTRIES are open for the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Winter Series being held on Sundays, February 18, and March 10. More information at this link: https://saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series

THE Cheshire AA Road Race Grand Prix fixtures have been announced for 2024: High Legh 10k on March 17; Chester Spring 5 Miler on April 10; Christleton 5k in Mid May; Dunham Massey Park Run on May 25; Warrington Park Run on July 20; Sandbach 10k on August 18; and Crewe Park Run on September 14.

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

EMMA HOLMES, Jessica Lark, and Macy Brett produced podium places in Sheffield at the weekend.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club trio impressed at the two-day Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships held in the Institute of Sport Arena.

Emma was crowned under 20 women’s 400m champion after clocking a club record time of 56.02 seconds, ahead of fifth placed club mate Imogen Pughe in 61.78 seconds.

And Emma added a silver medal in the 200m with a club record-breaking time of 24.45 seconds after winning her heat in 24.79 seconds, and her semi-final in 24.60 seconds.

Jessica rounded the under 20 women’s 800m final for a gold medal-winning and new club record-breaking time of 2:10.99 having won her heat in 2:14.17.

And Macy produced an impressive silver medal in the under 17 women’s 60m hurdles final with a time of 9.18 seconds, just 600ths of a second behind the winner.

Cosette Wearden, registered as an under 17 lady, ran in the under 20 women’s 3,000m final and clocked a new under 17 ladies club record time of 10:45.51.

Other West Cheshire AC members in action at Sheffield included Holly Bosworth (27.10) and Lara Fields (28.70) in the under 17 women’s 200m; Jacob Gardner (24.66), Stephen Smalls (27.98) and Theo Shepherd (23.69) in the under 17 men’s 200m, and Macey Jones (8.19) in the under 17 ladies 60m.

TRACY ROGERS, Poppy McKenna and Jodi Bemand secured podium positions representing West Cheshire AC at Tatton Park in the latest round of the Manchester Cross Country League.

Tracy won her over-35 age group race and finished seventh lady overall in a time of 32:04, while Jodi was third in her under 20 ladies race in 34:47, and the pair were backed up by Georgina Duffey (10th under 20 lady in 41:56), Lucie Truett (17th in 34:03), Emma Nutt (39th in 36:14), Anest Muller (13th over-40 in 38:36), Anna Woolgar (fifth over-45 in 37:11), Amanda Newall (20th over-45 in 40:28), Alex Duffey (56th over-45 in 48:11), and Angela Tegg (22nd over-50 lady in 44:18), to earn West Cheshire AC fourth team place in the senior ladies event and fifth place in the veteran team competition.

Poppy finished third with a time of 14:17 in the under 11 girls race, backed up by team mates Heidi Wetherall (31st in 16:32) and Isla Lambert (66th in 19:51) to earn ninth team spot.

Dylan Gledhill (20th in 13:36), Max Henderson (34th in 14:28), and Jack Owen (59th in 15:34) completed the under 13 boys event.

Nia Manson (9th in 14:04) and Lauren Higgins (14th in 14:53) teamed up in the under 13 girls race. 

Lewis Morris (18th in 16:21), Noah Woolgar (31st in 16:58), and Ben Newall (37th in 17:26) represented West Cheshire AC in the under 15 boys race.

Emilia Pyper (14th in 18:19), and Eleanor Wheeler (29th in 20:01) completed the under 15 girls race, while Nancy Farmer (11th in 24:16) rounded the under 17 ladies event.

Paul Morrison (161st in 46:57), Dave Alexander (22nd over 50 man in 41:32), and Andrew Clague (sixth over-55 man in 40:11) completed the senior men’s race.

THE West Cheshire AC Annual Presentation Evening will be held on Friday, February 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester. Follow this link to purchase tickets: https://wcac.niftyentries.com

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Northern Under 15s and Under 13s Indoor Track and Field Championships being held on February 4 at Sheffield. The online entry link is: www.race-results.co.uk

WEST CHESHIRE AC has a busy schedule of fixtures lined up for the year ahead.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit will host two pre-season open track and field meetings, as well as host the Cheshire County Schools Track and Field Championships, and the English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional A and B Finals.

The Cheshire Schools Championships take place on Saturday, June 8, while the English Schools Track and Field Cup Regional A and B Finals will be held on Wednesday, June 5, and Wednesday, June 12.

