WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club’s women are one step away from a title-winning Borders Road Running League campaign.

Katie Clarke continued her rich vein of form by clocking 32 minutes 48 seconds on the 5.15 miles course at New Brighton to secure her club top spot in Division One after the penultimate race of the seven-round series.

Clarke, who cemented pole position in the under 20 age group individual standings, finished fifth lady overall and was backed-up by Anest Muller (second over-35 lady and seventh overall in 33:59), Issy Clarke (second under 20 lady and 10th overall in 34:34), Keely Smith (11th lady in 35:08), Ellie Robinson (fifth over 40 lady and 23rd overall in 36:36), Lisa Davies (38th in 38:47), Pam Ackroyd (48th in 40:00), Clare Mallon (51st in 40:32), Angela Tegg (60th in 41:23), and Ann-Marie Tait (63rd in 41:52).

Ethan Greenland headed West Cheshire AC’s men home by achieving top spot in his under 20 age group and 13th place overall in a time of 28:42.

He was supported by Andrew Clague (35th in 30:29), Christy Mageean (43rd in 30:45), Andy Carter (46th in 31:00), Mark Davies (48th in 31:05), Alex Staniforth (50th in 31:08), Richard Hayes (70th in 32:29), Trevor Holmes (72nd in 32:35), Rob Freeman (93rd in 33:52), Rory Willson (104th in 34:40), Bob Benson (115th in 35:19), Dave Tiernan (129th in 36:39), Patrick Tait (153rd in 38:15), and Peter Smith (179th in 40:38).

OVERALL STANDINGS (after six rounds)

WOMEN DIVISION ONE: 1 West Cheshire 296; 2 Wallasey 431; 3 Wirral 569; 4
Buckley 583; 5 Helsby 584; 6 Prestatyn 704; 7 Chester Tri 719.

WOMEN DIVISION TWO: 1 Ellesmere Port 345; 2 Deestriders 559; 3 Tattenhall 808; 4 Abergele 1056; 5 Cybi Striders 1222; 6 Wrexham 1598; 7 Eryri 2036; 8 Wrecsam Tri 2070; 9 Deeside 2472; 10 Birkenhead 2502.

MEN DIVISION ONE: 1 Wallasey 1963 points; 2 Buckley 2073; 3 West Cheshire 2791; 4 Wirral 3039; 5 Helsby 3493; 6 Prestatyn 5581; 7 Deestriders 6932.

VETERAN MEN: 1 West Cheshire 2107; 2 Wallasey 2267; 3 Buckley 2774; 4 Chester Tri 3266; 5 Helsby 4040; 6 Wirral 4068; 7 Deestriders 6346; 8 Wrexham 6681; 9 Prestatyn 6948; 10 Ellesmere Port 7565; 11 Tattenhall 8162; 12 Abergele 8404; 13 Cybi 8559; 14 Birkenhead 8656; 15 Eryri 8674; 16 Wrecsam Tri 9667; 17 Deeside 10179.

VETERAN WOMEN: 1 Wirral 266; 2 Helsby 297; 3 Ellesmere Port 345; 4 Wallasey 408; 5= Buckley and Chester Tri 413; 7 West Cheshire 508; 8 Deestriders 870; 9 Prestatyn 930; 10 Tattenhall 1035; 11 Wrexham 1616; 12 Cybi 1676; 13 Abergele 1861; 14 Wrecsam Tri 2070; 15 Eryri 2187; 16 Birkenhead 2502; 17 Deeside 2700.

ETHAN MILLIGAN cleared a new high jump personal best of 1.95m at the Warrington Open Track and Field Meeting.

MICHAEL MAXWELL achieved a new under 15 boys high jump personal best of 1.40m at the Wirral AC Open Meeting and added 16.2 seconds in the sprint hurdles and 4.07m in the long jump.

Ava Byrne was second in the long jump with 4.06m, third in the high jump with 1.25m and fourth in the 70m hurdles with 13 seconds, while her sister Alexa was third in the under 11 girls long jump.

