Please see here for details on training at Ellesmere Port Sports Village over Christmas, as well as our Round the Walls Race on Boxing Day, how to enter cross-country championships, and how to keep in touch over the festive break.
Please see here for details on training at Ellesmere Port Sports Village over Christmas, as well as our Round the Walls Race on Boxing Day, how to enter cross-country championships, and how to keep in touch over the festive break.
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 MΓ΄n, 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
It’s nearly the season… for cross-country championships entry time. All three of the events below are real, atmospheric occasions involving runners of all abilities. The Cheshire and Northern Championships championships are on good courses at previously used venues. The prestigious National championships are in our own backyard on a similarly testing course – a great experience for regular cross-country runners and newbies alike! Because these events matter greatly to the club, entry fees will be paid by the club, on the basis that members who ask to be entered turn up on the day.
No qualification needed, all abilities represented. Run in any one event or all three. The only requirements are that you are a FIRST-CLAIM member of West Cheshire AC who will turn up on the day and, for the Cheshire Championships only, you must either have been born in Cheshire or have been living in Cheshire for at least nine months before the race, and must not have competed in another county’s championships since October 1st 2022. The races are:
Cheshire County AA Cross-country Championships at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Sunday 8th January. Age groups from under 11s to veterans.
Northern Athletics Cross-country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn, Saturday January 28th 2023. Age groups from under 13s to veterans.
English National Cross-country Championships at Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall, Chester, Saturday February 25th 2023. Age groups from under 13s to veterans.
IF YOU WANT TO RUN
Please reply to this email (at [email protected] (please don’t just reply via Facebook or tell a coach!) with your name, date of birth and the name of the championships you want to run in, by the following dates:
Cheshire: December 23rd 2022
Northern: January 6th 2023
National: January 13th 2023
Any entries for the Cheshire and Northern Championships, after the closing dates specified above, must be done by the entrants themselves, who will have to pay an entry fee. It appears that there is no individual entry to the National championships, so please let us know by the dates shown above if you want to run!
IMPORTANT
The club is paying members’ entry fees again this year on the basis that people commit to showing up on the day unless there are legitimate unforeseen circumstances, eg illness or injury. If members who are fit to compete decide to pull out after entering, the club will expect to be reimbursed for their entry fees. Please be sure that you want to run before committing to do so.
PLEASE NOTE
The club will NOT be arranging transport to these races. The races generally run in order of age group, so we neither want youngsters to be waiting for seniors to finish nor seniors getting up early and waiting around for hours before their races.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you want to know more about cross-country, please see the off-road page of the club’s website, or feel free to contact the Cross-country Officer via the Contact page of the website
Overall results and statistics for the WCAC Schools Cross-country Series are now available near the bottom of the Off-road page of the club website. Following today’s cancellation of the final round, these are based on positions in any two of the three rounds that took place.
The WCAC Schools Cross-country that was due to take place this morning at Ellesmere Port Sports Village has been cancelled due to the inclement weather.
Into the final month of the last ever WCAC Endurance League, and Paul Morrison stays in front of Neil Finegan and Andrew Clague who are equal on points. Debra Bemand is clear in the womenβs competition, with Ellie Robinson 2nd and Clare Angell Mallon and Joy Hickman also still on equal points. See near the bottom of the Races page of the club website for further details.
WULLIE McGARRELL celebrated a record-breaking performance at the Myerscough 10 Miles Road Race.
The West Cheshire Athletic Club member clocked 62 minutes 59 seconds to win his over-55 men’s age group prize and post a new club record age group time.
Wullie sliced two seconds off his previous best time for 10 miles at the fixture near Preston after clocking 63:01 a fortnight ago in another 10 miles race.
NOAH WOOLGAR and Eleanor Wheeler enjoyed success in Sunday’s Chester Santa Dash event.
The West Cheshire AC pair were first boy and first girl respectively after negotiating a 3.3km route that featured iconic sights of the city including Grosvenor Park, the amphitheatre, Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral, and Chester Town Hall.
POPPY COATES helped West Kirby Grammar School’s Junior Girls team finish 14th at the English Schools Cross Country Cup fixture on Saturday held at Leeds Grammar School.
LIZ RENONDEAU won the British Masters 5k Championships title at Battersea Park, London, in a time of 17 minutes 50 seconds, seven seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
SISTERS Ruby and Aimee Phillips, of West Cheshire AC, grabbed glory at the first Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting of the season on Sunday.
