JESSICA LARK was crowned county cross country champion at Delamere Forest.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club youngster posted a winning time of eight minutes 51 seconds to secure the under 11 girls title at the Cheshire AA Championships.

Lark finished 37 seconds clear of her nearest rival and was supported by club mates Cerys Rowlands (14th in 10:15), Eleanor Williams (16th in 10:19), Helen Tenner (18th in 10:22), Macy Brett (22nd in 11:04), and Kara Stoll (27th in 12:49) to earn the team fourth spot.

Reece Munro bagged a silver medal in the under 11 boys race with a time of 8:18, backed up by team mates Luke Parker (fourth in 8:39), and Ben Kelly (21st in 9:43) to earn second spot in the team event, supported by Luca Lewis (28th in 10:06), Oliver Mallon (35th in 10:49), and Oliver Wells (36th in 10:57).

Carys Roberts (fifth in 14:06), Imogen Pughe (sixth in 14:21), and Sophie Grainger (eighth in 14:34) combined to earn West Cheshire AC’s under 13 girls team silver, ahead of Jodi Bemand (22nd in 16:21), Georgina Duffey (27th in 16:48), Grace Scott (36th in 18:36), and Henrietta Duffey (37th in 19:33).

Sammy Hollins (11th in 13:34), Henry Robinson (14th in 13:47), and Ryan Cooke (15th in 13:47) secured team bronze in the under 13 boys race, ahead of club colleagues Elliott Bujac (28th in 15:32), Louis Tegg (29th in 15:35), and Dan Willetts (35th in 16:49).

Lucia Pyne celebrated a bronze medal after clocking 23:07 in the under 15 girls race ahead of club mate Abigail Cartwright (ninth in 27:16).

Issy Clarke (sixth in 29:41), Eve Duret (eighth in 31:09), and Beth McMahon (13th in 33:46) secured team silver in the under 17 ladies race alongside Lily Moorhouse (16th in 39:02).

Sion Roberts (sixth in 25:03), Dave Dentith (13th in 26:02), and Jac Goodall (15th in 26:28) combined to earn team silver alongside Rory Willson (21st in 29:53), Morgan Smith (22nd in 30:21), and Paul Morrison (23rd in 32:39).

Will Wright (seventh in 20:24), Harvey Tegg (10th in 20:56), and Matthew Douglass (13th in 21:3) combined to earn the under 15 boys team bronze alongside Joseph Hancock (14th in 21:35), and Aaron Scott (18th in 23:46).

Ethan Greenland (fourth in 31:17), Joseph Morrison (seventh in 33:16), and Greg Jones (12th in 35:53) bagged team bronze in the under 20 men’s race.

Claire Harris (ninth lady in 40:40), Ellie Robinson (third over-45 lady in 41:06), Kerry Riley (15th lady in 43:27), Clare Mallon (37th in 44:49), Angela Tegg (eighth over-45 lady in 45:00), and Hannah Moorhouse (19th over-45 lady in 53:59) combined to earn 10th spot in both the ladies and veteran ladies team events.

Tom Booth (16th in 47:59) headed the West Cheshire AC charge in the men’s race alongside Andrew Clague (sixth over-45 man in 50:24), Neil Hershaw (third over-50 man in 50:34), Chris Palmer (30th in 51:41), Andy Carter (11th over-45 man in 52:05), Phil Woodley (42nd in 54:11), Richard Hayes (18th over-45 man in 55:05), Steven Fernyhough (50th in 57:24), Andrew Dawe (27th over-50 man in 58:37), Julian Tegg (26th over-45 man in 60:09), Bob Benson (11th over-60 man in 66:26), Peter Smith (15th over-55 man in 67:34), and Jon Moorhouse (39th over-50 man in 68:36), to earn the club fourth place in the men’s team event and fifth spot in the veteran mens team competition.

ETHAN ACKROYD represented West Cheshire AC at the North Wales Cross Country Championships and finished fourth in the under 17 mens race at Rhug Estate, Corwen, where Anest Muller produced a strong performance in the womens race.