Daniel Bird posted 12.6 seconds in the under 11 boys 75m, and 29.1 for the 150m, while Imogen Pughe won her under 13 girls 1200m (4:21.1), and 75m in 10.7 seconds, ahead of Lola Byrne in 12.4, Jodi Bemand, Stephanie Jones, Maddie Mercer and Macy Brett 22.5, 21.7, 23.0, and 23.9 respectively in their 150m, while Dan Pagan posted 61.1 in the under 17 mens 400m, and Jessica Lark won the 600m in 2:03.0, ahead of Macy Brett in 2:16.4.

Bemand (12.5) and Jones (12.7) featured in the under 13 girls 70m hurdles, while Jones won the long jump with 4.12m ahead of Bemand (3.92m), Pughe (3.90m), and other long jumpers included Lark (3.21m), and Mercer (3.05m).

Isaac Tait (2:25.3), Harvey Tegg (2:25.7) and Edward Woodhead (2:34.9) completed the under 15 boys 800m, and Elliott Bujac (2:44.4) and Leo Green (2:58.4) rounded the under 13 boys 800m, while Bujac clocked 5:16.1 in the 1500m ahead of Charlie McMullan (5:32.4) and Louis Tegg (5:48.3), while Woodhead (5:20.2), William Wright (5:41.3), and Julian Tegg (5:53.4) completed the one mile race.

GEORGE HYDE (15.84m) won the under 17 mens shot put at the Wigan Harriers Open Meeting.

Laura Turley clocked 12.53 and 25.60 seconds in the womens 100m and 200m, while Anna Crayston posted 27.40 seconds in the under 15 girls 200m and 4.63m in the long jump, and Liam Davoren clocked 56.16 in the mens 400m.

Stephanie Owens hit 46.08m, 9.74m and 30.92m in the womens hammer, shot and discus, while Will Rattray (26.04m) and Adam Howe (28.69m) spun the discus, and Daniel Berg hit 49.41m in the hammer.

Sophie Percival (38.30m) and Emma Howe (42.02m) won their javelin age group events, and Alan Littler cleared 1-60m in the mens high jump.

ENTRIES are now being taken for the Cheshire County AA Track and Field Championships being held at Warrington, on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15. The closing date for online entries is May 6, and further details can be obtained online at: http://cheshire.athletics-uk.org/default.asp

FIXTURES this weekend include the Salford 10k Road Race on Friday (10am start), the Hale 5 miler on Sunday, (9.30am start), the Air Products 10k, at Crewe, on Sunday (10.15am), while the Trafford Open Track and Field Medal Meeting, takes place on Monday (12 noon start).

The two Andys are split by ultra-running Richard in the men’s competition, while Ellie, Angela and Pam hold the top three women’s places, just ahead of Lisa and Anest. See near the bottom of the Road Running page for the latest standings.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club is putting the final touches to next week’s Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race.

The event, staged on a flat and fast course, has always proved popular with local runners wanting to gauge their training for this month’s London Marathon, or May’s Chester Half Marathon.

This year’s event is being held on Wednesday, April 12, from Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton-By-Chester, with a 7pm start.

Runners who haven’t yet entered the fixture are being urged to do so quickly with the race limit of 500 nearly being reached earlier this week and nobody being allowed to enter on the night of the race.

Entries are currently being accepted online at: http://wcac.niftyentries.com/Essar-Chester-Spring-5

Prizes are on offer for the first five male and first three female finishers, as well as an extensive list of awards in various age group categories and there will be men’s and ladies’ UK Athletics affiliated club team prizes.

Runners at the head of the race will be aiming to match or better the current mens’, ladies’ and veterans’ course records set by Peter Riley (23:23), Jenny Clague (27:18) and Mike Girvan (24:29) respectively.

ROSEMARY ROGERS celebrated success at the Liverpool Half Marathon.

