1. WCAC Endurance Points Competition.

The revamp of scoring from that used in previous years has provided a much closer competition. Your comments would be welcomed.

In the absence of any comments I was proposing providing the usual first 3 awards, male and female at the end of the season (the main trophies need returning for engraving). Partway through the year I suggested, in response to Jon Tipping’s e-mail inviting comments on the Presentation evening, a dialogue on the awards as the Points Competition is different from the rest of the club awards, but nothing happened.

2. WCAC Road Running Championship.

This was an experiment so I was intrigued to read on the club web site that the there would be awards at the presentation evening.

I have had only one response since the final result was issued.

I have to express disappointment over the lack of support for most of the GP races and also for some of the other individual races added in to give you more choice to make up 8 scoring races. Only 4 of the 20 races (all Borders League races) had 25 or more WCAC senior and older Cheshire club runners. The number of races increases to 6 if we reduce the number to 20 or more runners and to 9 races if the number is reduced even further to 15, but the Chester Spring 5 (18 WCAC seniors) adds a further race into this total.

Against these totals for comparison I have 56 males and 20 females (senior and older) this year in the Points Competition.

I am not convinced this serves any useful encouragement and it would need a radical rethink if the club wants a Road Running Championship.

I am aware that the club has had some significant success in the Borders League over the past two seasons and is continuing to do so. Also particularly this winter it has been rather good to see us finishing teams in cross country events. Both of these aspects were the original major motivation for introducing some form of club endurance competition, particularly which does not compare performances between athletes (the points competition).

Actions – for you!

Comments, suggestions, etc are invited – including discontinue one or both competitions ( I would not be offended – I might then get some free time for other interests!).

Are you happy with the points competition as currently constructed?

Do you want a Road Running Championship – of some form?

Do you think we should include younger members – that is, those who are less than 20 years old? This would be a problem in the Road Running championship as there are age/distance restrictions. Also I am not too keen to encourage younger athletes to race frequently on the road. However we should recognize the superb road running performances of two “young” athletes. Using the BDS handicap system Katie Clarke ran 5.4 in the last Borders League race (5.5 miles) and Christy Mageean achieved 7.1 in this year’s Christleton 5K – Katie’s performance is the best so far this year for a female club member of any age and distance, while Christy’s is only 0.1 slower than the best male performance this year – by Tom Booth also over the 5K distance.

I look forward to your responses.

Best wishes for 2017.

John Driscoll 23 December 2016

([email protected])

Sorry, entries for the Essar Chester Round the Walls race are now closed, as the race entry limit has been reached. A start list is available here.

Entry  is £16 or £14 for UKA Affiliated Runners

Congratulations to winners Anest and Graham, second and third-placers Clare, Ellie, Andy and Andrew, and all who took part. Results now available near the bottom of the Road Running page.

THE entry limit for this year’s Essar Chester Round The Walls Race has been achieved.

A total of 500 competitors will line-up for the popular festive fixture being organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club from Chester Racecourse on Boxing Day (10.30am start). Race director, Dave Bish, admitted he is excited as he counts down the days to the event which has attracted a list of entrants who will travel to the city from across the country.

“I’m really pleased that this year’s race has attracted so much interest from runners not just from this area but from all parts of the country,” Bish said.

“A lot of hard work has been taking place behind the scenes to promote the popular race and everyone at West Cheshire Athletic Club is now looking forward to race day arriving. “The local council and the Chester Race Company have been very supportive as we prepare for the event, and I’m sure every runner will enjoy their well deserved mug of hot chocolate after completing the 6km course.”

Host club West Cheshire AC’s entrants will comprise of juniors Greg Jones and Jac Goodall, veterans Rosemary Rogers, Joe Foy, and Brian Beattie, and they will be competing against representatives from neighbouring Chester Tri Club, Ellesmere Port Running Club, Chester Road Runners, Helsby Running Club, Wirral AC, Tattenhall Runners, Buckley Runners, Wrexham AC, Wrecsam Tri Club, Deeside AAC, and Deestriders.