JACKSON SLOAN of West Cheshire AC finished seventh with a time of 23:21 at the Merseyside Cross Country Championships held at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead.

LAURA TURLEY celebrated a double success story at the Sale Harriers Open Indoor Meeting in Manchester.

Turley posted new under 23 womens personal bests of 7.85 seconds in the 60m and 39.56 seconds in the 300m.

She was joined at the fixture by West Cheshire AC’s Gabriel Mikoleizik, Alan Littler, Liam Davoren, Lara Battersby, Stephanie Jones, Jodi Bemand, and Ava Byrne.

Mikoleizik posted a new under 15 boys 60m personal best of 7.88 seconds, while Littler and Davoren clocked 300m times of 40.61 and 40.92 seconds respectively.

Battersby posted new under 15 girls personal bests of 10.31 seconds in the 60m hurdles and 47.42 seconds in the 300m, and long jumped 4.35m alongside Jones who clocked 9.05 seconds in her under 13 girls 60m, 47.09 seconds in the 300m, and posted 4.60m in the long jump, while Bemand posted 50.07 seconds in her 300m, 10.43 seconds in her 60m hurdles, and cleared 1-30m in the high jump, and Byrne who clocked a new under 15 girls 60m hurdles personal best of 11.31 seconds and a new best of 4.58m in the long jump.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Manchester Area Cross Country League match on Saturday at Woodbank Park, Stockport (12 noon start) for under 11s through to seniors, and the Northern Indoor Under 17, Under 20 and Seniors Track and Field Championships take place on Saturday and Sunday at Sheffield, while the third round of the Borders Road Running League takes place at Abergele on Sunday (11am start).

Happy New Year to all members, parents and friends

CROSS COUNTRY UPDATE

A club record of 72 runners have been entered and paid for by the club to compete in this Saturday’s Cheshire Cross Country Championships taking place at Delamere Forest.

The organisers are asking all runners and spectators to use the Whitefield Car Park just off the B5152 – the road running north/ south at the eastern edge of the forest. Please check the Cheshire AA website at: www.cheshireaa.com for more details.

Any club members interested in running free-of-charge in the Northern Cross Country Championships at Leeds on January 27th 2018 need to contact Dave Alexander by email at: [email protected] by the evening of January 6th at the latest.

And any members interested in running free-of-charge in the National Cross Country Championships at London on February 24th 2018 should email Dave Alexander at: [email protected] by February 3rd 2018 at the latest.

MANY THANKS

A total of 79 members took part in the Club’s Christmas Fun Morning at Ellesmere Port Sports Village and all proceeds will be forwarded to Cheshire Junior Carers. Many thanks to all those members who took part and thank you to all the parents, coaches and helpers who made the event possible. The results of the fun morning and photos will shortly appear on the club’s website.

THANK YOU

A big thank you to all those members, parents and friends who helped make the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race a big success on Boxing Day.

Online entries are now open for the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Race being held on Wednesday, 11th April 2018.

INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

ENTRIES close on Friday 19th January for the Northern Under 13 and Under 15 Indoor Track and Field Championships being held at Sheffield on Sunday, February 4. Further details can be found at: https://www.northernathletics.org.uk/events/northern-athletics-u15u13-indoor-tf-champs/

WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP

This week’s club press report can be found at the following link: https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/2018/01/02/press-report-emma-george-top-uk-rankings/

FIXTURES

Saturday, January 6: Cheshire AA Cross Country Championships, at Delamere Forest (11.30am start). Further details: http://www.cheshireaa.com/Results/XCC/2018/CCAAXCC2018.pdf

Saturday, January 6: North Wales Cross Country Championships, at Rhug Estate, Corwen (11.30am start). Further details: http://welshathletics.org/competitions/events/cross-country/2018/january/north-wales-cross-country-championships.aspx

Saturday, January 6: Merseyside Cross Country Championships, at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead (11am start). Further details: http://merseysidecountyaa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2018-MCAA-XC-Champs-Prospectus1.pdf

Saturday/Sunday, January 6 and 7: England/Northern Indoor Combined Events Championships, at Sheffield.

