Please note that, due to the schools’ cross-country at Stanney tomorrow, Saturday 21-11-15, there will be no under-11s training.

Possibly. But why not venture off the roads in 2015 anyway, and run in big events with character? For club members of all ages and abilities, enter the Cheshire, Liverpool, Northern or National Cross-country Championships by returning this slip (https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/docs/load.php?id=2109), with entry fees (at a fraction of the cost of most road races…), to Mike Lamb, Dennis Wall, Tim Durrant or your coach by the dates shown on the slip. For more details, see https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/Offroad/champs

SONNY DEAN helped Cheshire Schools to a cross-country team success at Stafford. The West Cheshire member posted 14 minutes 18 seconds for fourth position at the Inter-Counties match, and was backed up by clubmates Charlie Potts (72nd in 16:33), Ben Grinter (73rd in 16:33), and Sion Roberts.

Emily Misantoni finished sixth in the junior girls race with a time of 12:19, ahead of clubmate Anna Crayston (39th in 13:10), while Issy Clarke completed the intermediate girls race in 16:12 for 12th spot.

Isaac Tait was first home for the Cheshire Year Seven Boys team, finishing sixth overall in a time of 9:04, ahead of club mate Dylan Bugg (35th in 9:38).

Ethan Greenland (32nd in 21:48) was a member of the winning Cheshire intermediate boys team, alongside club mate Jac Goodall (52nd in 22:29).

WEST CHESHIRE AC under 15 boys, under 13 girls and under 13 boys all secured success at the second round of the North West Sportshall League held at South Cheshire College, Crewe.

Aaron Scott, Nathan Partington, Ethan Butler, Michael Maxwell, Harvey Tegg, Matthew Webb, Noah St Hill, and Alfie Baker secured top spot in the under 13 boys team competition.

Anna Crayston, Lauren Jones, Sophie Cribb, Nia Forshaw, Isobel Ellis, Abi Pawlett, Ambre Richards, Tamsin O’Keefe, and Emma Ashcroft raced to success in the under 13 girls event.

And the under 15 boys squad of Will Scott, Daniel Pagan, David Dentith, Ewan Brandon, and George Booth teamed up for victory in the under 15 boys competition.

The hard-working trio of Beth McMahon and sisters Laura and Chloe Mount combined to earn second position in the under 15 girls team event.

Ben Mustafa, Tommy Smith, Leo Hewitt, Harvey Shakespeare-Wetton, Louis Tegg, Jack Brett, Harry Weetch, Zac Grinter, Gabriel Pulford, Uzezi Onomericke, Casper Armstrong, and Harry Bugg teamed up for the under 11 boys who finished second.

Lara Battersby, Libby Dowling, Kate Braley, Grace Scott, Lowri Blockley, Scarlett Ross, Stephanie Jones, Izzy Whittlestone, Dervla Desouza, Imogen Pughe, and Martha Willetts, Isla Shillington, Carys Roberts, and Jodie Bemand combined for the under 11 girls who finished third.

TEAM RESULTS
UNDER 11 BOYS – 1 Crewe and Nantwich 85 points; 2 equal West Cheshire and Macclesfield 77.25.

UNDER 13 BOYS – 1 West Cheshire 82.75; 2 Crewe and Nantwich 80.5; 3 Handforth 77.

UNDER 15 BOYS – 1 West Cheshire 83.25; 2 Crewe and Nantwich 79; 3 Deeside 31; 4 Macclesfield 28; 5 Handforth 25.

UNDER 11 GIRLS – 1 Crewe and Nantwich 85.75; 2 Macclesfield 80.5; 3 West Cheshire 71.25; 4 Handforth 43.5; 5 Deeside 35.

UNDER 13 GIRLS – 1 West Cheshire 85.5; 2 Crewe and Nantwich 77.25; 3 Macclesfield 74.25; 4 Handforth 45.5; 5 Deeside 36.

UNDER 15 GIRLS – 1 Crewe and Nantwich 87.25; 2 West Cheshire 84; 3 Deeside 69; 4 Handforth 26.

SEVERAL West Cheshire AC members were represented at the penultimate round of the North Staffs Cross-country League held at Park Hall Country Park, Weston Coyney, Stoke on Trent.