IMOGEN PUGHE of West Cheshire AC celebrated success representing Wirral Grammar School in the latest round of the Merseyside Schools Cross Country League.

Pughe clocked seven minutes six seconds for victory in the year seven girls race held at Wavertree, finishing nine seconds clear of her nearest rival, and now leads the overall standings with one league race remaining.

Pughe’s West Cheshire AC team mate, Lucia Pyne, represented West Kirby in the year eight and nine girls race, and finished eighth in 10:12, ahead of Abigail Cartwright (Wirral Grammar) who clocked 11:44.

ANEST MULLER represented West Cheshire AC at Brecon in the Welsh Inter-Regional Cross Country Championships. Muller finished 13th in the 111-strong field and was fourth in her 35-44 age group after completing a challenging two-lap course in preparation for her appearance in the Welsh National Championships early next year.

ENTRIES close this Friday, (December 16), for the Northern Indoor Track and Field Under 17, Under 20, and Senior Championships, being held at Sheffield. Further details at: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2017

WEST CHESHIRE AC will start their Northern Track and Field League Division One campaign at York. The purple-vested club travel to Yorkshire for the opening match on Saturday, May 6, before hosting round two at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village track on Sunday, June 4. Wigan will be setting for round three on Sunday, July 9, and the final match will be held at Preston on Saturday, August 5.

THE Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track will be the setting for two Cheshire Track and Field League matches next year. West Cheshire AC will host the first round on Sunday, May 7, and the final round on Sunday, September 3, and the club’s other fixtures will take place at Eccles on Sunday, July 2, and at Warrington on Sunday, July 30.

BIRCHWOOD Forest Park, Warrington, is the venue for the Cheshire County Cross Country Championships, on Saturday, January 7, and the closing date for entries is Saturday, December 31.

THE Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be held at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, February 4, and Warrington will be the setting for next year’s Cheshire AA Track and Field Championships on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, and for the Cheshire Schools Track and Field Championships on Saturday, June 10.

FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country Championships at Stafford Common on Saturday (12 noon start). Further details can be found at: http://www.nsccl.org.uk/stafford-common.htm.

The latest Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting takes place on Sunday at Sportcity (10.30am start).

FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be obtained by logging onto: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

Anest and Ellie level with a month to go; Kay seemingly clear in third. More clear cut between Mark, Andy and Andrew in the men’s competition. See the Road Races page for tables as at the end of November 2016.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club celebrated success at two weekend events.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit secured a hat-trick of team victories at the final round of the North West Sportshall League held at Deeside College, Connah’s Quay. And the club’s ladies’ and veteran men’s squads retained top spot after the third round of the Borders Road Running League staged at Birkenhead Park.

Matthew Webb, Nathan Partington, Will Scott, Harvey Tegg and Liam Farrell combined to earn West Cheshire’s under 15 boys a convincing 42-point team victory at Deeside College to earn a place in next month’s North West Sportshall League Final. They were supported at the fixture by West Cheshire’s under 11 and under 13 girls who won their respective team competitions.

Arie Cummings, Harriet Alexander, and sisters Laura and Chloe Mount combined to amass 167.5 points for second spot in the under 15 girls team event, and their result was matched by West Cheshire’s under 11 boys and under 13 boys teams.

TEAM RESULTS
UNDER 11 GIRLS: 1 West Cheshire 184.5 points; 2 Wirral 158; 3 Warrington 138; 4 Liverpool 124; 5 Deeside 39.
UNDER 13 GIRLS: 1 West Cheshire 185; 2 Liverpool 174.5; 3 Wirral 155.5; 4 Warrington 129.
UNDER 15 GIRLS: 1 Wirral 185.5; 2 West Cheshire 167.5; 3 Deeside 126; 4 Liverpool 75; 5 Warrington 38.
UNDER 11 BOYS: 1 Liverpool 173; 2 West Cheshire 170; 3 Wirral 143.5; 4 Warrington 129; 5 Deeside 80.
UNDER 13 BOYS: 1 Wirral 170; 2 West Cheshire 166.5; 3 Liverpool 135.5; 4 Warrington 106; 5 Deeside 75.
UNDER 15 BOYS: 1 West Cheshire 181.5; 2 Wirral 139.5; 3 Liverpool 130.