Sunday, January 7: Sale Harriers Open Indoor Track and Field Meeting, at Sportcity, Manchester. Further details: file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/SaleHarriers-EntryForm-2017.pdf

Saturday, January 13: Manchester Area Cross Country League Round Four, at Woodbank Park, Stockport. Further details: http://maccl.co.uk/

Saturday, January 13: North Wales Indoor Track and Field Championships, at Connahs Quay, Deeside. Further details: http://welshathletics.org/competitions/events/track–field/2018/january/north-wales-regional-championships.aspx

Saturday, January 13: Twin Piers 10k Road Race, at Colwyn Bay/Llandudno. Further details: http://colwynbayac.niftyentries.com/Twin-Piers

Saturday/Sunday, January 13 and 14: England/Northern U17, U20 and Senior Indoor Track and Field Championships, at Sheffield. Further details: https://www.northernathletics.org.uk/events/northern-athletics-snru20u17-indoor-tf-champs/

Sunday, January 14: Borders Road Running League Round Three, at Abergele. Further details: http://www.bordersleague.org.uk/

Saturday, January 20: North Wales Cross Country League Round Four, at Baschurch. Further details: http://www.northwalesxc.com/fixtures

Sunday, January 21: Essar Four Villages Half Marathon, at Helsby. Further details: http://www.helsbyrunningclub.org.uk/halfmarathon/

Sunday, January 21: North West Indoor Sportshall Athletics League Finals, at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, (12 noon start).

Saturday, January 27: Northern Athletics Cross Country Championships, at Leeds, (10.30am start). Further details: https://www.northernathletics.org.uk/events/northern-athletics-cross-country-championships/

Saturday, January 27: Welsh Senior Indoor Track and Field Championships, at Cardiff. Further details: http://welshathletics.org/competitions/events/track–field/2018/january/welsh-athletics-indoor-senior-championships.aspx

Saturday, January 27: Vault Manchester, at Sportcity, Manchester. Further details: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vault-manchester-2018-supported-by-basc-manchester-city-council-tickets-38952549123

Well done to all who took part. Each person’s scores can be found here.

Congratulations to Ellie and Andrew, both past winners who won again in 2017. Angela and Andy were both gallant runners-up and first-time endurance league prize winners, as was Clare in third. A typical determined sprint finish by Peter Smith saw him nudge past Richard into third in the men’s competition. Descending order of points scored is very boy-girl: Ellie, Andrew, Angela, Andy, Clare/ Peter – any appetite for a combined endurance league for 2019?? See halfway down https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/races/road/ for final tables and races run.

EMMA HOWE and George Hyde both ended 2017 at the top of their UK age group ranking lists.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo, who both turned out to help their club host the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race on Boxing Day, are now aiming to build on a memorable year which featured international honours.

Howe, who powered her way to a bronze medal performance during her England international debut at the Youth Commonwealth Games at Nassau in The Bahamas, heads the under 17 women’s javelin rankings after hitting 50.34m at Loughborough in September.

The talented teenager had achieved victories earlier in the year at the English Schools Championships, UK Schools Games, England Athletics Under 20 Championships, and at both the Cheshire County Clubs’ and Schools’ Championships.

Hyde celebrated top spot in the under 17 men’s shot put ranking list after launching a winning throw of 17.42m at Bedford in August to secure the England Athletics Under 20 Championship title.

He won the gold medal while representing England at Dublin in the Schools International Meeting with a put of 16.14m, and added success at the England Athletics Under 17 Championships in Bedford, the English Schools title at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, the UK Schools Games title at Loughborough, and both Cheshire County Clubs’ and Schools’ Championship honours.

Hyde also triumphed in March when he represented England in Cardiff at the Welsh Athletics Indoor International.

Other West Cheshire AC members who secured top-40 positions in the 2017 UK age group ranking lists included Evie Tipping, Olivia Montez-Brown, Emily Ball, Sophie Percival, Katie Clarke, Ethan Milligan, Imogen Pughe, Jodi Bemand, Lara Battersby, Stephanie Jones, and Isla Shillington, Fatoumatta Bojang, Ewan Bradley, Gabriel Mikoleizik, Alice McMahon and Laura Turley.

