(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/

REECE MUNRO remains on course for success at the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series.

The youngster won the year six boys race and was one of 206 juniors to brave the wintry conditions on Saturday at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

Munro, a pupil at Eccleston, who posted three minutes 49 seconds to finish ahead of Ben Grantham (Bishop Wilson) and Leo Ferdenzi (Acresfield), is aiming to extend his impressive form when he represents West Cheshire AC at the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country League this Saturday at Staffordshire University.

Aimee Phillips (Sutton Green) clocked a winning time of 4:26 in the year six girls race, two seconds in front of runner-up Holly Sutcliffe (The Firs) and third placed Jaida Nicholls (Acresfield).

Dan Willetts (Tarporley) won the year seven boys race in 7:05, just one second in front of Louis Tegg (Wirral Grammar), and Max Telford (Upton) was third, while Georgina Duffey (Birkenhead Academy) and Emma Robson (Neston) were first and second respectively in the year seven girls race.

Imogen Pughe (Wirral Grammar) won the year eight girls race ahead of Jodi Bemand (Christleton) and Grace Scott (Neston) who were second and third, while Sammy Hollins (Upton) won the year eight boys race ahead of Ted Bolton (Christleton) and Ryan Cooke (Bishops).

Benjamin Williams (Willaston) posted a winning time of 4:06 in the year five boys race, one second clear of second placed Joshua Oates (Newton) and Joseph Ireland (Mill View) was third.

Ella Hims (Childer Thornton) clocked 4:12 for victory in the year five girls race ahead of runner-up Eleanor Williams (Kings), and third placed Macy Brett (Little Sutton).

Grace Henderson (Kings) won the year four girls race in 2:47, ahead of runner-up Jemima Blackwood (Upton Heath) and third placed Martha Clarke (Saighton).

Ruby McIlveen (Bishop Wilson) won the year three girls race in 2:40 ahead of second placed Edith Carr (Acresfield) and Isabelle Falkingham (Mill View) in third spot.

Newton pair Jonathan Gordon and Charlie Boyce tasted success in the year three and four boys races respectively, with Gordon beating Joe Williams (Kings) and Thomas Rimmer (Overleigh St Marys) who were second and third, and Boyce finishing clear of Charlie Larkin (St Lukes) and Tom Hackett (Saughall All Saints) in second and third places.

IAN BULLOCK represented West Cheshire AC at the Tatton Park Yueltide 10K Yomp and clocked 55 minutes 25 seconds for the multi-terrain event to finish 23rd in his over-45 age group.

FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Staffordshire University on Saturday (12 noon start). Further details can be found at: http://www.nsccl.org.uk/staffordshire-university.htm

The Sale Harriers Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting will take place on Sunday at Sportcity, Manchester (10am start). Further details can be found at: http://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/pages/5889/winter-indoor-series-sportcity

THE Cheshire AA County Cross Country Championships will be held at Delamere Forest on Saturday 6th January. Details of the event can be found at: http://www.cheshireaa.com/ > WCAC members can enter free of charge if they enter via the club – please contact [email protected] if you definitely want to run.

Well done to all who braved the cold wet conditions today, Provisional results are now up near the bottom of our Off-road page. If you spot any potential errors, please use the Contact option at the top of our web pages, selecting “Webmaster” under “What does your query relate to?”

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club capitalised on home advantage at the final round of the North West Indoor Sportshall Athletics League.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit celebrated five age group team victories and were represented by 62 juniors in a thrilling competition.

Matthew Webb, Nathan Partington, Michael Maxwell, Alfie Baker and Ben Rutherford combined for success in the under 15 boys team event.

Abigail Cartwright, Ambre Richards, Ceris Gaffney, Emma Ashcroft and Sophie Cribb teamed up for victory in the under 15 girls competition.

Alex Rutherford, Ben Whittlestone, Ellis Hancock, Joseph Watkins, Matthew Jones, Milo Halliday, Murphy and Healy Smyth, Oliver Wells, Oliver Edwards, Robert Austin, and Tom Shillington combined for top spot in the under 11 boys team event.

Abigail Jeavons, Aimee Phillips, Alexa Byrne, Cerys Rowland, Charlotte Austin, Freya Renshaw, Hannah Rowland, Harriet Wheeler, Jessica Brown, Jessica Lark, Lillie Collins, Lily Edwards, Macy Brett, Maddie Mercer, Madhuvanti Guruprasad, Ruby Phillips, Sara Pearson and Chloe Whitfield combined for victory in the under 11 girls team competition.