The West Cheshire AC distance runner won her over 60 age group category prize after clocking one hour 50 minutes 34 seconds. Keely Smith finished eighth lady with a time of 1:29:52, ahead of Steve Hillier (1:34:03), Clare Mallon (18th over 40 lady in a new personal best of 1:46:26), and Mark Povey (1:57:32) who was still recovering from an illness.

ALEX STANIFORTH of West Cheshire AC finished fourth at the Buttermere 10 Mile Trail Race.

NEARLY 200 members participated in the West Cheshire AC Pre-Season Track and Field Trials at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

The event was held in two parts, with the majority of track races accompanying shot put trials last Thursday night, before field events and sprint hurdles took centre stage on Saturday morning.

SARA PEARSON (11.67 seconds and 2:07.88) and Ingrid Tait (14.12 and 2:33.10) posted new under 11 girls 75m and 600m personal bests at the Trafford Open Meeting.

Pearson also added a new long jump best of 3.43m, while Anna Crayston won the under 15 girls long jump with 4.92m and clocked 13.80 seconds in her 100m. Isaac Tait clocked 14.56 seconds and 2:28.18 in his under 15 boys 100m and 800m respectively.

CHRIS PALMER was first home for West Cheshire AC at the opening race in the Wirral Seaside 5k Series.

Palmer clocked 18:26 for 17th position at Leasowe, ahead of Trevor Holmes (23rd in 19:14), and first over 60 lady Rosemary Rogers (24:39). The next race in the series will take place at Leasowe on Wednesday, April 26 (7pm).

WEST CHESHIRE AC will start their track and field league season on Sunday, April 22, at Preston, in the first round of the under 13 and under 15 Youth Development League Premier Division One, and other rounds will be held at Leeds on Saturday, May 20; at Sport City, Manchester, on Sunday, June 18; and at Preston on Saturday, July 15.

The club’s under 17 and under 20 Youth Development League squad start their campaign at Wigan on Sunday, April 30, before competing at Crewe on Sunday, May 28; Bolton on Sunday, June 25; and at Whitehaven on Sunday, July 23.

West Cheshire AC’s Northern League Division One squad will kick off their season at York on Saturday, May 6; before hosting the second round at Ellesmere Port on Sunday, June 4; travelling to Wigan on Sunday, July 9; and then going to Rotherham on Saturday, August 5.

And West Cheshire AC will host the opening round of the Cheshire League at Ellesmere Port on Sunday, May 7; before travelling to Eccles on Saturday, July 2; going to Warrington on Sunday, July 30; and hosting round four in Ellesmere Port on Sunday, September 3.

ENTRIES are now being taken for the Cheshire County AA Track and Field Championships being held at Warrington, on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15.
The closing date for online entries is May 6, and further details can be obtained online at: www.cheshireaa.com .

FIXTURES this weekend include the sixth round of the Borders Road Running League at New Brighton, on Sunday (11am start), and a Wirral AC Open Medal Track and Field Meeting at Bebington Oval (11.30am start).

THREE West Cheshire Athletic Club members secured success at the inaugural Chester 52 miles Ultra Marathon.

Wullie McGarrell, Richard Hayes and Neil Webster completed the route along the River Dee and trails through Helsby, Frodsham and Delamere Forest. McGarrell clocked nine hours 44 minutes, ahead of Hayes with 9:46, and Webster who posted 9:52, to earn West Cheshire AC a team victory ahead of runners-up Helsby Running Club, and third-placed 100 Marathon Club.

MICHAEL MAXWELL and Uzezi Onomerike, of West Cheshire AC, will represent Cheshire at the UK Sportshall Athletics Final next month.

The pair starred for their county to earn the under 13 boys a team victory at the North West Regional Sportshall Final and they are now preparing for the National Final being held at Sportcity, Manchester, on Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23.

GEORGINA DUFFEY represented Childer Thornton Primary School at the British Schools Duathlon Championships.