KATIE CLARKE spearheaded West Cheshire women’s team charge at Birkenhead Park.

The talented under 20 junior rounded the 5.5 miles course in a time of 33 minutes 35 seconds to earn second spot overall in the womens race, just 35 seconds behind Wallasey’s Claire Walton. Clarke was backed up by Anest Muller (10th lady in 35:44), her sister, Issy (19th in 37:31), and Ellie Robinson (36th in 40:18). Other members of the West Cheshire ladies squad included Pam Ackroyd (55th in 42:25), Anne-Marie Tait (59th in 43:14), Lisa Davies (73rd in 44:57), and Kay Hayes (81st in 46:12).

Jose Poyatos was West Cheshire’s first man to finish, posting 30:36 for 15th position, ahead of Rob Little (22nd in 31:12), first under 20 junior Ethan Greenland (27th in 31:38), Ian Gloyne-Phillips (44th in 32:32), Richard Hayes (47th in 32:45), Graham Wells (48th in 32:47), Andrew Clague (52nd in 32:57), Jac Goodall (57th in 33:07), Neil Hershaw (60th in 33:17), and final team counter John Parlevliet (63rd in 33:21).

Other West Cheshire finishers included Dan Mitchell (70th in 33:39), Mark Davies (75th in 33:47), Andy Carter (83rd in 34:04), Chris Palmer (91st in 34:39), Chris White (95th in 34:52), first over-60 man Bob Benson (98th in 34:58), Joe Foy (113th in 35:44), Steve Cunningham (120th in 36:04), Rob Freeman (129th in 36:28), Tony Woodall (136th in 36:48), Patrick Tait (143rd in 37:15), Neil Carter (145th in 37:20), and Dave Tiernan (173rd in 38:53).

OVERALL POSITIONS (after three rounds)
MENS DIVISION ONE: 1 Wallasey 1023 points; 2 Buckley 1132; 3 West Cheshire 1198; 4 Wirral 1348; 5 Helsby 2063; 6 Prestatyn 2283; 7 Deestriders 3704.

MENS DIVISION TWO: 1 Chester Tri 1227; 2 Abergele 1970; 3 Cybi 2021; 4 Wrexham 2026; 5 Ellesmere Port 2883; 6 Tattenhall 3095; 7 Eryri 3250; 8 Deeside 4219; 9 Birkenhead 4488; 10 Wrecsam Tri 4633.

WOMENS DIVISION ONE: 1 West Cheshire 156; 2 Wallasey 214; 3 Wirral 266; 4 Chester Tri 292; 5 Prestatyn 305; 6 Buckley 346; 7 Helsby 362.

WOMENS DIVISION TWO: 1 Ellesmere Port 263; 2 Tattenhall 286; 3 Deestriders 300; 4 Cybi 511; 5 Abergele 611; 6 Wrexham 771; 7 Eryri 808; 8 Wrecsam Tri 961; 9 Birkenhead 1215; 10 Deeside 1350.

VETERAN MEN: 1 West Cheshire 828; 2 Wallasey 1082; 3 Wirral 1255; 4 Chester Tri 1530; 5 Buckley 1533; 6 Helsby 2263; 7 Prestatyn 2919; 8 Deestriders 3264; 9 Ellesmere Port 3902; 10 Cybi 4013; 11 Eryri 4057; 12 Wrexham 4136; 13 Tattenhall 4250; 14 Abergele 4473; 15 Birkenhead 4635; 16 Deeside 4784; 17 Wrecsam Tri 5160.