Imogen Pughe, Carys Roberts, Lara Battersby, Scarlett Ross, and Nina Willson competed in the under 11 girls race, while Henry Robinson, Charlie McMullan, and William Wright headed West Cheshire’s charge in the under 11 boys event.

Tamsin O’Keefe, Molly Jones, and Abigail Cartwright combined for the under 13 girls team, while Harvey Tegg, Ethan Butler, Liam Farrell, and Ivor Smith represented the club in the under 13 boys race, and Patrick Tait, Rory Willson, and Oliver Dandy teamed up for the under 15 boys.

Beth McMahon combined with Lily Moorhouse in the under 15 girls race, Katie Clarke finished the under 17 womens event, and Ellie Robinson completed the senior womens race.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will hold their annual general meeting at Cheshire County Sports Club Boardroom, Upton By Chester, on Friday, November 27, (7.30pm start).

FIXTURES this weekend include the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races at Stanney Oaks Athletics Track, Ellesmere Port, on Saturday (registration from 9.15am for a 10am start).

JEROME CASTELOW spearheaded a record-breaking West Cheshire AC Borders Road Running League charge at Birkenhead Park.

The University of Chester student completed the 5.5 miles course in a time of 32 minutes 26 seconds for 25th position ahead of 26 other purple-vested men and eight West Cheshire ladies.

Castelow was backed up by Borders League debutant Richard Farley (29th in 32:35), Mark Davies (33rd in 32:42), league debutant Ethan Greenland (45th in 33:22), David Tait (58th in 33:54), Andrew Clague (60th in 33:56), Neil Hershaw (63rd in 34:03), Andy Carter (65th in 34:10), Tony Woodall (68th in 34:25), and John Parlevliet (74th in 34:40).

The 10 scoring counters earned West Cheshire third team position in Division One on the day and third spot overall after two rounds.

Katie Clarke was the first West Cheshire lady home, clocking 13th place with a time of 37:16. The under 20 junior was supported by Anest Muller (16th in 37:28), Clare Mallon (54th in 43:07), and Ann-Marie Tait (58th in 43:38), to earn West Cheshire fifth team position both on the day and overall after two rounds.

Sharon Eaton, completed her first-ever Borders League race and finished 61st in 43:53, ahead of Kay Hayes (67th in 45:00), Sophie Carter (99th in 49:39), and Laura Smith (100th in 49:52).

The other West Cheshire finishers were Rob Freeman (98th in 35:48), Phil Woodley (102nd in 35:55), Andy Starkey (104th in 36:08), Jack Gannon (119th in 36:48), Vince Hodges (123rd in 36:59), Dave Tiernan (137th in 37:43), Bob Benson (140th in 37:57), Joseph Smyth (157th in 39:23), Neil Carter (166th in 39:55), Craig Richardson (169th in 40:06), Richard Batterham (177th in 40:21), Peter Smith (218th in 43:12), Phil Howe (225th in 44:00), Daniel Craig (226th in 44:09), Dave Bish (235th in 46:36), Brain Beattie (243rd in 47:41), and Dave Brierley (252nd in 53:04).

TEAM POSITIONS (after round two)
MEN Division One: 1 Wirral 741 points; 2 Wallasey 809; 3 West Cheshire 1125; 4 Buckley 1158; 5 Abergele 1769; 6 Chester Tri 1771; 7 Helsby 1816.

MEN Division Two: 1 Deestriders 835; 2 Wrexham 939; 3 Prestatyn 1056; 4 Ellesmere Port 1237; 5 Cybi Striders 1309; 6 Tattenhall 1356; 7 Wrecsam Tri 1680; 8 Eryri 1813; 9 Deeside 2525; 10 Birkenhead 3650.

WOMEN Division One: 1 Chester Tri 49; 2 Ellesmere Port 136; 3 Tattenhall 194; 4 Wirral 196; 5 West Cheshire 238; 6 Buckley 250; 7 Helsby 320.

WOMEN Division Two: 1 Wallasey 144; 2 Abergele 161; 3 Prestatyn 166; 4 Cybi Striders 247; 5 Eryri 385; 6 Deestriders 401; 7 Wrecsam Tri 525; 8 Wrexham 561; 9 equal Birkenhead and Deeside 600.