The West Cheshire AC member included a new personal best for her swim and rounded the 800m at Crystal Palace to finish 136th overall based on her combined times for both events.
SEVERAL West Cheshire AC members capitalised on home advantage on Monday night.

Jamie Richardson, Henry Robinson, Sophie Grainger, and Jodi Bemand contributed towards a double team success story for Cheshire against Merseyside in the annual end of season Year Seven Schools Cross Country Match, organised by West Cheshire AC, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

The Cheshire quartet faced opposition from club mates Imogen Pughe, Lara Battersby and Henrietta Duffey who all represented Merseyside.

The team score was decided by the first 10 finishers’ positions from each county being added together, with Cheshire beating Merseyside 84-131 in the girls’ event, and Cheshire beating Merseyside 86-123 in the boys’ event, while Cheshire beat Merseyside 170-254 in the combined boys’ and girls’ overall competition.

WILLIAM WRIGHT of West Cheshire AC represented Merseyside at the recent English Schools Cross Country Championships, completing the junior boys race at Norwich in 14 minutes 40 seconds for 264th position.

ANDY STARKEY of West Cheshire AC finished fourth in his over 55 age group with a time of 39:40 at the Cheshire 10k Road Race.

SAUGHALL ALL SAINTS celebrated a silver medal performance in the Cheshire Primary School Sportshall Athletics Final held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village.

After winning the Chester Schools Final in February, Saughall All Saints, one of 300 schools taking part throughout Cheshire and Warrington, produced a superb performance in the final.

ENTRIES are still being received for the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being hosted by West Cheshire AC at Cheshire Sports Club, Upton, on Wednesday, April 12, (7pm start). Further details can be found online at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

FIXTURES this week include the West Cheshire AC Pre-Season Track and Field Trials at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Track on Thursday(March 30), between 6:30 and 8pm, and on Saturday, (April 1), between 9:45am and12 noon.

Open track and field meetings are being held at Trafford, Blackpool and Stoke on Saturday, and at Warrington on Sunday, while the Greater Manchester Marathon takes place on Sunday (9am), the same day as the Liverpool Half Marathon and 10 miles races.

The Wirral AC Track Endurance Series starts on Wednesday (April 5), with a 10,000m race at Bebington Oval (7:45pm start).

ABIGAIL PAWLETT of West Cheshire AC has smashed a club record and pocketed two medals.

The talented all-rounder produced a personal best pentathlon score of 3,341 points at the England Athletics Indoor Championships in Sheffield. Pawlett’s performance broke the West Cheshire AC under 15 girls’ club record for the event and secured a gold medal in the North of England competition and a silver medal overall.

Pawlett, who had been crowned the England Athletics under 15 girls’ indoor 60m hurdles champion weeks before, long jumped 5.16m, hit 9.69m in the shot put, cleared 1-52m in the high jump, clocked 8.86 seconds in the 60m hurdles, and rounded the 800m in a time of 2:33.83 for a new personal best points tally.

TALENTED West Cheshire AC all-rounder Olivia Montez-Brown has secured two first-team All-American honours at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

Montez-Brown, representing Augustana University, earned All-American honours in the pentathlon after finishing fourth with a personal best of 3,863 points and in the long jump with 5.77m.

The all-rounder from Great Sutton, started the pentathlon by posting 8.72 seconds in the 60m hurdles, cleared 1.62m in the high jump, hit 10.87m in the shot put, long jumped 5.72m, and rounded the 800m in a personal best time of 2:23.02.

BIRTHDAY BOY Casper Armstrong and Milo Halliday earned Cheshire top spot in Manchester.
The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo joined forces for their county and secured Cheshire success in the Under 11 North West Fun In Sportshall Athletics Competition.

Cheshire compiled a winning total of 480 points, ahead of runners-up Lancashire on 459, third placed Merseyside with 449, Greater Manchester in fourth spot with 444, and Cumbria in fifth place on 378.

