Neck and neck for first place in both male and female competitions. Same for men`s third place, and only one point separates third and fourth women. Phew. See https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/roadracing/pointscomp/

THREE West Cheshire Athletic Club youngsters secured a place in the frame at the opening cross country fixture of the season.

Carys Roberts, Issy Clarke and Lucia Pyne all achieved impressive starts to their winter campaign at Winsford in the first round of the North Staffordshire League.

Roberts finished second in the under 11 girls` race and was backed up by Georgina Duffey in seventh position and by Martha Willetts who secured 14th spot.

Clarke negotiated the 17 women`s race in second place, ahead of clubmate Beth McMahon who was 12th.

And Pyne strode her way to third position in the under 13 girls` event, supported by team mates Sophie Grainger (16th), Jodi Bemand (32nd), Stephanie Jones (39th), and Henrietta Duffey (44th).

Under 20 junior Katie Clarke rounded the senior women`s race in fourth position and was backed up by Anest Muller (23rd), Ellie Robinson (52nd), Zeinab Weyers (65th), Lisa Davies (89th), Pam Ackroyd (106th) and Kay Hayes (123rd).

Sion Roberts spearheaded the under 15 boys` charge in fifth spot ahead of team mates Harvey Tegg (17th), Matthew Douglass (24th), Andy Prigg (39th), and Charlie Clarke (42nd).

Ethan Greenland finished seventh in the under 17 men`s race, ahead of Tristan McFarlane (16th), Patrick Tait (21st) and Rory Willson (27th), while Issac Tait (10th) and Henry Robinson (23rd) combined in the under 13 boys event.

Fergus Garland (12th) was the first of five West Cheshire finishers in the under 11 boys` event, ahead of Dan Willetts (23rd), Louis Tegg (24th), Leo Green (25th), and William Line (27th).

Dave Alexander completed the men`s race in 28th position, ahead of Richard Hayes (45th), Bob Benson (163rd), John Parlevliet (185th), Greg Jones (187th) and Peter Smith (240th).

Hollie Jones (29th), Lily Moorhouse (36th) and Molly Jones (38th) combined for West Cheshire AC in the under 15 girls event.

ANDY CARTER was West Cheshire AC`s first finisher of the Chester Marathon after clocking three hours 14 minutes four seconds.

He was joined at the event by club mates Keely Smith (39th lady in 3:32:01), Julian Tegg (463rd in 3:32:01), Neil Carter (28th over 55 man in 3:45:04), Wullie McGarrell (81st over 50 man in 4:00:50); and Neil Webster (150th over 45 man in 4:00:50).

West Cheshire AC duo Mark Povey (46th over 45 man in 2:28:08) and Sarah Hughes (64th over 40 lady in 2:56:41) completed the Chester 26.2km Metric Marathon.

GLOBETROTTING West Cheshire AC member Tom Booth has celebrated a double success in New Zealand.

Booth won the YMCA Auckland Domain Series 10k Race in 37:14 and secured victory in the Hope Street 15k Race in a time of 54:29, as well as claiming a new personal best time of 16:45 in the O`Hagans 5k Race.

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being held from Chester Racecourse on Boxing Day. Further details can be found at: http://wcac.niftyentries.com/Events/Preview/ebf6bf46-8ec2-420f-9a19-8d36564a0b7c

FIXTURES this weekend include the first round of the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday.

Local pupils in years three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, are being invited to take part in the free of charge fixture with registration from 9am for a 10am start.

West Cheshire AC will be represented at the opening round of the North West Indoor Sportshall Athletics League at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, on Sunday (12.30pm start).

GEORGE HYDE and Isobel Griffin Morris completed their year in the field on a winning note.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club throwers powered their way to success at the Final Fling Competition held at Wrexham`s Queensway Stadium.

Hyde won the under 17 men`s throwathon title after hitting 15.22m in the shot, 30.37m in the discus, 33.29m in the javelin, and 35.74m in the hammer.

And Griffin Morris spun the under 17 women`s discus to a winning mark of 40.90m.

The pair were joined at the event by West Cheshire under 13 girls Isla Shillington and Abigail Cartwright who achieved 29.80m and 12.53m respectively in the discus, and Shillington added 13.66m in the javelin and 5.91m in the shot.

Will Scott hit 29.02m in the under 15 boys discus, 21.61m in the hammer, 9.29m in the shot, and 32.70m in the javelin alongside club mate Daniel Pond who hit 20.95m in the hammer, 8.04m in the shot, and 22.48m in the discus.