WILLIAM WRIGHT represented West Cheshire at Sherdley Park, St Helens at the Manchester Cross Country League and posted 12:17 for eighth spot in the under 13 boys race, and Denis Duret clocked 41:26 for 25th position in his 45-49 age group.

SION ROBERTS (sixth in 20:02) headed the West Cheshire contingent at the Delamere parkrun, ahead of Charlie Weaver (10th in 20:25), Issy Clarke (14th in a new personal best of 21:04), Charlie Clarke (42nd in 24:14), and Mike Perchard (88th in 27:35).

ROB FREEMAN posted 21:23 for seventh spot at the Ellesmere Port parkrun, ahead of Mimi Jayaram (19th in 24:09), and Abigail Cartwright (24th in 25:16).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will hold their AGM at Cheshire County Sports Club\’s boardroom on Friday, November 27, (7.30pm start).

FIXTURES this weekend include the third round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Park Hall Country Park, Weston Coyney, Stoke on Trent, on Saturday (12 noon start).

The second round of the North West Sportshall Athletics League takes place on Sunday at South Cheshire College, Crewe, (12.30pm start).

All still to play for in both competitions, as Mark and Anest lead going into the final two months, with points available on and off road. See https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/roadracing/pointscomp/

ETHAN GREENLAND warmed up for the Borders Road Running League fixture on Sunday with a victory. The West Cheshire AC teenager clocked a winning time of 18 minutes nine seconds at the Delamere 5km Park Run.

He was joined at the event by West Cheshire clubmate Evan Roberts (fourth in 18:52), Christy Mageean (fifth in 18:57), Alex Staniforth (seventh in 18:59), Jac Goodall (15th in 19:58), Sion Roberts (17th in 20:06), and Charlie Weaver (18th in 20:09).

Other West Cheshire AC finishers at Delamere included Harri Britton (32nd in 21:47), Ben Mason (60th in 23:33), Molly Jones (63rd in 23:42), Charlie Clarke (65th in 23:48), Henry Robinson (68th in 23:52), Ellie Robinson (69th in 23:53), Rory Willson (86th in 24:47), Adam Howe (107th in 25:40), Kay Hayes (111th in 25:47), Pamela Ackroyd (153rd in 27:52), Leon Moorhouse (171st in 29:09), Ivor Smith (232nd in 32:17), Peter Smith (233rd in 32:18), and Lily Moorhouse (271st in 34:00).

Mark Davies was the first West Cheshire AC finisher at the Ellesmere Port 5km Park Run, clocking 19:12 for second place and being backed up by Bob Freeman who posted 20:10 for sixth position.

Bob Benson rounded the Whitby Park course in 12th place with a time of 21:27, ahead of club colleagues Anest Muller (15th in 21:48), Liam Farrell (17th in 22:10), Luke Parker (38th in 25:21), Dave Bish (44th in 26:21), Louis Tegg (47th in 27:04), and Harvey Tegg (52nd in 27:50).

BRIAN BEATTIE posted 28:42 at the Edinburgh 5km Park Run held at Figgate Park.

WEST CHESHIRE AC men and women will be aiming to match or better their Borders Road Running League Division One team results from the opening round when they line-up for action this Sunday at 11am at Birkenhead Park for a four-lap 5.5 miles course.

Both men and women achieved fourth position in their respective team competitions at the first round staged at Capenhurst.

Any West Cheshire AC members wanting to car share this Sunday should meet at Cheshire County Sports Club, Plas Newton Lane, Upton, CH2 1PR, at 9.30am with last car leaving at 9.45am.

TEAM STANDINGS (after round one):

MEN Division One: 1 Wallasey 494 points; 2 Wirral 526; 3 Buckley 599; 4 West Cheshire 605; 5 Chester Tri 766; 6 Helsby 861; 7 Abergele 885.

MEN Division Two: 1 Deestriders 276; 2 Wrexham 444; 3 Cybi 479; 4 Prestatyn 587; 5 Ellesmere Port 588; 6 Wrecsam Tri 636; 7 Tattenhall 676; 8 Eryri 930; 9 Deeside 1047; 10 Birkenhead 1812.