VETERAN WOMEN: 1 Wirral 134; 2 Helsby 164; 3 Chester Tri 177; 4 Wallasey 210; 5 Buckley 221; 6 Ellesmere Port 263; 7 West Cheshire 268; 8 Tattenhall 377; 9 Prestatyn 440; 10 Deestriders 503; 11 Cybi 649; 12 Wrexham 789; 13 Abergele 802; 14 Eryri 959; 15 Wrecsam Tri 961; 16 Birkenhead 1215; 17 Deeside 1350.

The next round will be hosted by Deeside AAC on Sunday, January 22, (11am start).

ENTRIES close on December 11 for the Chester Round The Walls Race being hosted by West Cheshire AC on Boxing Day (10.30am start). Further details can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

FIXTURES this weekend include the West Cheshire AC Christmas Fun Morning at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall on Saturday (10am-12 noon, with £1 entry). The latest round of the Liverpool and District Cross Country League takes place at Beacon Park, Skelmersdale, on Saturday (2pm start).

ANEST MULLER headed West Cheshire Athletic Club’s women home to fifth team spot at the latest round of the North Wales Cross Country League at Bangor. The over-35 veteran finished 17th with a time of 22 minutes.

Muller was backed up by Ellie Robinson (29th in 23:30), and Clare Harris (48th in 25:11) to secure the club fifth team position on the day and fourth team spot after three rounds. Dave Alexander was the third over-45 veteran to finish the men’s race at Bangor after clocking 33:58 for 18th spot overall, ahead of club mate Bob Benson who secured 39:31 for 73rd spot. The next round of the North Wales League takes place at Walford College, Baschurch, Shrewsbury, on Saturday, January 14.

JESSICA LARK was West Cheshire’s only runner in the under 11 girls race at Sefton Park, Liverpool, in the British Cross Country Challenge fixture, posting 8:32 for 33rd position.

Isaac Tait posted 11:25 for 47th spot in the under 13 boys race, ahead of Henry Robinson (12:02), Sam Hollins (12:06), Fergus Garland (12:20), Leo Green (12:53), and Dan Willetts (13:01). Lucia Pyne was West Cheshire’s first finisher in the under 13 girls event, posting 12:13 for 34th spot, ahead of Imogen Pughe (12:27), Jodi Bemand (13:35), Martha Willetts (14:28), and Grace Scott (15:52).

Sion Roberts posted 11:16 in the under 15 boys race, ahead of Aaron Scott (13:34), while Eve Duret (12:49) and Lily Moorhouse (15:30) completed the under 15 girls event. Ethan Greenland clocked 19:09 in the under 17 mens race, ahead of Tristan McFarlane (19:55), Jac Goodall (20:14), Matthew McDonnell (21:45), and Rory Willson (23:14), while Beth McMahon rounded the under 17 ladies race in 19:44, and Greg Jones posted 27:11 in the under 20 mens race.

Anne-Marie Tait completed the senior womens event in 41:19, while Bradley Spurdens (35:59), Mark Davies (38:20), John Parlevliet (38:37), Andrew Clague (38:49), Neil Fox (39:12), and Andy Carter (39:40) finished the men’s race.

ABIGAIL PAWLETT of West Cheshire AC won the under 15 girls 60m hurdles race at the Indoor Open Meeting held at Sportcity, Manchester. Pawlett clocked 9.30 seconds and also posted 8.16 seconds in the 60m sprint, and cleared 1-55m for second position in the high jump competition.

She was joined at the fixture by West Cheshire’s Anna Crayston, Alice Jennings, Alan Littler, Dave Dentith, and Joseph Morrison. Crayston finished second in the under 15 girls long jump with 4.78m, while Jennings clocked 45.71 seconds and 10.25 seconds in the under 23 womens 300m and 60m respectively. Littler rounded the mens 300m in 41.0 seconds, while Dentith finished third overall in the two heats of the under 17 mens 600m with 1:30:04, and Morrison finished his under 20 mens 600m heat in 1:29:92.

ENTRIES close on December 11 for the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race being organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club on Boxing Day. Further details can be found at www.westcheshireac.co.uk

ANDY CARTER was elected as chairman of West Cheshire AC at the club’s AGM, while Kay Hayes was appointed secretary, and Bob Benson retained his position as treasurer.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will start their Northern Track and Field League Division One 2017 campaign at York.