Tipping is ranked fourth in the under 15 girls hammer throwing list after nailing 49.89m at Liverpool in September, while Montez-Brown is 13th in the senior womens heptathlon UK list after posting 5,251 points at Bradenton, Florida, during May.

Ball is 20th in the senior women’s shot put rankings after hitting 13.08m indoors at Sheffield in February, while Percival is 21st in the women’s javelin rankings with 43.53m achieved at Warrington in May.

Clarke clocked 5:38.6 at Crewe in May for 38th spot in the under 20 women’s 1500m steeplechase rankings, while Milligan cleared 1-95m at Warrington in April for joint 24th place in the under 20 men’s high jump rankings.

Pughe is 40th in the under 13 girls 1200m rankings after clocking 4:00.3 at Sportcity in June, while Bemand and Battersby are joint 28th and joint 37th respectively in the under 13 girls 70m hurdles with times of 11.8 and 11.9 seconds.

Jones is 32nd in the under 13 girls long jump list after achieving 4.66m at Warrington in June, while Shillington is 14th in the under 13 girls discus rankings after hitting 26.34m at Wrexham in September.

Bojang is 32nd in the under 13 girls 200m rankings after posting 27.7 seconds at Salford in July, while Bradley hoisted himself to 40th spot in the under 17 pole vault list with 3.45m at Macclesfield in June, and Mikoleizik secured 28th spot in the under 13 boys 100m rankings with 12.7 seconds at Ellesmere Port in September.

Sprint duo Alice McMahon and Laura Turley also produced impressive performances, with McMahon posting 12.16 seconds at Wakefield for 22nd spot in the under 23 women’s 100m rankings and 24.9 seconds at Wigan for 29th place in her age group.

Turley ended the year with a best 200m time of 25.22 seconds achieved at Preston in August to secure 35th position in the under 23 women’s rankings.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Cheshire AA County Cross Country Championships at Delamere Forest on Saturday, (11.30am start first race).

Entries open (online only). Race details here.

(photo courtesy of John Jessop)

LEON FOSTER timed his run to perfection to claim the Essar Chester Round The Walls Race title.

The Leeds City AC member produced a powerful finish to clock a winning time of 24 minutes 42 seconds at the popular festive fixture organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club from Chester Racecourse.

Foster had overtaken Andrew McQue (Vale Royal AC) within the final half mile who had to content himself with third spot in 24:49.

Ian Wetherall, of Sale Harriers, looked a big threat to both Foster and McQue in the closing stages of the race and his late surge secured runners-up spot, just two seconds behind the winner.

Wrexham AC’s Emma Crowe won the ladies race title with a time of 28:14, ahead of runner-up Sharon Johnstone (Wilmslow) in 29:00, while Wrecsam Tri’s Helen Davies was third in 29:31.

West Cheshire AC’s Tom Booth clocked 25:47 for fifth position, supported by club mates Mark Davies (13th in 26:55), George Dewhirst (20th in 27:51), Alex Staniforth (28th in 28:39), Luke Ellis (36th in 29:23), Andrew Dawe (52nd in 30:15), Joe Foy (53rd in 30:20), Stuart Thomas (56th in 30:29).

Under 20 junior Eve Duret of West Cheshire AC finished fourth in the ladies race in 31:27, ahead of club mates Kerry Riley (32:53), Ian Ackroyd (34:31), Phil Howe (35:38), Mark Povey (36:46), and Brian Beattie (40:50).

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club youngsters, parents and coaches celebrated the festive season by playing games.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit organised their annual indoor fun competition which attracted 80 juniors and raised £80 for Cheshire Junior Carers.

Club coach Jenny Manning co-ordinated the event alongside Ellen Molloy and Jill Gore which comprised of 10 games incorporating throwing, bowling, skittles, darts, and shove ha’penny.

DAVE ALEXANDER grabbed glory at Saturday’s Ellesmere Port Park Run held at Whitby Park.