WOMEN Division One: 1 Chester Tri 26; 2 Wirral 50; 3 Ellesmere Port 51; 4 West Cheshire 97; 5 Tattenhall 116; 6 Buckley 138; 7 Helsby 171.

WOMEN Division Two: 1 Prestatyn 72; 2 Abergele 84; 3 Wallasey 91; 4 Cybi 139; 5 Deestriders 177; 6 Eryri 219; 7 Wrecsam Tri 268; =8 Deeside; Birkenhead; and Wrexham 300.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will hold their annual general meeting at Cheshire County Sports Club Boardroom on Friday, November 27, (7.30pm start).

Other fixtures this weekend include the Manchester Area Cross Country League on Saturday at Sherdley Park, St Helens.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club celebrated a team success at Stafford Common.

Tamsin O’Keefe (second in five minutes 42 seconds), Anna Crayston (third in 5:48), Lucia Pyne (13th in 6:17), and Molly Jones (19th in 6:29), combined to clinch top spot in the under 13 girls team competition at the second round of the North Staffs Cross Country League.

Lara Battersby (12th in 6:25), Carys Roberts (13th in 6:26), Scarlett Ross (23rd in 6:47), and Nina Willson (53rd in 8:22), earned West Cheshire AC’s under 11 girls fourth team spot.

Katie Clarke finished third with 15:54 in the under 17 womens race, while Issy Clarke (fifth in 10:38) and Lily Moorhouse (37th in 12:58) completed the under 15 girls event.

Ellie Robinson (38th in 23:38) and Anne-Marie Tait (101st in 26:33) negotiated the senior womens race, while Andrew Clague (66th in 40:03), Bob Benson (194th in 46:46) and Peter Smith (257th in 51:37) completed the senior men’s event.

Sion Roberts (10th in 14:59), Jac Goodall (11th in 15:01), Rory Willson (16th in 15:22), Charlie Weaver (19th in 15:34), Alex Mason (22nd in 15:58), Patrick Tait (39th in 19:39), and Oliver Dandy (40th in 19:48) secured third team position in the under 15 boys event, and Ethan Greenland was eighth with 19:01 in the under 17 mens race.

Isaac Tait (third in 10:08), Harvey Tegg (fourth in 10:22), Ethan Butler (22nd in 11:03), Charlie Potts (25th in 11:06), Liam Farrell (26th in 11:09), and Alex Smith (57th in 16:47), earned West Cheshire AC second team place in the under 13 boys race.

Charlie McMullan was ninth in the under 11 boys race with a time of 6:10, ahead of Henry Robinson (11th in 6:18), Fergus Garland (15th in 6:27), Louis Tegg (30th in 6:45), to earn West Cheshire AC third spot in the team event.

The next round of the North Staffs Cross Country League will be held on Saturday, November 14, at Park Hall Country Park, Weston Colney, Stoke on Trent.

JOE FOY and Bob Freeman of West Cheshire AC finished first and second respectively in the over 60 mens age group at the Flintshire 10k Road Race. Foy ran a season’s best time of 40:49 to win his age category, just 14 seconds ahead of second-placed Freeman, while Andrew Carter finished second in his over-45 mens age group in 39:18.

ROSEMARY ROGERS represented West Cheshire AC at the final race in the Wirral Seaside 5km Run Series, posting 26 minutes 56 seconds for 68th position.

BOB FREEMAN of West Cheshire AC was fourth with a time of 20:32 at the Ellesmere Port 5km Park Run, ahead of Aaron Scott (31st in 24:50), and Isla Shillington (41st in 26:30), while Charlie Clarke (37th in 23:19) completed the Delamere 5km Park Run.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will hold their annual general meeting at Cheshire County Sports Club’s Boardroom on Friday, November 27, (7.30pm start).

FIXTURES this weekend include the Porth Eirias 5k and 10k Races at Colwyn Bay on Saturday; and the Abergele Five Miles Road Race on Sunday (1pm start).

Jonny Tye of Precision Hydration is coming to the Rowton Hall Hotel, Christleton on Thursday November 19th to talk about the science of hydration in sport. Listen to the talk, book a personal sweat test, have a curry (you may want to rehydrate after the curry!)- all three options available. Details here https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/docs/load.php?id=2099

LOCAL youngsters proved class acts at the opening round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series.