West Cheshire`s Evie Tipping delivered 40.60m in the under 15 girls hammer.

LUCIA PYNE clocked 11 minutes 14 seconds and was backed up by Imogen Pughe (11:30) and Abigail Cartwright (12:57) for West Cheshire`s under 13 girls at Sportcity, Manchester, in the Northern Road Relay Championships.

Katie Clarke (18:44), Anest Muller (20:25), Ellie Robinson (21:12) and Zeinab Weyers (22:08) completed West Cheshire`s women`s team.

And West Cheshire`s men`s team comprised Andrew Clague (21:00), Mark Davies (19:23), Andrew Carter (20:38), Dave Alexander (20:03), Bob Benson (23:35), and Andy Starkey (21:42).

DAVID BISH completed the River Ness 10km Race in a new West Cheshire AC over 70 men`s club record time of 49:04.

ROB FREEMAN (22:18) was West Cheshire`s first finisher at the Ellesmere Port 5k parkrun, ahead of John Pughe (23:34), Rosemary Rogers (24:13), Gerorgina Duffey (24:46), Julian Tegg (24:47), and Harvey Tegg (25:22).

Andrew Clague (18:39) was first home for West Cheshire at the Chester 5k parkrun, ahead of Andrew Carter (18:50), Patrick Tait (new best of 19:52), Sammy Hollins (19:58), Bob Benson (20:55), Jack Hollins (21:10), Tony Kennedy (24:00), Anne-Marie Tait (27:03), and Brian Beattie (27:20).

FIXTURES this weekend include the first round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday (12 noon start).

Other fixtures this weekend include the MBNA Chester Marathon on Sunday (9am start), and the Sandstone Trail Race between Duckington and Delamere, on Sunday (10am start).

The popular Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series starts on Saturday, October 8, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village (10am start), and West Cheshire AC will be competing in the opening round of the North West Sportshall League at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, on Sunday, October 9, (12.30pm start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host the second round of the Borders Road Running League on Sunday, November 6.

The full list of dates and host clubs is: October 9 (Eryri Harriers); November 6 (West Cheshire); December 4 (Birkenhead); January 22 (Deeside); March 12 (Wirral); April 9 (Helsby); April 26 (Wrexham).

WEST CHESHIRE AC was crowned North West Regional Athletics Club of the Year on Monday night.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit was recognised for its work as a voluntary organisation throughout the year for the community.

Club track and field officer, Dennis Wall, road race secretary Andrew Carter, and treasurer Bob Benson received a plaque and an award from England Athletics officials at the event held at Bolton Golf Club.

Throws coach David McKay was also presented with the North West Athletics Regional Coach of the Year Award and he will now join representatives from West Cheshire AC at the England Athletics Club of the Year Awards ceremony next month in Birmingham.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club scored a double team triumph at the Essar Guilden Sutton Six 10k Road Race.

The host club won both the men`s and women`s team prizes at the annual race staged around the country lanes of the village.

Robert Little was West Cheshire`s first man home, finishing 10th in 36 minutes 25 seconds, supported by Mark Davies (13th in 36:57), Graham Wells (18th in 37:32), and Andrew Clague (19th in 37:38).

Keely Smith headed the winning West Cheshire women`s team, finishing 44th overall in 42:58, ahead of Clare Mallon (75th in 49:42), and Eleanor Foreman (122nd in 67:14).

Tristan McFarlane (41:20) and Patrick Tait (42:11) finished first and second respectively in the under 20 junior age group.

And other West Cheshire finishers included Ian Gloyne-Phillips (21st in 38:08), Neil Hershaw (23rd in 38:45), Luke Ellis (30th in 40:40), Christopher White (32nd in 40:50), Julian Tegg (52nd in 44:22), Richard Batterham (67th in 47:36), and John Pughe (77th in 49:53).

Nick Jones from Warrington AC won the men`s title in 33:12, ahead of Wirral`s William Woodcock (33:53) and Vale Royal`s Stuart Doyle (33:58) who were second and third respectively.

Sarah Wilson from South Cheshire won the women`s title in 40:59, ahead of Vale Royal`s Helen Whitby who was runner-up in 41:10, and West Cheshire`s Keeley Smith who was third.

ABI PAWLETT posted two new personal bests at the English Schools Combined Events Championships.

The West Cheshire all-rounder represented Cheshire at Exeter and clocked 11.48 seconds in her sprint hurdles race and rounded the 800m in a new personal best of two minutes 36.7 seconds.

Pawlett also hit 9.92m in the shot put, cleared 1.48m in the high jump, and long jumped 4.48m to post 2,899 points and finish 17th out of 44 girls.