Alexander, representing West Cheshire AC, clocked a winning time of 19 minutes 33 seconds around a muddy 5k course in his 50th park run appearance.

He was backed up by Henry Robinson (fifth in 22 minutes), his mum Ellie who was second lady in 23:43, Rob Freeman (14th in 23:55), Julian Tegg (17th in 24:17), Peter Smith (21st in 25:32), and John Pughe (22nd in 25:46).

MARK DAVIES headed West Cheshire AC’s contingent who completed the Delamere Park Run on Christmas Day.

Davies clocked 18 minutes 58 seconds for 11th spot, ahead of Andy Carter (13th in 19:25), Isaac Tait (24:34), Patrick Tait (24:59), and David Tait (25:08), and Kay Hayes (36:02).

JAC GOODALL of West Cheshire AC finished third at Saturday’s Chester Park Run in 19:42.

He was joined at the event by Will Wright (fourth in 19:47), Andy Carter (sixth in 20:02), Rory Willson (18th in 21:54), Tony Kennedy (26:08), Brian Beattie (28:06), and Sarah Hughes (28:48).

A total of 72 West Cheshire AC members will be taking part in the Cheshire AA County Cross Country Championships at Delamere Forest on Saturday, January 6.

Sorry, race full. See here for race details.

ISSY CLARKE celebrated success following the cancellation of the North Staffs Cross Country League final round.

The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club teenager won the under 17 ladies individual title and played a big part in helping her club secure the team award having won two of the three races in the series ahead of Saturday’s scheduled fixture at Staffordshire University being cancelled due to icy conditions.

Clarke was supported during the season by Eve Duret who finished fourth overall, Beth McMahon who was fifth, and by Lily Moorhouse, and the team finished 30 points clear of nearest rivals City of Stoke.

Jessica Lark, Carys Roberts, and Reece Munro were other West Cheshire AC youngsters to earn top-three individual awards.

Lark finished runner-up overall in the under 11 girls event, while Roberts achieved second spot in the under 13 girls age group and helped her team of Grace Scott, Sophie Grainger, Ruby Wisbey, Megan White, Elvie Pestridge, Imogen Pughe, Georgina and Henrietta Duffey earn runners-up position in the team competition.

Munro, who achieved two second placed finishes during the campaign, earned joint second spot overall in the under 11 boys competition.

Matthew Douglass, Harvey Tegg, Aaron Scott, Isaac Tait, Edward Woodhead and Will Wright combined to earn West Cheshire AC third position in the under 15 boys team event.

And Ryan Cooke, Henry Robinson, Leo Green, Dan Willetts and Jamie Richardson secured West Cheshire AC third spot in the under 13 boys team competition.

ANGELA TEGG, Joy Hickman and Ellie Robinson combined to earn West Cheshire AC success in the ladies team event at the Tittesworth Water Christmas Cracker Race.

Joy won the over 50 women’s title, while Andy Carter won the over 45 men’s title. He was supported by Peter Smith and Dave Alexander.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will be represented in all six age groups at the North West Indoor Sportshall Athletics League Finals being held at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, on Sunday, January 21.

FIXTURES this weekend include the West Cheshire AC Christmas Fun Morning at Ellesmere Port Sports Village (10am start). Members wanting to take part will be charged £1 each and all proceeds will be for Cheshire Young Carers.

WEST CHESHIRE AC are preparing to host the popular Essar Chester Round The Walls Race on Boxing Day which sets off from Chester Racecourse (10.30am start).

An entry limit of 500 runners will be taking part in the festive event and West Cheshire AC are still appealing for volunteers to help make the race another success. Anyone wanting to help should contact Dennis Wall by emailing: [email protected]

ENTRIES close on Saturday, December 30, for the Cheshire AA Cross Country Championships being held at Delamere Forest on Saturday, January 6. West Cheshire AC members wanting to take part should email [email protected]

ENTRIES close on January 19 for the Northern Under 13 and Under 15 Indoor Track and Field Championships being held at Sheffield. Further details can be found at: https://www.northernathletics.org.uk/events/northern-athletics-u15u13-indoor-tf-champs/