A total of 295 pupils from schools in Ellesmere Port, Neston, Chester, Helsby, Tarporley, and the Wirral demonstrated their pace at Stanney Oaks, the setting for the first of four rounds, with the next fixture scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 21.

Eleanor Williams, representing Chester Kings School, won the year three girls race in a time of three minutes 16 seconds – 10 seconds clear of runner-up Ella Hims (Childer Thornton), while Issy Read (Upton Heath) was third in 3:34.

Joseph Ireland (Mill View) won the year three boys event in a time of 3:05, just one second in front of runner-up Henry Jones (St Luke’s), while Henry Copelin (Eaton) was third in 3:14.

Jessica Lark (Upton Heath) won the year four girls race with a time of 3:20, seven seconds in front of runner-up Ruby Carlile (Guilden Sutton), while Darcey Fay (Helsby Hillside) was third in 3:29.

Reece Munro (Eccleston) secured success in the year four boys race in 2:55, while William Line (Tarporley) was runner-up with 3:12, and Alex Gray (Newton) was third in 3:14.

Carys Roberts (Tarporley) won the year five girls race in 5:14, ahead of runner-up Jessica Hennessey (Newton) in 5:26, and Martha Willetts (Tarvin) in third spot with 5:35.

Zak Dean (Helsby Hillside) won the year five boys event in 4:59, just four seconds ahead of runner-up Fergus Garland (Childer Thronton), with Zak Thomas (Highfield) in third place with 5:08.

Imogen Pughe (Childer Thornton) clocked a winning time of 5:14 in the year six girls race, six seconds ahead of runner-up Sophie Grainger (Boughton Heath), with Fatima Bojang (Chester Bluecoat) in third with 5:23.

Thomas Doherty (The Firs) posted 4:52 to win the year six boys race ahead of runner-up Ted Bolton (Christleton) with 4:56, while William Sutcliffe (Mill View) was third in 4:57.

Lucia Pyne (West Kirby Grammar) won the year seven girls race in 8:08, ahead of runner-up Abigail Cartwright (Wirral Girls) with 8:56.

Ethan Dawson won the year seven boys race in 7:43, ahead of second-placed Dylan Bugg (Tarporley High) with the same time, and third placed Ethan Butler (Christleton) in 7:47.

Charlotte Walker and her sister Nina, from Tarporley, finished first and second respectively in the year eight girls race with times of 11:44 and 12:48, while Mimi Jayaram (Abbeygate) was third in 13:02.

Harvey Tegg (Wirral Grammar) won the year eight boys race in 10:47, ahead of Matthew Douglass (Upton High) in second spot with 11:16, and third-placed Liam Farrell (Neston High) with 11:19.

ISSAC and David Tait headed West Cheshire AC’s charge at the Ellesmere Port 5k Park Run in Whitby Park. Issac (fifth in 19:14) and his dad David (sixth 19:16) both clocked new personal bests, ahead of Rory Willson (12th in a new pb of 19:47), Rob Freeman (14th in 19:52), John McGarrell (20th in 20:40), Patrick Tait (27th in a new pb of 21:49), Adam Howe (28th in 21:57), Rosemary Rogers (49th in 23:57), Aaron Scott (53rd in a new pb of 24:14), Dave Bish (64th in 25:51), and Clive Sykes (121st in 38:53).

Entry details for all Northern Indoor Championships are available from the Stanney Oaks Track Office, or via the Northern Athletics website, http://www.northernathletics.org.uk/

FIXTURES this weekend include the second round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Stafford Common for all age groups on Saturday (12 noon start first race), and the first round of the Liverpool and District Cross Country League at Beacon Park, Skelmersdale, (2pm start), for men and women only

…then see here for reasons to give it a go: http://www.runbritain.com/blogs/get-into-cross-country?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Home&utm_campaign=October_2015_Issue_2 (photo courtesy of our very own Round the Walls race, due back in 2016!).

If that has whetted your appetite, feel free to check out our cross-country pages, beginning with https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/Offroad/crosscountry, or use the Offroad/Cross-country address, via the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page, to ask a question. The fields are full of people of all ages, speeds, shapes and sizes, and you will not have to pay a penny to run in any of the four leagues that West Cheshire AC are affiliated to. Seems daft not to try…