Her points total places her second on the under 15 girls list of West Cheshire club records behind England international Olivia Montez Brown.

Pawlett was joined in Exeter by West Cheshire members Will Rattray and James McMahon.

Rattray posted 3,041 points in the intermediate boys octathlon with 4.68m in the long jump, 31.20m in the discus, 25.94m in the javelin, 57.88 seconds in the 400m, 17.28 seconds in the 100m hurdles, 1.31m in the high jump, 7.97m in the shot, and 5:28.27 in the 1500m.

McMahon clocked 11.5 seconds in his senior boys decathlon 100m, 6.32m in the long jump, 10.90m in the shot, 1-73m in the high jump, 53.38 seconds in the 400m, 15.69 seconds in the 110m hurdles, 30.35m in the discus, 3-40m in the pole vault, but failed to start the 1500m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships at Sportcity, Manchester, on Sunday, and the Macclesfield Half-marathon on the same day.

The final round of the Wirral Multi Terrain League takes place on Tuesday at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead (6.30pm start).

Mike Lamb has set out the benefits of cross-country, particularly at WCAC – access to four leagues, championships at all levels from county to national, details of how to get involved. Why not give it a go? See the link at https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/Offroad/crosscountry

Stanney track will be out of use for approximately four weeks from Monday September 19th for repairs. Watch this space for details of reopening.

ABI PAWLETT and Emily Misantoni provided morale-boosting performances ahead of this week`s English Schools Combined Events Championships.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club multi-talented duo finished first and second respectively in the under 15 girls Cheshire Junior Pentathlon Championships at Macclesfield.

And the pair, who finished sixth and eighth respectively at the North West Schools Combined Events Championships at Blackburn in June, will be planning to continue their impressive form at Exeter this weekend.

Pawlett and Misantoni will be joined at the Exeter fixture by clubmate James McMahon, who won the North West Schools Decathlon title at Blackburn with 5,708 points.

West Cheshire`s Stephanie Jones and Jodi Bemand secured second and third positions respectively in the under 13 girls triathlon competition.

FERGUS GARLAND (6:25), Leo Green (6:54) and Louis Tegg (6:30) combined to earn West Cheshire runners-up spot in the under 11 boys race at the Cheshire Road Relay Championships held at Delamere Forest.

The trio of William Wright (13:33), Isaac Tait (13:25) and Sammy Hollins (13:39) combined to earn runners-up spot in the under 13 boys race, ahead of club mates Dylan Bugg (14:45), Ethan Butler (14:15), and Henry Robinson (14:37), who were seventh.

Sion Roberts (12:33), Sonny Dean (12:11), and Harvey Tegg (13:27) finished fourth in the under 15 boys race, while Matthew Douglass (13:25) and Liam Farrell (15:01) competed in an incomplete team.

Christy Mageean (24:28), Ethan Greenland (25:48), and Joseph Morrison (27:26) teamed up for fourth spot in the under 17 mens event, while Alex Mason (30:35) and Patrick Tait (29:50) competed in an incomplete team.

Tamsin O`Keefe (14:44), Anna Crayston (14:43) and Eve Duret (15:19) combined to earn fourth place in the under 15 girls relay, ahead of clubmates Hollie Jones (16:36), Lily Moorhouse (18:15) and Molly Jones (18:16) who finished seventh.

Lucia Pyne (14:30), Fatoumatta Bojang (17:30), and Abigail Cartwright (16:19) teamed up for the under 13 girls who finished fifth, while the trio of Stephanie Jones (16:48), Sophie Grainger (16:02) and Jodi Bemand (16:32) secured seventh position.

Lisa Davies (33:46), Ellie Robinson (31:58), and Heather McLintock (31:43) combined for West Cheshire in the womens race, alongside the trio of Clare Mallon (33:39), Keeley Smith (30:03), and Anne-Marie Tait (38:10).

Mark Davies (26:02), Andrew Clague (26:53), Bob Benson (30:22) and Peter Smith (33:54) combined for the mens team who finished 15th.

TOM BOOTH of West Cheshire AC finished third at the 26km Dun Run with 1km of ascent in New Zealand.

Booth lead the first half of the race over the top of a climb but lost the lead at 14km and dropped to third after going through a bad patch at 19km, and then held on to finish third overall in just under two hours.

ROSEMARY ROGERS of West Cheshire AC finished 23rd lady overall in the field of 136 after the Wirral Whistle Stop Tour Series of races.