Ava Byrne, Lara Battersby, Elizabeth Jones, Fatoumatta Bojang, Imogen Pughe, Lauren Williams, Kelly Ocenaskova, Olivia Catherall, Ruby Wisbey, Eva Renshaw, Grace Scott, Evelyn Hogan, Isla Shillington, and Darcy Smyth secured a team victory in the under 13 girls event.

And the under 13 boys squad of Casper Armstrong, Gabriel Mikoleizik, Harry Weetch, Nolan Heller, Ted Williams, Uzezi Onomerike, Regan Stubbs and Leo Hewitt finished in third team position.

ETHAN GREENLAND headed West Cheshire AC’s charge at the second round of the Borders Road Running League.

Greenland clocked 30 minutes 17 seconds for the 5.5 miles course in Birkenhead Park to finish 11th overall and first in his under 20 mens age group.

He was supported by Tom Booth (16th in 30:55), under 20 junior Sion Roberts (32nd in 32:08), Mark Davies (33rd in 32:13), under 20 juniors Dave Dentith (39th in 32:33), and Jac Goodall (41st in 32:38), Graham Wells (46th in 32:49), Neil Hershaw (first over 50 man in 32:53), under 20 junior Greg Jones (65th in 33:38), and Andrew Clague (69th in 33:44) to earn third team place on the day and third team spot overall.

West Cheshire’s other men in action included John Parlevliet (70th in 33:45), Tony Woodall (83rd in 34:19), Tom Cable (87th in 34:25), Luke Ellis (94th in 34:54), Stuart Thomas (128th in 36:17), Ian Gloyne-Phillips (144th in 36:52), Steven Fernyhough (147th in 37:01), Gerrard Elliott (153rd in 37:20), under 20 junior Jackson Sloan (162nd in 38:07), Julian Tegg (170th in 38:18), under 20 junior Rory Willson (195th in 40:10), Bob Benson (197th in 40:20), under 20 junior Patrick Tait (207th in 40:54), Darren Shillington (214th in 41:16), Stephen Ball (218th in 41:32), Phil Howe (235th in 43:44), and Peter Smith (243rd in 44:17).

Claire Harris spearheaded West Cheshire AC’s ladies team by posting a time of 36:04 for eighth spot ahead of first under 20 junior and team mate Katie Clarke who was ninth lady overall in 36:08, ahead of her younger sister Issy (11th lady in 36:21), and final team counter Ellie Robinson (20th lady in 38:12).

Kerry Riley (31st in 39:41), Clare Mallon (53rd lady in 42:22), Angela Tegg (56th lady in 42:50), debutant Brygida Gorecka (62nd lady in 43:43), Su Baird (83rd lady in 46:15), and Claire Gloyne-Phillips (99th lady in 48:22) were West Cheshire’s other female finishers.

TEAM RESULTS (after round two):

MENS Division One: 1 Buckley 619 points); 2 Wallasey 682; 3 West Cheshire 885; 4 Wirral 1202; 5 Helsby 1454; 6 Chester Tri 1886; 7 Wrexham 2573.

MENS Division Two: 1 Prestatyn 630; 2 Deestriders 952; 3 Ellesmere Port 1013; 4 Abergele 1449; 5 Cybi 1973; 6 Wrecsam Tri 2038; 7 Birkenhead 2393; 8 Eryri 4105; 9 Deeside 4181; 10 Tattenhall 4893.

LADIES Division One: 1 Ellesmere Port 77; 2 West Cheshire 141; 3 Wallasey 182; 4 Buckley 199; 5 Helsby 206; 6 Deestriders 273; 7 Wirral 280.

LADIES Division Two: 1 Chester Tri 113; 2 Prestatyn 120; 3 Abergele 202; 4 Eryri 256; 5 Wrexham 394; 6 Cybi 511; 7 Wrecsam Tri 519; 8 Tattenhall 558; 9 Deeside 705; 10 Birkenhead 710.

JESSICA LARK represented West Cheshire at Wythenshawe in the Manchester Area Cross Country League and finished 14th in the under 11 girls race in a time of 7:56.

Brygida Gorecka made her West Cheshire debut in the womens race and clocked 37:46, while Tony Woodall (40:49), Stuart Thomas (45:07), and Peter Smith (52:25) completed the mens race.

STEPHANIE JONES and Jodi Bemand of West Cheshire both clocked new under 15 girls personal bests at Sheffield in the Northern Indoor Open Meeting.

Jones posted 21.05 seconds in her 150m and long jumped 4.47m, while Bemand clocked 12.36 seconds in the 60m hurdles and cleared 1-38m in the high jump.