West Cheshire AC will compete in the Under 13/Under 15 Youth Development League West Premier Division at Bebington Oval on Saturday, April 20; at Liverpool on Sunday, May 19; at Preston on Sunday, June 23; and at Trafford on Saturday, July 20.

And the Club will participate in the Under 17/Under 20 Youth Development Track and Field League North West Division One at Blackpool on Sunday, April 28; at Leigh on Sunday, May 26; and at Wigan on Sunday, June 30.

The Club’s Northern Track and Field League squad will take part in West Premier Division fixtures at Blackburn on Saturday, May 18; at Litherland on Saturday, June 15; at Trafford on Sunday, July 14; and at Ellesmere Port on Saturday, August 17.

West Cheshire AC will also host their annual Secondary Schools Track and Field Cup match on Wednesday, May 1; and the annual Cheshire v Merseyside Year 7 Schools Track and Field fixture in July.

FIXTURES this weekend include the North Wales Cross Country League on Saturday, at Dolgellau, where the junior races start at 10.30am (under 15 Boys) and senior races at 1pm. The cross country course at Dolgellau is near the Leisure Centre but parking at the Leisure Centre is very limited so parking will be in the main Dolgellau Town Centre car park (Postcode: LL40 1UU). Sunday sees the Four Villages Half Marathon take place at Helsby (10.30am start).

ENTRIES are open for the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Winter Series being held on Sundays, January 28, February 18, and March 10. More information at this link: https://saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series

THE Cheshire AA Road Race Grand Prix fixtures have been announced for 2024: Four Villages Half Marathon on January 21; High Legh 10k on March 17; Chester Spring 5 Miler on April 10; Christleton 5k in Mid May; Dunham Massey Park Run on May 25; Warrington Park Run on July 20; Sandbach 10k on August 18; and Crewe Park Run on September 14.

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

PETER TAYLOR-BRAY and Sarah Hunter celebrated success at the Chester Round The Walls Race.

The duo negotiated the four miles event organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club which attracted 500 entrants from the Chester Racecourse in perfect weather conditions on Boxing Day.

Peter, representing Helsby Running Club, clocked 20 minutes 54 seconds for the multi-terrain course, ahead of runner-up Chris Smithard (21:09) and third-placed Max Walk (Cambridge and Coleridge AC) who posted 21:17.

Sarah (Ackworth Road Runners) was first lady in a time of 24:10, ahead of Tracy Rogers (Buckley Runners) who clocked 24:46, and third-placed Rebecca Rosalski (Chester Road Runners) in 27:20).

Host club, West Cheshire AC, was represented by Michael Young (fourth in 21:52), Henry Robinson (first under 20-man in 23:54), Jon Park (16th in 24:07), Steve Fernyhough (second over-40 man in 24:31), Tom Booth (29th in 25:43), Andy Manson (third over-45 man in 26:17), Andrew Barratt (second under-20 man in 26:21), Jack Sheppard (fifth over-40 man in 26:59), Dave Gough (fourth over-60 man in 28:58), Adam Howe (121st in 31:30), See Kim Siow (12th over-50 man in 32:34), Phil Howe (197th in 34:18), Lis Oats (15th over-45 lady in 37:24), Rosemary Rogers (first over-70 lady in 38:21), and Mark Povey (335th in 39:36).

FINAL preparations are being made for the popular Chester Round The Walls Race being held on Boxing Day. Entries have now closed for the 6.4km race and 500 runners will line-up for the 10.30am start on the grass close to the White Horse Pub with a clockwise lap inside the racecourse rails.

All finishers at the Roodee on Tuesday will be presented with a ceramic medal based on a painting of the Eastgate Clock by local artist, Louise Diggle. As well as being a talented artist, Louise also has an impressive pedigree as a runner.

In the 1990s Louise was a member of West Cheshire AC, and its predecessor Chester & Ellesmere Port AC. She was one of the leading women runners in the region and set Club age group records for distances from 5k to Marathon. Some of Louise’s Club records are still standing 25 years later.

West Cheshire AC is very grateful to Louise for allowing use of her work on the race medal. More of Louise’s work can be found here.

EVAN MILLER celebrated a hat-trick of new personal bests on Sunday at the latest Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting.

The West Cheshire AC multi-eventer clocked 7.86 seconds for his under 17 men’s 60m, 11.85 for his 60m hurdles, and hit 6.88m in the shot put.

