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).

THE Chester Round the Walls Race celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

The multi-terrain race, organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club on Boxing Day from Chester Racecourse, is one of the oldest races in the UK and has been an almost permanent festive fixture since its inception in 1972.

Although changing almost every year due to weather and ongoing maintenance of the roman and medieval walls, the typical route is around 6.8km/ 4.25 miles, starting and finishing on the Roodee racecourse and including sections of the walls including the famed Eastgate clock.

Race director, Alan Morris, confirmed this week that entries have now closed for this year’s fixture which has reached its limit of 500 runners and will be run in an anti-clockwise direction around the walls.

This year’s finishers will all receive a commemorative medal to mark the event’s anniversary.

The first race in 1972, staged just over three miles and organised by Chester and District Athletic Club, attracted just 40 runners and was just for men and won by Doug Watson of Wirral AC in a time of 16 minutes 30 seconds.

Dave Cowell, of Manx AC, won the 1973 men’s race and became the first holder of the Browns the Jewellers Trophy, while Margaret Ashcroft, of Wallasey AC, won the ladies race, and Tony Blackwell, of Deeside AAC, won the under 15 boys race.

Trevor Prescott, an experienced athlete from St Helens, organised the event in the mid-70s and increased the attractiveness of the event by introducing a Veteran Men’s race.

The race was switched from December 26th to the 27th in 1976 and 1977 and entries increased, and in 1978 the race organisers, Chester and District AC had become CEPAC (Chester and Ellesmere Port AC).

John Driscoll, who wrote a brief history of the race in 1996, organised the fixture in 1981 which was confined to the inner part of the Roodee for the first time in its history due to a hard frost making the city walls section of the course completely unusable.

The ladies course was increased to the same distance as the men for the 1983, although under the rules existing at that time they had to start separately.

In 1986 and 1987 the runners had to leave the city walls near the Northgate and use roads within the city walls before regaining entry to the walls near the cathedral because the city council became particularly concerned about the condition of certain sections of the walls and the city council insisted that the city walls couldn’t be used for the event in 1988 which lead to national press and television coverage.

A radically new course was established and used which featured roads, pavements, canal towpath, and steps which measured 4.3 miles, but the 1988 race unfortunately saw one runner who failed to notice a left turn and went onto the towpath and into the canal!

After the 1990 race, CEPAC  received notice from the city council that they would not be able to use the racecourse again, so another route was required and created thanks to CEPAC chairman, Alan Morris, and Chester Half Marathon course director, Chris Morgan, who increased the distance to five miles.

Anne Hall became race organiser in 1995 when the city council suggested using the city walls again, but for the second time in its history, the weather intervened with a fall of snow on Christmas Day followed by a hard frost producing unsafe conditions so the event was contained on the Roodee.

Last year’s event saw six West Cheshire Athletic Club members Neil Finegan, Steve Fernyhough, Henry Robinson, Jodi Bemand, Rosemary Rogers and Mary Radford all finished first in their age group categories which attracted 407 finishers.

Neil and Steve claimed the first over-45 and over-40 men’s prizes with times of 22 minutes 28 seconds and 23:32 respectively, while Henry and Jodi were first under 20 man and under 20 lady in times of 24:01 and 30:41, and Rosemary and Mary secured the first over 70 and over 75 ladies awards with times of 37:21 and 49:33.

Daniel Cliffe, representing Hercules Wimbledon AC, posted 20 minutes 34 seconds to win the men’s race, ahead of Buckley Runners duo Ben Biggs and Sam Bellis who clocked 20:50 and 21:47 for second and third positions respectively.

Chester-based Carol Parsons, competing for Cheshire Dragons, posted 24:12 to claim the women’s title, ahead of runner-up Sarah Hunter (Ackworth Road Runners) in 24:46, and Kate Titlow (West Cheshire AC) in third spot with 25:53.

FIXTURES this weekend include the West Cheshire AC Track Handicap for Juniors (800m) and Seniors (3,000m) at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Saturday (10am start), while the Borders Road Running League is being hosted by Cybi Striders at Trac Môn, Anglesey, LL63 5TF, on Sunday (11am start), and the latest round of the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meetings take place at SportCity, on Sunday (10.30am start).

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Cheshire Cross Country Championships at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Sunday, January 8.

FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk