WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club enjoyed a memorable weekend indoors, on the road, and in the mud.

Emma Holmes was crowned Northern Indoor Under 20 women’s 200m champion in Sheffield after clocking a new club record time of 57.13 seconds, ahead of club mate Imogen Pughe who made it a purple-vested 1-2 by securing the silver medal in 58.40 seconds.

And Emma added a silver medal in the 200m with a new club record time of 24.63 seconds, while Cosette Wearden rounded the under 20 women’s 3,000m in a new club record time of 11:13.01 for a silver medal.

Alfie Lane grabbed a bronze medal after posting 23.18 seconds in his under 17 men’s 200m final, while Fergus Garland posted a new under 20 men’s 400m club record of 52.14 seconds in his heat and was sixth in his final with 53.50 seconds.

Jessica Lark clocked a new under 17 women’s 800m indoor record time of 2:12.84 and finished sixth with 2:20.52 in the final, while Aimee Phillips posted 2:27.94 in her heat.

Other members in action included Carys Manson who posted 9.9 seconds in her under 17 women’s 60m hurdles and 8.53 seconds in her 60m, while Beth McMahon rounded the women’s 400m in 61.0 seconds.

Holly Bosworth posted 8.37 seconds in her under 17 women’s 60m semi-final and 27.26 seconds in her 200m heat, while Lara Fields posted 28.34 seconds in her under 17 women’s 200m heat.

THREE West Cheshire AC youngsters pocketed medals at the North Wales Indoor Track and Field Championships at Deeside.

Macey Jones was second in the under 15 girls 60m and long jump, and Lydia Walker clocked a new under 15 girls 60m personal best time to secure a bronze medal, while Mae Grant was a bronze medallist in the under 15 girls long jump.

WEST CHESHIRE AC won the men’s team prize at the Helsby Four Villages Half Marathon on Sunday thanks to Michael Young (1:14:38), Graham Wells (second over-45 man in 1:17:54), Jon Park (1:18:19), and Isaac McKenna (first under 23 man in 1:22:18).

Other purple-vested finishers included Lindsay Fisher (1:27:12), Andrew Clague (1:27:25), Dave Sutton (1:29:20), Danny Paddock (1:30:17), Fiona Cook (1:33:01), Andy Carter (1:33:29), Richard Hayes (1:34:38), Steve Roberts (1:35:48), Ian Gloyne-Phillips (1:36:08), Neil Field (1:38:30), Brian Cremin (1:37:30), Steve Hillier (1:38:06), Clare Mallon (1:42:49), Phil Gent (1:43:59), Stephen Ball (1:46:20), Iain Wood (1:49:44), and Richard Hunt (2:00:12).

JAMIE RICHARDSON secured second spot in the under 20 men’s race with a time of 33:04 at the latest round of the Manchester Area Cross Country League held at Heaton Park, on Saturday.

He was backed up by Sammy Hollins (11th in 34:58), and Henry Robinson (14th in 37:52), to earn the club top spot in the team competition.

Tracy Rogers achieved fourth spot in the under 35 women’s age group with a time of 33:30, ahead of Emma Nutt (27th in 36:48), Traci Shipley (seventh over-55 lady in 43:03), Angela Tegg (20th over-50 lady in 45:02), Debra Bemand (24th over-50 lady in 46:58), 

Jodi Bemand secured sixth spot with a time of 35:18 in the under 20 women’s race, and Thomas Rimmer finished seventh with a time of 13:04 in the under 13 boys race, while Ellis Hancock (15th in 22:57), and Matthew McCreadie (16th in 22:57) completed the under 17 men’s race.

Isabella Rimmer was 13th with 25:23 in the under 17 women’s race, while Eleanor Wheeler clocked 15:53 for 33rd spot in the under 13 girls race.

Nia Manson (15th in 12:12) and Poppy McKenna (22nd in 12:50) combined in the under 11 girls race while Harley Scadeng finished 14th in a time of 11:39 in the under 11 boys race.

Daniel Walker was 32nd with 16:56 and Ben Newall posted 20:49 for 57th spot in the under 15 boys race.

Paul Morrison was 69th in his 20-39 age group with 38:58, alongside Andrew Clague (10th over-50 man in 40:32), and Elwyn Sharps (60:08).

FIXTURES this weekend include the Borders Road Running League fixture at Linmere, Delamere Forest, CW8 2HZ, on Sunday (10am start).

