SAMMY HOLLINS and Jodi Bemand are celebrating club record performances.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo continued their impressive run of form at the Trafford 10k Road Race on Sunday.

Sammy delivered a new under 20 men’s 10k club record of 32 minutes 56 seconds to finish seventh in his age group and 183rd overall.

And Jodi achieved a new under 20 women’s age group record time of 39:29 for fourth position in her age category and 87th place in the women’s event, ahead of her mum, Debra, who clocked 48:29 for 15th place in her over-55 age group.

MICHAEL YOUNG secured a podium place at the Chester Ultras 50 Miles Race held from Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday.

The West Cheshire AC distance ace clocked six hours 51 minutes 24 seconds for third position after navigating a route which featured check points at Croughton, Chester, Waverton, Tarporley, Delamere Forest, Frodsham, and Dunham on the Hill, just 10 minutes behind winner Matt Field who posted 6:41:35, and second-placed Liam Mills who clocked 6:42:09.

NIA MANSON and Noah Booth celebrated victories in the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Monday.

Nia won the year 5 and 6 girls race, while Noah won the year 5 and 6 boys race at the fixture supported by West Cheshire AC which attracted 15 schools.  

ENTRIES are now open for the West Cheshire AC 25th Anniversary Open Track and Field Meetings being held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 26. The live entry link for online entries is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Track-Field-Open-Meetings-2023

ENTRIES have now opened for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC at Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, on Wednesday 12th April (7pm start). The online link for entries is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Chester-Spring-5-2023

Any West Cheshire AC member entering and running is reminded to provide a helper/marshal to assist at the event. 

FIXTURES this weekend include the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, on Saturday; the Manchester Cross Country League at Heaton Park, on Saturday; the England Athletics Under 15s and Under 17s Indoor Combined Events Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday; the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday; and the Chester 10k Road Race on Sunday.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host both the Cheshire County Clubs’ Track and Field Championships (Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14), and the Cheshire Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships (Saturday, June 10), at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track, as well as Cheshire Track and Field League matches on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, September 3; a Under 17s and Under 20s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Sunday, April 30; a Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixtures on Sunday, May 7 and Saturday, July 8; and a Northern Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, May 20. 

West Cheshire AC will also host the West Cheshire AC Secondary Schools Track and Cup Field Cup fixture on Wednesday, May 10; the County Round of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, May 17; the North West Regional B Final of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, June 14; the Chester Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Monday, June 19; the Ellesmere Port and Neston Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 23; and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Track and Field Schools Championships on Wednesday, July 5. 

35 WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club members took part in Saturday’s English National Cross Country Championships at Bolesworth Castle near Tattenhall.

The purple and gold-vested outfit rubbed shoulders with the best athletes in the country at the prestigious annual fixture which attracted thousands of runners to the picturesque Cheshire countryside.

Holly Coates completed the under 15 girls 4k course in 18 minutes nine seconds for 61st position, ahead of club mate Cosette Wearden (138th in 19:16).

Jodi Bemand covered the under 20 women’s 6k circuit in 27:39 for 74th spot, while Sammy Hollins (77th in 36:23) and Henry Robinson (135th in 39:26) completed the under 20 men’s 10k course.

Thomas Rimmer (133rd in 11:58) headed the club’s under 13 boys team home in the 3k event, supported by Noah Booth (213th in 12:35), Dylan Gledhill (247th in 13:11), George Grimsditch (262nd in 13:37), and Daniel Hooker (269th in 13:54).

Isabella Rimmer (136th in 22:53) and Megan White (200th in 28:50) completed the under 17 women’s 5k course, while Eleanor Wheeler (163rd in 13:26), Harriet Beattie (190th in 13:50), Grace Andrews (226th in 14:35) and Poppy Coates (232nd in 14:48) rounded the under 13 girls 3k route.

Kerry Riley achieved 195th spot and a time of 36:40 in the senior women’s 8k event, backed up by Claire Harris (225th in 37:25), Emma Nutt (321st in 39:38), Anest Muller (397th in 41:23), Traci Shipley (503rd in 44:04), Angela Tegg (553rd in 45:30), and Debra Bemand (618th in 47:22).

Ellis Hancock (211th in 26:31) and Matthew McCreadie (229th in 27:35) completed the under 17 men’s 6k course.

Michael Young spearheaded the club’s senior men’s team, clocking 44:46 for 461st position over the 12k course, supported by Graham Wells (495th in 45:06), Neil Finegan (613th in 46:48), Paul Morrison (706th in 48:03), Andrew Clague (781st in 49:09), Phil Woodley (925th in 51:12), Mark Davies (1021st in 52:42), Iain Wood (1346th in 61:20), Andy Carter (1370th in 62:08), and Tony Kennedy (1428th in 66:20).