Luke Illidge posted a new 60m personal best of 7.93 seconds, while club mate and fellow University of Chester student Tom Roberts clocked 37.47 seconds in the 300m, and Adam Poole rounded the 3,000m in 13:29.05.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday (10am start first race).

Santa mostly knows where to deliver this year’s awards to, although the third-placed man award may be dependent on who’s been naughty or nice at today’s Borders and the North Staffs Cross-country League on December 16th (other races are available). See halfway down https://www.westcheshireac.co.uk/races/road/

ANEST MULLER spearheaded West Cheshire Athletic Club women’s push for promotion at Bangor.

The purple-vested distance runner was first in her over-35 age category and finished 13th overall with a time of 26 minutes 45 seconds at the latest round of the North Wales Cross Country League.

Muller was backed up by Claire Harris (15th in 26:55) and Ellie Robinson (second over-45 lady and 21st overall in 27:35) as the trio combined for second team spot on the day and earn third position overall in Division Two.

Tony Woodall (seventh over-45 man in 39:08) headed West Cheshire AC’s charge in the men’s race and helped earn his club fourth team spot on the day and fifth place overall in Division Two.

Woodall was supported by Neil Hershaw (third over-50 in 39:24), John Parlevliet (17th over-40 man in 40:07), Richard Hayes (eighth over-45 man in 40:36), Andy Carter (12th over-45 man in 42:22), and Peter Smith (11th over-55 man in 51:05), while Jackson Sloan finished fifth in 25:36 in the under 17 men’s race.

The next round of the North Wales Cross Country League takes place at Walford College, Baschurch, Shrewsbury, on Saturday, January 20.

CARYS ROBERTS helped secure Cheshire Schools a team victory in the West Midlands.

Roberts finished sixth with a time of 8:50 to earn the county Minor Girls a cross country team success in the Dave Sunderland Trophy at Sandwell Valley against Surrey, Shropshire, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and host county the West Midlands.

Other West Cheshire AC members in action included Sophie Grainger who was sixth in the Junior Girls race with 11:36 and Jodi Bemand (13:10), while Jamie Richardson (24th in 15:21), completed the Junior Boys race, and Sion Roberts was 11th in the Intermediate Boys race in 18:10, ahead of Matthew Douglass (20:38).

JESSICA LARK and Imogen Pughe were top-20 hits at the latest round of the British Cross Country Challenge.

Lark represented West Cheshire AC in the under 11 girls race at Sefton Park, Liverpool, and finished in 10th spot with a time of 8:25, ahead of clubmate Macy Brett (47th in 9:25).

And Pughe posted 15th position in 12:16 ahead of clubmate Grace Scott (124th in 15:03) in the under 13 girls race.

Sam Hollins (38th in 11:55) represented West Cheshire AC in the under 13 boys race ahead of clubmates Elliott Bujac (90th in 13:21), while Lucia Pyne (48th in 12:39) and Abigail Cartwright (114th in 14:44) completed the under 15 girls race.

Tyr Bujac (114th in 12:10) and Aaron Scott (127th in 12:40) rounded the under 15 boys event, while Issy Clarke (40th in 17:59), Eve Duret (63rd in 19:33), and Lily Moorhouse (84th in 23:23) completed the under 17 ladies race.

Ethan Ackroyd (66th in 20:08), Dave Dentith (74th in 20:46), Jac Goodall (77th in 20:52), and Rory Willson (106th in 22:56) represented West Cheshire AC in the under 17 men’s race, while Ethan Greenland finished 101st in 24:26 in the under 20 men’s race, and Hannah Moorhouse clocked 49:02 for 284th spot in the womens race.

ENTRIES close on December 15 for the Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships for Under 17s, Under 20s and Seniors, which take place at Sheffield on January 13 and 14.

And entries close on January 19 for the Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships for Under 13s and Under 15s, which take place at Sheffield on February 4.

FIXTURES this weekend include the West Cheshire AC AGM at Cheshire County Sports Club Pavilion, Upton, Chester, on Friday, December 1, (7.30pm start).

The Manchester Area Cross Country League third round takes place at Kenworthy Woods, Manchester University Playing Fields, Wythenshawe, M23 0BD, on Saturday (12 noon start), while West Cheshire AC will host the final round of the North West Sportshall Athletics League at the old Stanney Sportshall and Gymnasium, Ellesmere Port, on Sunday (11am start), and the second round of the Borders Road Running League will be held on Sunday, at Birkenhead Park (11am start).