FIXTURES this month include the Frodsham Primary Schools Sportshall Competition at Frodsham Leisure Centre on Thursday, January 26; the Northern Cross Country Championships, at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Saturday, January 28, and a Manchester Indoor Open Meeting on Sunday 29th January.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club members grabbed a fistful of medals at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit secured five podium places in the team competitions and five individual medallists at the event held at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Sunday.

Nia Manson (fourth), Poppy McKenna (fifth), and Amelia Snowden (sixth) combined for top spot in the under 11 girls race.

Jamie Richardson (third), Sammy Hollins (sixth) and Henry Robinson (seventh) celebrated victory in the under 20 men’s team competition.

Emilia Pyper (second), Eleanor Wheeler (seventh), and Harriet Beattie (ninth) teamed up for silver medals in the under 13 girls team event.

Holly Coates (third), Cosette Wearden (eighth) and Nancy Farmer (16th) claimed silver medals in the under 15 girls team competition.

And Matthew McCreadie (eighth), Ellis Hancock (ninth), and Thomas Johnson (12th) grabbed bronze medals in the under 17 boys’ team event.

Isabella Rimmer was second in the under 17 ladies race, and her brother, Thomas, was third in his under 13 boys event.

Other West Cheshire AC members in action included Rose Sheppard (16th), Felicity Snowden (21st), Heidi Wetherall (18th), Rosie Grimsditch (22nd), and Lydia Chambers (26th) in the under 11 girls race.

Thomas Rimmer was supported in the under 13 boys race by team mates George Grimsditch (14th), Dylan Gledhill (18th), Jacob Hunt (19th), Daniel Hooker (20th) and Harry McKenna (22nd).

Grace Andrews (13th), Poppy Coates (15th), Megan Hughes, and Charlotte Finegan (19th) completed the under 13 girls race, while Daniel Walker (ninth), and Noah Woolgar (13th) completed the under 15 boys race.

Claire Harris (15th woman, 5th senior woman), Emma Nutt (18tgh woman, 6th senior woman), Clare Mallon (15th over over-45 woman), Angela Tegg (10th over-50 woman), and Debra Bemand (12th over-50 woman) represented West Cheshire AC in the ladies race.

Graham Wells (fourth over-45 man), Andrew Clague (third over-50 man), Neil Hershaw (second over-55 man), Paul Morrison (33rd senior man), Neil Field (21st over-50 man), Iain Wood (fourth over-60 man), Andy Carter (22nd over-50 man), and Tony Kennedy (seventh over-65 man) completed the final race of the day.

YASMIN SMITH, of West Cheshire AC, blasted her way to a new under 20 ladies’ 60m personal best of 8.16 seconds at Sunday’s Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting.

She was joined at the fixture by club mate Ruby Phillips who rounded the under 15 girls’ 600m in a winning time of 1:46:48, and her sister, Aimee, posted 1:44:82 in her under 17 ladies’ 600m.

Alfie Lane posted a new under 17 men’s 200m of 23.62 seconds and 7.51 seconds in his 60m; and Carys Manson who clocked 8.73 seconds in her under 17 ladies’ 60m, 28.47 in her 200m, and 10.11 in her 60m hurdles.

Lydia Walker posted a new under 15 girls’ personal bests in the 60m (8.43 seconds) and 200m (28.91), alongside team mates Beth Manson who clocked a new under 15 girls’ best of 8.74, ran 28.34 in her 200m, hit 6.16m in the shot, while Nancy Collins posted 9.21 for her under 15 girls’ 60m.

Ruby Billington cleared a new under 15 girls’ high jump personal best of 1-42m and a new 60m best of 9.01 seconds, Lara Fields posted 29.28 seconds in her under 17 ladies’ 200m, and Joshua Stirling clocked 27.56 in his under 15 boys’ 200m and long jumped 4.48m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Cross Country League at Heaton Park, on Saturday, and the Four Villages Helsby Half Marathon on Sunday.

ENTRIES close on January 16 for the Northern Under 15 and Under 13 Indoor Championships on February 5, taking place at EIS Sheffield are now open online via: www.race-results.co.uk

STEVE FERNYHOUGH concluded 2022 with a victory in Liverpool.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club distance runner posted a winning time of 35 minutes 44 seconds at the Liverbird 10k on New Year’s Eve.

He was joined at the fixture by club mate Jon Park who clocked 2:48:15 for third place in the Liverbird Marathon, ahead of Richard Hunt who finished 37th in 5:18:11.

Sarah Hibbert completed the club quartet, achieving a new personal best of 1:51:54 for fourth spot in the Liverbird Half Marathon.