West Cheshire AC’s Carys Roberts, Martha Willetts, Ruby Wisbey, Sara Pearson, Jane Farrell teamed up for Cheshire in the under 11 girls competition and finished third in the team event behind eventual winners Lancashire and runners-up Merseyside.

SIX West Cheshire AC members represented Cheshire at the CAU Inter Counties Cross Country Championships.

Issy Clarke was second counter for Cheshire at the testing Prestwold Hall course in Leicestershire and finished 79th overall in the under 17 wiomens race, and her sister, Katie, was fourth team counter for Cheshire in the under 20 womens race and 60th overall.

Isaac Tait negotiated the under 13 boys race for third spot in the Cheshire team and 137th place overall, while Lucia Pyne was fourth counter for Cheshire in the under 13 girls event and 138th overall.

Ethan Greenland finished sixth for Cheshire in the under 17 mens race and 139th overall alongside training partner Ethan Ackroyd from Deeside AAC who secured third spot in the North Wales team and 69th place overall.

West Cheshire AC’s Sion Roberts was seventh home for Cheshire’s under 15 boys team and was 196th overall.

Ellesmere Port Running Club duo Carol Parsons and Liz Renondeau secured fifth and sixth counting positions for Cheshire women’s team who finished seventh, ahead of team mate Nikki Bird (122nd) and Ellesmere Port-based Kate Titlow (124th).

KEELY SMITH of West Cheshire AC won her age category and finished third lady in the Wrexham Marathon with a new personal best time of 3:26:46.

Club mate, Trevor Holmes, won her age category and finished ninth overall in the Wrexham Half Marathon with a time of 1:27:32.

And Chris Palmer clocked 1:19:56 to finish 22nd in the Wrexham 20 Miles Race, ahead of club mates Andy Carter (24th in 2:20:13) and Luke Ellis (57th in 2:35:48).

DAVE DENTITH and Andrew Clague made it a one-two for West Cheshire AC at the Chester 5k parkrun.

Dentith clocked a new personal best of 18:20 for victory, just five seconds clear of Clague, while Sammy Hollins posted a new best of 19:54 for sixth spot, ahead of Peter Smith (41st in 24:18), Patrick Tait (81st in 26:17), Adam Carlile (82nd in 26:21), Sarah Hughes (16th lady in 27:07), Brian Beattie (111th in 27:46), Ingrid Tait (87th lady in 35:45), and Anne-Marie Tait (89th lady in 35:47).

ALEX STANIFORTH of West Cheshire AC posted a new personal best of 18:12 for second spot at the Delamere 5k Park Run, ahead of club mates Trevor Holmes (eighth in 19:42), and Emma Howe (54th lady in 31:46).

ROB FREEMAN of West Cheshire AC clocked 20:50 for fourth place at the Ellesmere Port 5k parkrun, ahead of John Pughe (16th in 24:30), Aaron Scott (17th in 24:51), Rosemary Rogers (fourth lady in 25:10), and Grace Scott (sixth lady in 28:11).

ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Essar Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC on Wednesday, April 12. Further details can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk

The April 12 fixture is part of the Cheshire Grand Prix Road Race Series which also includes the Mid Cheshire 5k on Friday, April 28; the Alderley By-Pass Race on Sunday, July 2; The Pie & Peas Five Miles Race on Wednesday, August 2; The Essar Guilden Sutton Six 10k Race on Sunday, September 17; the Congleton Half Marathon on Sunday, October 1; and the Farndon 10k on Sunday, October 15.

FIXTURES this week include the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Friday (4pm start); the English Schools Cross Country Championships at the Norfolk Showground, on Saturday, the same day as the Under 13 and Under 15 North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Championships at Sportcity, Manchester, and the British Masters Cross Country Championships at Wavertree, Liverpool (12 noon).

The Sale Harriers Open Indoor Track and Field Meeting takes place on Sunday, the same day as the Wilmslow Half Marathon (10.30am start).