Ruby posted a winning time of 1:40:15 in her under 15 girls’ race, while Aimee clocked 1:43:24 for success in her under 17 ladies’ race.
Alfie Lane posted 7.49 seconds in his under 17 men’s 60m and added 38.51 seconds for his 300m.
Eva Brooks long jumped 3.90m and added 8.91 seconds for her under 15 girls’ 60m and 2:19.48 for her 600m, while Theo Shepherd clocked 7.91 seconds in his under 15 boys’ 60m and 40.51 seconds in his 300m, and Macey Jones delivered 8.09 seconds in her under 15 girls’ 60m and 46.02 seconds in her 300m.
Sisters Carys and Beth Manson were also in action, with Carys achieving 10.19 seconds in her under 17 ladies’ 60m hurdles, 8.83 seconds in her 60m and 47.40 seconds in her 300m, while Beth posted 9.01 in her under 15 girls’ 60m, 47.28 seconds in her 300m, and hit 5.70m in the shot put.
Holly Bosworth clocked 8.30m in her under 17 ladies’ 60m and 43.83 seconds in the 300m, while Lara Fields posted 8.54 seconds in her under 17 ladies’ 60m and 45.94 seconds in her 300m.
Lydia Walker achieved 8.43 seconds in her under 15 girls’ 60m and 48.58 seconds in her 300m, while Nancy Farmer rounded the under 17 ladies’ 600m in 1:57.12.
Ruby Billington cleared 1-41m in the under 15 girls’ high jump and posted 9.13 seconds in her 60m, while Nancy Collins clocked 9.01 seconds in her under 15 girls’ 60m and 52.51 seconds in her 300m.
The next Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 18, and the entry link is: www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series
FIXTURES this weekend include the final round of the West Cheshire Athletic Club Schools Cross Country Race Series at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday (9.30am registration for a 10am start), and the North Staffs Cross Country League Fourth Round, at Keele University, on Saturday (12 noon start).
NATHAN BRASSINGTON has helped England earn team gold medals in Glasgow.
The talented West Cheshire Athletic Club member celebrated success representing England Schools in the Home Countries International Indoor Under 16 Boys Pentathlon Championships.
Nathan teamed up with England teammates Luke Pitcher, Samuel Newton, and Osar Wilson to compile a tally of 8,817 points to secure top spot in the team event, ahead of runners-up Ireland, third-placed Scotland, and Wales in fourth position.
Nathan delivered 2,732 points after clocking 8.86 seconds for the 60m hurdles, before achieving 5.43m in the long jump, posting 25.29 seconds in the 200m, hitting 12.96m in the shot put, and rounding the 800m in 2:37.27.
ANEST MULLER headed West Cheshire Athletic Club’s ladies home at the latest round of the North Wales Cross Country League held at Whitford.
Anest finished 38th overall and sixth over 40 lady in 23:14, just one second clear of club mate Ellie Robinson (39th overall and second over-50 lady), backed up by Clare Mallon (46th and eighth over-45 lady in 23:31), Joy Hickman (66th and fifth over-55 lady in 25:12), Angela Tegg (73rd and fifth over-50 lady in 26:12), Debra Bemand (78th and seventh over-50 lady in 27:09), and Alex Duffey (91st and 17th over-45 lady in 28:23).
Neil Finegan was first home for West Cheshire AC’s men, posting 29:24 for fourth place in his over-45 age group and securing 30th spot overall.
He was supported by Dave Shearer (43rd and sixth over-35 man in 29:58), Henry Robinson (46th and sixth over-20 man in 30:24), Andrew Clague (54th and third over-50 man in 31:11), Neil Hershaw (64th and second over-55 man in 31:50), and Andy Carter (123rd and 19th over-50 man in 36:43).
Matthew McCroadie posted 20:11 for third spot in the under 17 men’s race.
JAMIE RICHARDSON secured a top-40 spot at the UK Cross Challenge event held at Sefton Park, Liverpool.
Jamie, representing West Cheshire AC, rounded the under 20 men’s race in 33rd position in a time of 21:55, ahead of teammates Luke Richardson (94th in 23:06), and Sammy Hollins (114th in 23:38).
Cosette Wearden posted 12:08 for 48th place in the under 15 girls’ event, while Noah Woolgar was 64th in the under 15 boys race in 11:23, and Jodi Bemand finished 69th in the under 20 women’s race in 18:28.
Paul Morrison (311th in 40:04) and Jack Gannon (407th in 42:51) completed the Senior Men’s race.