Rogers was first in her over 65 age group in 42:40 at the Arrowe Park Five Miles Race, finished first in her age group with a time of 72:59 at the Thurstaston Eight Miles Multi Terrain Race, and was first in her age category in 1:58:40 at the Wirral Half Marathon.

WEST CHESHIRE AC are organising the annual Essar Guilden Sutton Six 10k Road Race this Sunday (11am start), and a fun run (12.15pm start).

Other forthcoming fixtures include the Wirral Multi-Terrain Running League race at Harrison Drive, North Wirral Country Park, Wallasey, on Tuesday, September 20, (6.30pm).

West Cheshire AC were at Wrexham on Sunday for the final round of the Cheshire League, the last major track and field event of the season.

The U11s started with straight wins in the girls` sprint races and superb runs in the 600m. Not to be outdone, the boys also produced a fine set of results, and all the relay squads, boys and girls, both scoring and non-scoring were winners.

U11 girls were Carys Roberts, Cerys Rowlands, Georgina Duffey, Hannah Rowland, Jessica Lark, Martha Willetts, Milly Mustafa. Ruby Wisbey and Sara Pearson. U11 boys taking part were Casper Armstrong, Dan Willetts. Fergus Garland, George Huyton, Harley Shakespeare-Wetton, Harry Weetch, Leo Green, Leo Hewitt, Louis Tegg, Luke Parker, Matthew Jones, Milo Halliday, Tom Shillington and Zac Dean.

U13 girls had a good day, with new PBs in the shot putt for Jodi Bemond at 4.91m, Sophie Cribb 4.41m, Emma Ashcroft 6.83m, Lucia Pyne 4.47m, Isla Shillington 5.73m, Imogen Pughe 4.69m and Neve Kameen 5.30m.

Personal bests in the U13 girls 200m came for Stephanie Jones 30.6, Emma Ashcroft 29.4, Henrietta Duffey 35.7, Ambre Richards 31.2, Klara Webster 32.2, and Fatoumatta Bojang 29.8, who also achieved a high jump PB of 1.25m. Other team members were Lara Battersby, Libby Dowling, Abigail Cartwright and Karishma Thottempudi. The `A` relay team of Ambre, Emma, Lara and Stephanie finished in 2nd place.

The U15 girls` 4x100m relay team was Anna Crayston, Harriet Alexander, Abi Paulett and Tamsin O’Keefe.

The U17 boys team was Patrick Tait, David Dentith, Ethan Greenland, Joseph Morrison, Jac Goodall, and Will Rattray. David, Joseph, Jac and Patrick combined for the 4x100m relay.

Joseph was 2nd `A` runner in the 1500m in a time of 4.36.0, with David 1st `B` in 4.41.3 and Jac 1st `C` in 4.43.5. 4.43.5. David was also 4th `A` runner in the 200m, posting a time of 24.9.

Ethan Greenland finished first in the 3000m, in a time of 10.11.3, and Patrick posted a time of 11.30.5.

Very few field results were available on the day, but one exception was that of the discus throw from Isobel Griffin-Morris, who posted a massive 46.48m, which is a qualifying mark for the junior commonwealth discus.

Other U17 girls were Beth McMahon, Emma Howe and Keane Harrison. Beth took 4th `A` 200m with 39.3, Emma 3rd `B` with 28.0 and Keane 1st `C` in 29.4.

Senior competitors were Ellie Robinson, who was first lady home in the 3000m in a time of 12.04.5, and other finishers were Dave Alexander, 2nd in 10.14.7, John Pughe (12.22.1) and Peter Smith (13.34.2).

Georgina Duffey took part in the Chester parkrun, finishing first in her age group in a new PB of 24:51; Beth McMahon also finished with a new PB of 24:51.

LOCAL primary and secondary schools are being invited to take part in this winter`s four-round Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series being held at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track on Saturdays October 8, November 12, February 11, and March 4, (10am start for all dates).

FIXTURES this week include the North West Road Relay Championships (incorporating the Cheshire Championships), at Delamere Forest, this Saturday, and the Cheshire Track Relay Championships and Cheshire Junior Multi-Events Championships at Macclesfield, on Sunday.

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

Both male and female competitions get closer as summer draws to a close. Ellie, Anest and Rosemary are still top three women. Mark, Andy and Peter are still top three men, though Bob and past winner Andrew are on the rise. See https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/roadracing/pointscomp/

Andy, Graham and Mark still clear as the male top three after the Birchwood 10k. Anest and Clare clear in the women`s competition, with a point separating Elie and Lisa for third – see https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/roadracing/competition/roadrunchamps