ENTRIES are now open for the West Cheshire AC 25th Anniversary Open Track and Field Meetings being held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 26. The live entry link for online entries is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Track-Field-Open-Meetings-2023

ENTRIES have now opened for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC at Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, on Wednesday 12th April (7pm start). The online link for entries is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Chester-Spring-5-2023

Any West Cheshire AC member entering and running is reminded to provide a helper/marshal to assist at the event. 

FIXTURES this weekend include the Chester Ultra 50 Miles Race from Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday.

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Monday, March 6; the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, on Saturday, March 11; and the Manchester Cross Country League at Heaton Park, on Saturday, March 11; the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, March 12; and the Chester 10k Road Race on Sunday, March 12.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host both the Cheshire County Clubs’ Track and Field Championships (Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14), and the Cheshire Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships (Saturday, June 10), at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track, as well as Cheshire Track and Field League matches on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, September 3; a Under 17s and Under 20s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Sunday, April 30; a Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixtures on Sunday, May 7 and Saturday, July 8; and a Northern Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, May 20. 

West Cheshire AC will also host the West Cheshire AC Secondary Schools Track and Cup Field Cup fixture on Wednesday, May 10; the County Round of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, May 17; the North West Regional B Final of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, June 14; the Chester Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Monday, June 19; the Ellesmere Port and Neston Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 23; and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Track and Field Schools Championships on Wednesday, July 5. 

Sarah Hibbert and Ruby Phillips are celebrating club record-breaking performances, following impressive displays at Aintree, and Sheffield respectively.

Sarah, with Wullie McGarrell as her pacer, clocked a new personal best of 1:47:00 at the Aintree Half Marathon, to win her over-55 age category and secure a new club record.

And Ruby pocketed a silver medal after clocking a new under 15 girls 800m personal best and club record time of 2:16.62 at the National Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Keely Smith helped Cheshire celebrate a team victory against North Wales and Shropshire at the Rhyl 10 Miles Road Race, finishing first in her new over-40 age group in 61 minutes 11 seconds.

ENTRIES are now open for the West Cheshire AC 25th Anniversary Open Track and Field Meetings being held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track on Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 26. The live entry link for online entries is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Track-Field-Open-Meetings-2023

ENTRIES have now opened for the Chester Spring Five Miles Road Race being organised by West Cheshire AC at Cheshire County Sports Club, Upton, on Wednesday 12th April (7pm start). The online link for entries is: https://wcac.niftyentries.com/Chester-Spring-5-2023

Any West Cheshire AC member entering this event is reminded to provide a helper/marshal to assist 

FIXTURES this weekend include the English Cross Country Championships at Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, on Saturday.

The timetable is: 11am – Under 17 Women (5km); 11.25am – Under 15 Boys (4km); 11.45am – Under 13 Girls (3km); 12.05pm – Under 17 Men (6km); 12.30pm – Under 13 Boys (3km); 12.45pm – Under 15 Girls (4km); 1.05pm – Under 20 Junior Women (6km); 1.35pm – Senior Women (8km); 2.20pm – Under 20 Junior Men (10km); 3pm – Senior Men (12km).

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Chester Ultra 50 Miles Race from Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, March 4; the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Monday, March 6; the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, on Saturday, March 11; and the Manchester Cross Country League at Heaton Park, on Saturday, March 11; the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, March 12; and the Chester 10k Road Race on Sunday, March 12.

WEST CHESHIRE AC will host both the Cheshire County Clubs’ Track and Field Championships (Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14), and the Cheshire Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships (Saturday, June 10), at the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Athletics Track, as well as Cheshire Track and Field League matches on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, September 3; a Under 17s and Under 20s Youth Development Track and Field League fixture on Sunday, April 30; a Under 13s and Under 15s Youth Development Track and Field League fixtures on Sunday, May 7 and Saturday, July 8; and a Northern Track and Field League fixture on Saturday, May 20. 

West Cheshire AC will also host the West Cheshire AC Secondary Schools Track and Cup Field Cup fixture on Wednesday, May 10; the County Round of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, May 17; the North West Regional B Final of the English Schools Track and Field Cup on Wednesday, June 14; the Chester Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Monday, June 19; the Ellesmere Port and Neston Primary Schools Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 23; and the Cheshire v Merseyside Year Seven Track and Field Schools Championships on Wednesday, July 5. 

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club celebrated its 25th birthday with an annual awards presentation evening.

The event attracted 200 members, parents and friends to the successful event held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester, on Saturday night.

Club members and Great Britain athletes Eloise Eccles and Liz Renondeau were guest speakers and presented the awards to club members and described their inspirational paths to being selected to represent Great Britain.

Harriet Wheeler and Emma Holmes were named joint winners of the women’s cup, and Nathan Brassington was the winner of the men’s cup.

Henry Robinson were presented with the Chris Goodwin Cup by Chris’s grandfather John Goodwin, while Paul Morrison won the Wright Trophy, and Mike Lamb was presented with Club Person of the Year.