MORE than 50 West Cheshire AC members have entered this Sunday’s Cheshire Cross Country Championships being held at Knights Grange, Winsford.

The timetable for the fixture is: 11am – Under 11 Boys and Girls (1600m), 11:20am – Under 13 Boys and Girls (3000m), 11:50am – Under 15 Boys and Girls (4100m), 12:20pm – Under 17 Men and Women (5400m), 1pm – Under 20 Women (8000m), 1pm – Senior and Veteran Women (8000m), 2pm – Under 20 Men, Senior and Veteran Men (10,200m).

FIXTURES this weekend also include the latest Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting at SportCity, on Sunday (10.30am start).

ENTRIES close on January 16 for the Northern Under 15 and Under 13 Indoor Championships on February 5, taking place at EIS Sheffield are now open online via: www.race-results.co.uk

WEST CHESHIRE AC has lined up a number of events to mark it’s 25th anniversary this year.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit will host two open track and field meetings on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 26, as well as host both the Cheshire County Clubs and Schools Track and Field Championships.

The Cheshire Clubs Championships will be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, and the Cheshire Schools Championships take place on Saturday, June 10.

Other home fixtures this year include two Under 13 and Under 15 Youth Development League fixtures on Sunday, May 7 and Saturday, July 8; an Under 17 and Under 20 Youth Development League match on Sunday, April 30; a Northern League match on Saturday, May 20; and two Cheshire League fixtures on Sunday, April 23, and Sunday, September 3.

West Cheshire AC will also host their annual Secondary Schools Cup match on Wednesday, May 10; the County Round of the English Schools Cup on Wednesday, May 17; the Regional B Final of the English Schools Cup on Wednesday, June 14; and the annual Cheshire v Merseyside Year 7 Schools fixture on Wednesday, July 5.

FIXTURES this month include the Manchester Cross Country League on Saturday, January 14, at Heaton Park; the Helsby Four Villages Half Marathon on Sunday, January 15, the Chester Primary Schools Sportshall Competitions at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 17 and 18; the Borders Road Running League on Sunday, January 22 (10am start), at Delamere Forest, and the Northern Cross Country Championships, at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Saturday, January 28.

JOSEPH MORRISON and Sarah Hunter celebrated success at the 50th anniversary Chester Round The Walls Race on Boxing Day.

Joseph (West Cheshire AC) became the host club’s first ever male or female winner, in 21 minutes 40 seconds. Sarah, representing Ackworth Road Runners, won the women’s race in a time of 24:03.

Joseph enjoyed a four seconds winning margin over runner-up Peter Taylor Bray (Chorlton), while Chris Smithard (Forth Valley Orienteers) secured third spot in 22:06.

Sarah finished just one second clear of nearest rival, Chester-based Carol Parsons in the women’s race, while Tracy Rogers (Buckley Runners) clocked 24:53 for third spot.

Michael Young (West Cheshire AC) was fourth overall in 22:10, while Mike Fryer (Helsby) finished fifth in 22:27, Jon Park (West Cheshire AC) was sixth in 22:46, Craig Connor (Tattenhall) was seventh in 22:47, Leon Foster (Leeds City) was eighth in 22:57, Paul Thompson (Bournville Harriers) was ninth in 23:21, and Joseph Houssais (PUC) was 10th in 23:26.

Claire Fuhlhage (Illinois State University) finished fourth in the women’s race in 25:06, ahead of fifth placed Gemma Moore (Eryri Harriers) in 26:00, while Jodi Bemand (West Cheshire AC) was first under 20 lady and sixth overall in 26:23, ahead of Sam Burrows (seventh in 26:44), Alison Cole (Cheshire Dragons) eighth in 26:56, Kerry Riley (West Cheshire AC) ninth in 27:09, and Izabella Thompson (10th in 27:41).

West Cheshire AC’s other finishers included Steve Fernyhough (first over-40 man and 11th overall in 23:28), Henry Robinson (first under 20 man and 14th overall in 23:59), Paul Morrison (26th in 24:59), Dan Thwaites (31st in 25:28), Danny Paddock (33rd in 25:44), Kerry Riley (ninth lady in 27:09), Andrew Barratt (fifth under 20 man and 57th overall in 27:14), Jack Sheppard (eighth over-40 man and 58th overall in 27:19), Neil Field (ninth over-50 man and 67th overall in 27:49), Dave Barratt (17th over-50 man and 101st overall in 29:52), Steve Roberts (14th over-45 man and 119th overall in 30:35), Tony Kennedy (fifth over-65 man and 213th overall in 35:05), Rosemary Rogers (first over-70 lady and 310th overall in 38:35), Mark Povey (339th in 39:42), and Katrina Hughes (137th lady in 40:46). 