Other West Cheshire AC members to achieve new bests included Jacob Gardner, Mia Johnson, Theo Shepherd, Maya Jennings, Millie Warren, Joshua Stirling, and Amelia Snowden.

Jacob posted a new under 17 men’s 60m best of 7.76 and rounded the 300m in 40.06, while Mia blasted her way to a new under 15 girls 60m best of 8.03, and added 4.55m in the long jump.

Theo clocked a new under 17 men’s 300m best of 38.57, while Maya posted 45.24 in her under 15 girls 300m, and Millie registered 47.13 for a new under 15 girls 300m best.

Joshua rounded the under 17 men’s 600m in a new best of 1:39:17, and Amelia achieved a new under 13 girls 600m best of 1:52:86 and long jumped 3.45m.

Other West Cheshire AC members in action included Yasmin Smith who posted 8.06 in her under 20 women’s 60m; Mollie Garratt who clocked 8.85 in her under 13 girls 60m; Holly Bosworth who posted 43.97 in her under 17 women’s 300m; and sisters Lara and Molly Fields who achieved 47.05 and 49.73 respectively in their under 17 women’s 300m.

BROTHERS Niall and Leon Betteridge enjoyed success at the final round of the West Cheshire Athletic Club Schools Cross-country Race Series.

The Hoole Primary pupils tasted victories at the fourth and final round of the popular event held between October and December at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Niall posted a winning time of four minutes 39 seconds in the year four boys race, 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Josh Barlow-Ashworth (Newton), with Oliver Chesby (Whitby Heath) in third spot.

Leon carved a 47 seconds victory in the year six boys race from runner-up Leo Ravenscroft (Childer Thornton) and third-placed Atharva Ganesh (Hoole).

Arlanwen Setters made it a hat-trick of victories for Hoole after winning the year three girls race from Penny Sharps-Green (Upton Heath) and Rose Riley-Pickup (Eccleston) who were second and third respectively.

Felicity Snowden and Poppy McKenna made it a double success story for King’s School.

Felicity posted a 10-second win in the year five girls race from runner-up Saskia Keresturova (Oldfield) and third-placed Alice Roberts-Page (Hoole).

And Poppy tasted an 11-second victory in the year six girls race from second-placed Marie-Ange Robson (Childer Thornton) and Elsie Jones (Willaston) in third spot.

Henry Glynn (Farndon) won the year three boys race ahead of Otto Holmes (Newton) and Lewis Beschizza (Tarporley) who were second and third respectively.

Abby Gamble (Guilden Sutton) tasted victory in the year four girls race ahead of runner-up Evelyn Edwards (Saighton) and third-placed Anna Dooley (Meadow).

Jack Arnold (Upton Heath) won the year five boys race, just two seconds clear of runner-up Zaan Brown (Belgrave) and third-placed Alfie Simms (Whitby Heath).

Nia Manson (Bishop Heber) and Rose Sheppard (Helsby) were first and second respectively in the year seven girls race.

Sidney Carr (Upton) won the year seven boys race by 36 seconds from nearest rivals Lewis Dutton (Bishop Heber) and Finley Stewart (Upton) who were second and third.

Poppy Coates (West Kirby) and Connie Jones (Wirral Grammar) were first and second in the year eight girls race.

And Max Henderson won the year eight boys race ahead of Dylan Gledhill (Christleton) and Isaac Holmes (Upton) who were second and third respectively.

MICHAEL YOUNG smashed the West Cheshire AC record for a marathon in clocking 2:24:33 at the Valencia Marathon, improving his previous personal best time of 2:27:11.

EMMA HOLMES and Nathan Owen produced new West Cheshire AC age group indoor records at Manchester and Sheffield respectively.

Emma 40.49 seconds for the under 20 women’s 300m at SportCity, Manchester, on Sunday, while Nathan travelled to the Northern Open Indoor Meeting at Sheffield and clocked 18.49 seconds for the under 15 boys 150m.

BRIAN CREMIN represented West Cheshire AC at the Milton Keynes Half Marathon and clocked 1:42:35.

FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Rebrook Hayes School, Rugeley, WS15 1AU, on Saturday (12 noon first race); a Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday (10:30am start); and the Run Aintree Half Marathon (10am start), 10k (10:45am), and 5k (10:55am) in Liverpool on Sunday.

THE West Cheshire AC Annual Celebraation Evening will be held on Friday February 2, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester. Follow this link to purchase tickets: https://wcac.niftyentries.com