Debra Bemand, Ellie Robinson and Joy Hickman were presented with first, second and third-placed awards respectively for the women’s Endurance Points Competition, and Paul Morrison, Andrew Clague and Neil Finegan were the top three men respectively in the men’s competition.

Nia Manson and Amelia Snowden, who won medals at the North Wales Cross Country League earlier in the day, won the under 11 girls awards, while Oliver Kimpton was presented with the under 11 boys trophy.

Mae Grant and Emilia Pyper collected the under 13 girls awards, and Will Rawson and Ellis Williams won the under 13 boys cups.

Holly Bosworth and Emily Owen were recipients of the under 15 girls awards, and Daniel Walker and James Rawson collected the under 15 boys trophies.

Yasmin Smith and Jessica Lark won the under 17 lwomen ‘s awards, while Fergus Garland and Luke Parker secured the under 17 men’s trophies.

Imogen Pughe and Jodi Bemand won the under 20 women’s awards, and Jamie Richardson and Sammy Hollins collected the under 20 men’s cups.

Danielle Erskine and Sophie Percival won the senior women’s awards, while Alan Littler and Will Scott were the senior men’s winners.

Ellie Robinson, Joy Hickman, Keely Smith and Eloise Eccles were the veteran women’s winners, and Michael Young, Neil Finegan, and Dave McKay secured the veteran men’s awards.

RUBY PHILLIPS pocketed a silver medal after clocking a new under 15 girls 800m personal best time of 2:16.62 at the Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Jessica Lark finished fourth in the under 17 women’s 800m final after posting a new personal best of 2:12.40 in her qualifying heat, and Theo Shepherd was fourth in his under 15 boys 200m final with a time of 24.37 seconds.

Emma Holmes clocked 58.95 seconds for sixth spot in her under 20 women’s 400m final, while Macey Jones was eighth with a time of 8.03 seconds in her under 15 girls 60m final, and Fergus Garland posted 51.73 seconds in his under 20 men’s 400m heat.

NIA MANSON, Poppy McKenna and Amelia Snowden combined to secure second under 11 girls team position at Oswestry in the North Wales Junior Cross Country League, while Nia and Holly Coates won their under 11 and under 15 girls races, and Dylan Gledhill and Harry McKenna picked up bronze team medals in the under 13 boys age group.

Jodi Bemand (under 20 ladies) and Ellie Robinson (over-50 ladies) both won their overall age group categories in the final standings of the North Wales Senior Cross Country League.

Jodi (fifth) and Ellie (42nd) were backed up on the day by Kerry Riley (11th), Anest Muller (35th), Joy Hickman (49th), Traci Shipley (56th), Debra Bemand (64th) and Alex Duffey (69th) in the women’s race at Oswestry.

Henry Robinson (second overall in the under 20 men’s age group) finished 17th overall at Oswestry, ahead of Andrew Clague (third over-50 overall and 40th at Oswestry), Paul Morrison (60th), and Richard Hayes (72nd). Both men’s and women’s teams avoided relegation, and so will be in Division 1 again next season.

ISABELLA RIMMER posted fourth spot in the under 17 women’s race at Sherdley Park, St Helens in the Manchester Cross Country League, while Sammy Hollins was sixth in the under 17 men’s race, Thomas Rimmer was ninth in the under 13 boys race, Ben Newall was 40th in the under 15 boys race, and Mark Davies was 33rd over-45 man.

MICHAEL YOUNG (27th in 1:11:23) headed West Cheshire AC’s contingent at the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon, alongside Graham Wells (eighth over-45 man in 1:16:50), Neil Hershaw (third over-55 man in 1:22:27), Danny Paddock (1:22:42), Steve Roberts (1:33:05), Andy Carter (1:35:33), Mark Davies (1:39:18), Brian Cremin (1:42:31), Stephen Ball (1:42:51), and Clare Mallon (14th over-45 lady in 1:43:43).

ANNA WOOLGAR finished third woman at the Parbold Hill Race, alongside Neil Finegan who finished 19th overall.

BETH MANSON celebrated a hat-trick of under 15 girls personal bests at the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting, posting 8.62 (60m), 27.55 (200m), and 7.01m (shot put).

Ruby Wisbey clocked a new under 20 women’s 60m personal best of 8.12 seconds, while Satine Wearden posted two new season’s bests in the under 15 girls 200m (33.31) and high jump (1-20m).

Laura Turley clocked a new senior women’s 200m season’s best of 25.31 seconds, and Carys Manson posted 10.50 seconds in the under 17 women’s 60m hurdles.  

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the English Cross-country Championships at Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, on Saturday, February 25; the Chester Ultra 50 Miles Race from Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, March 4; the Chester Primary Schools Cross-country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Monday, March 6; the Inter Counties Cross-country Championships at Loughborough on Saturday, March 11; and the Manchester Cross-country League on Saturday, March 11; the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, March 12; and the Chester 10k on Sunday, March 12.