The purple-vested club travel to Yorkshire for the opening match on Saturday, May 6, before hosting round two at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village track on Sunday, June 4. Wigan will be setting for round three on Sunday, July 9, and the final match will be held at Preston on Saturday, August 5.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Area Cross Country League, on Saturday, at Heaton Park (12 noon start); the Borders Road Running League on Sunday at Birkenhead Park (11am start), and the third round of the North West Sportshall League on Sunday, at Deeside College, Connah’s Quay (12.30pm start).

RUNNERS are counting down the days to this year’s Essar Chester Round the Walls Race.

The popular Boxing Day fixture organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club, is still receiving entries ahead of the December 11 closing date. Race director, Dave Bish, revealed that more than 300 entries have so far been received for the multi-terrain event which starts and finishes at Chester Racecourse and covers a distance of approximately 6km.

“The Chester Round The Walls Race is one of the oldest running fixtures in the country”, Bish said. “The historic and popular race is now in it’s 45th year and we are hoping this year’s event is a big hit with everyone after the cancellation of last year’s fixture.

“More than 300 entries have so far been received, but there is still time for anyone wanting to enter because we have a 500 limit and the closing date is December 11, but it would be advisable to enter sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

Bish, who has kept a close eye on the course during the build up to the race, is looking forward to the fixture. He added: “There has obviously been a lot of building work going on in and around Chester during the last few months and the club has remained in close contact with the council to ensure the race route is safe and navigable.

“I’d like to thank the council and to everyone at Chester Racecourse for all their help and support in the run up to the event and I’m now really looking forward to race day. I’m sure finishers at this year’s event will be delighted to learn that they can look forward to a well deserved drink of hot chocolate out of a commemorative mug specially designed for this year’s fixture.”

2014 men’s race winner Chris Smithard will be attempting to defend his title at the Roodee against 2014 runner-up Paul Thompson, from Bournville Harriers, while Ellesmere Port’s Nicola Whitfield-Bird and Pensby’s Lisa Grantham will aim to be in contention for the ladies crown.

There are age group prizes from the first under 20 junior finisher right up to the first over-70 finisher in the men’s race, and up to over-60 in the women’s event.

The Chester Round The Walls Race entry link can be found at:
http://wcac.niftyentries.com/Events/Preview/ebf6bf46-8ec2-420f-9a19-8d36564a0b7c

ETHAN GREENLAND, of West Cheshire AC, clocked a new personal best time of 17 minutes 58 seconds for victory at the latest Delamere parkrun.

He was joined by Isaac Tait (20:12), his elder brother Patrick (22:04), and father David (22:23), sister Ingrid (33:57) and mother Anne-Marie (33:57), while Rob Freeman posted 21:41 at the Ellesmere Port 5k parkrun.

Chester University student and West Cheshire AC member Bradley Spurdens won the Chester 5k parkrun in a new personal best time of 17:32, ahead of Jac Goodall (third in a new best of 18:31), Andrew Clague (fourth in 18:38) and Ian Gloyne-Philips (fifth in new best of 19:16).

Other West Cheshire AC finishers included Jack Hollins (21:11), Brian Beattie (27:38), Sammy Hollins (28:10), and John Parlevliet (52:52).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will start their Northern Track and Field League Division One campaign at York.The purple-vested club travel to Yorkshire for the opening match on Saturday, May 6, before hosting round two at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village track on Sunday, June 4. Wigan will be the setting for round three on Sunday, July 9, and the final match will be held at Preston on Saturday, August 5.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will stage it’s Annual General Meeting this Friday at the Cheshire County Sports Club Pavilion, Mannings Lane, Upton By Chester, from 7.30pm.

FIXTURES this weekend include the North Wales Cross Country League at the Treborth Track, Menai, on Saturday (2pm start), and the Liverpool and District Cross Country League and British Cross Country Challenge at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday (12 noon start).