ENTRIES for the Northern Under 15 and Under 13 Indoor Championships on February 5, taking place at EIS Sheffield are now open online via: www.race-result.co.uk

THE next Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting will be held at SportCity on Sunday, January 8. The online entry link and more information can be found here: www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series

JAMIE RICHARDSON and Jodi Bemand spearheaded West Cheshire Athletic Club’s charge in Sunday’s Borders Road Running League fixture.

The purple-vested duo won their under 20 age groups, with Jamie posting 26 minutes 43 seconds for second place overall and Jodi clocking 34:03 for eighth spot in the ladies race at the five miles Trac Mon, Anglesey course.

Jamie was supported in the men’s race by Graham Wells (17th in 28:54), Henry Robinson (47th in 31:40), Paul Morrison (54th in 32:18), Andrew Clague (62nd in 32:59), Andy Carter (79th in 34:07), Ian Ackroyd (132nd in 39:13), Dave Tiernan (136th in 39:53), and Elwyn Sharps (176th in 48:51).

And Jodi was backed up in the women’s race by Emma Nutt (23rd in 35:54), Traci Shipley (38th in 37:28), Debra Bemand (56th in 40:14), Joy Hickman (61st in 41:02), and Amy Mills (63rd in 41:09).

TEAM STANDINGS AFTER THREE ROUNDS:

MEN Division One: 1 Wallasey 1032 points; 2 Wrexham 1162; 3 Helsby 1489; 4 Deeside 1950; 5 Buckley 2274; 6 West Cheshire AC 2380; 7 Wirral AC 2440.

MEN Division Two: 1 Chester Tri 1556 points, 2 Ellesmere Port 1602; 3 Cybi 1753, 4 Pensby 1773; 5 Prestatyn 1856; 6 UTS 2579; 7 Wrecsam Tri 2732; 8 Deestriders 3043; 9 Birkenhead 3963; 10 Eryri 5508; 11 Tattenhall 7265.

WOMENS Division One: 1 Deeside 230; 2 Helsby 235; 3 Wirral 264; 4 West Cheshire 394; 5 Buckley 428; 6 Wallasey 472; 7 Deestriders 757.

WOMENS Division Two: 1 UTS 121; 2 Ellesmere Port 187; 3 Prestatyn 269; 4 Chester Tri 302; 5 Pensby 422; 6 Cybi 544; 7 Wrexham 716; 8 Wrecsam Tri 923; 9 Tattenhall 1045; 10 Eryri 1095; 11 Birkenhead 1489.

The next round of the Borders Road Running League will be hosted by West Cheshire AC on Sunday, January 21, at Delamere Forest. 

SEVERAL West Cheshire AC members celebrated new personal bests at the latest Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting held at SportCity.

Alfie Lane clocked 7.63 seconds and 37.96 seconds respectively in his under 17 men’s 60m and 300m races respectively alongside Fergus Garland who clocked 7.63 and a new under 20 men’s pb of 37.39.

Emma Holmes blasted her way to a new under 20 women’s 60m best of 8.09 and posted 61.14 in her 400m, while Yasmin Smith clocked a new under 20 women’s 60m best of 8.21.

Milo Harding posted a new under 17 men’s 60m best of 8.31, while Ruby Phillips posted a new under 15 girls 60m best of 8.57, and Ruban Harris achieved a new under 20 men’s long jump best of 5.47m.

Carys Manson clocked a new under 17 women’s 60m hurdles best of 9.92 and added 8.74 in her 60m and 48.21 in the 300m, while her sister, Beth achieved new pb’s in the under 15 girls 300m (45.55) and shot put (6.62m) and added 8.83 in her 60m.

Theo Shepherd posted a new under 15 boys 300m (40.20) and added 7.97 in his 60m, while Satine Wearden achieved a new under 15 girls 60m best of 9.63 and hit 6.04m in the shot.

Ruby Billington rounded the under 15 girls 600m in a new best of 1:58.6 and hit 4.20m in the shot, while Ruby Wisbey cleared 1-35m in the under 20 women’s high jump. 

The next Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting will be held at SportCity on Sunday, January 8.

ENTRIES close on January 1 for the Cheshire AA Cross Country Championships being held at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Sunday, January 8. The online link is: https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2023/

FIXTURES this weekend include the 50th Anniversary Chester Round The Walls Race being organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club on Boxing Day from Chester Racecourse (10.30am start).