LOCALLY-BASED pupils proved class acts at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday.

A total of 217 youngsters represented 39 different schools at the penultimate round of the Essar West Cheshire Athletic Club Schools Cross Country Race Series.

Sammy Hollins, of Upton High, produced a strong finish before celebrating a Year Eight boys winning time of eight minutes 45 seconds, ahead of runner-up Ewan MacNab (Helsby) and Sam Tilston (Upton) in third spot.

Imogen Pughe (Wirral Grammar), clocked 9:03 for victory in the Year Eight girls race, just seven seconds ahead of runner-up Sophie Grainger (Christleton), with Henrietta Duffey (Wirral Grammar) in third place.

Fergus Garland (Neston) won the Year Seven boys race in 7:06, ahead of second placed Dan Willetts (Tarporley) who posted 7:19, and Max Telford (Upton) in third spot.

Georgina Duffey (Birkenhead Academy) posted a winning Year Seven girls time of 7:35, to finish ahead of Emma Robson (Neston) and Megan White (Queen’s) who were second and third respectively.

Reece Munro (Eccleston) won the Year Six boys race in a time of 3:50, ahead of runner-up Leo Ferdenzi (Acresfield) and third placed Matthew Jones (Mill View).

Holly Sutcliffe (The Firs) grabbed glory in the Year Six girls race with 4:26, ahead of runner-up Itala-Maria Ferraro (Helsby Hillside) and Daisy Briscoe (Saughall All Saints) who were second and third respectively.

Joseph Ireland (Mill View) posted a winning time of 4:11 in the Year Five boys race, ahead of Benjamin Williams (Willaston) and Joshua Oates (Newton).

Ella Hims (Childer Thornton) won the Year Five girls race with 4:13, ahead of Eleanor Williams (King’s), and Cerys Rowlands (Woodlands) in second and third positions.

Ben Pold (King’s) won the Year Four boys race in a time of 2:28, ahead of Tom and Ben Hackett, both from Saughall All Saints, who were second and third respectively.

Grace Henderson (King’s) won the Year Four girls race in 2:40, just one second in front of runner-up Eleanor Neve (Mickle Trafford), while Charlotte Noon (Saughall All Saints) was third.

Thomas Rimmer (Overleigh St Marys) won the Year Three boys race in 2:20, just one second clear of Joe Williams (King’s) with Jamie Collins (Newton) in third spot.

Ruby McIlveen (Bishop Wilson) won the Year Three girls race in 2:36, ahead of runner-up Edith Carr (Acresfield) and third-placed Ella-Grace Graham (Newton).

The final round in the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series is scheduled to be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, March 24 (10am start).

WEST CHESHIRE AC trio Andrew Dawe, Joe Foy, and Rosemary Rogers won their age categories at the inaugural Chester 10k Road Race.

Dawe won his over 50 age group with a time of 41 minutes 41 seconds, while Foy won his over-60 age category with a time of 41:31, and Rogers clocked 52:55 for top spot in her over-65 age group.

They were joined at the event by clubmates Rob Little (second over-40 man and 16th overall in 35:53), Andy Carter (second over-45 man and 23rd overall in 37:56), Luke Ellis (27th in 38:28), Mike Henesy (40th in 39:27), Steve Fernyhough (41st in 39:34), Phil Woodley (53rd in 40:45), Tony Woodall (fifth over-45 man and 55th overall in 40:51), Claire Williams (11th over-40 lady in 50:16), Mark Povey (495th in 52:54), Brian Beattie (second over-70 man in 54:30), Claire Gloyne-Phillips (177th lady in 56:10), and Darren Shillington (62:04).

ELLIE ROBINSON, of West Cheshire AC, was first in her over-45 age category at the Congleton Cloud Nine Miles Fell Race after clocking a time of 79 minutes 49 seconds.

TOM CABLE, of West Cheshire AC, posted a new personal best of 87:11 for 41st position at the Anglesey Half Marathon.

DAVE BISH represented West Cheshire AC at the Benidorm Half Marathon and clocked 2:00:44 in pouring rain.

FIXTURES this weekend include the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, on Saturday; the Cheshire 10k at Arley Hall, on Saturday; the Northern and England Under 15 and Under 17 Indoor Combined Events Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday; and the Wrexham Half Marathon, 20 miles Race and Marathon, on Sunday.

At the end of a busy cross-country season, all of the top places are occupied by WCAC snood-earning runners. Things still close in the women’s competition, with Angela and Ellie level, and the two Cla(i)res separated by a mere point. Cross-country also throws a spanner in the works of last month’s familiar look to the male standings, as newcomer Steve Fernyhough forges ahead, pursued by last year’s winner Andrew and another neck-a-neck duo in Mr. Chairman Andy and Cross-country main man Peter. See halfway down the Road running page for tables and a list of races run.

Well done to the hardy souls who braved the cold for today’s round 3 of the Essar WCAC Schools Cross-country Series. 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?”. We look forward to seeing you again for the final round on Saturday March 24th.

The Borders league #5 Tattenhall race scheduled for this Sunday 4th March has been cancelled due to the icy / snowy conditions.

Although disappointing it is a safety first decision and therefore we support that decision 100% (we don’t need any silly injuries caused by slippery conditions).

The Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races will go ahead at EPSV this Saturday March 3rd (10am start).

THIS WEEKEND

Due to the icy conditions a decision on whether to organise the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races at EPSV this Saturday will be made by lunchtime today (Friday). The decision will be publicised on the West Cheshire AC website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The latest round of the Borders Road Running League is scheduled to take place at Tattenhall this Sunday (11am start), weather permitting.

NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Northern Athletics Under 15s and Under 17s 5k Road Race Championships and Men’s 12 Stage and Women’s 6 Stage Road Relays will be held at Birkenhead Park on Sunday 25th March.

West Cheshire AC has decided to pay for all members wanting to compete in the 5k and the road relays and all those interested should email Dennis Wall ASAP at: [email protected]

HELP NEEDED AT CLUB TRIALS

The Club needs your help to organise two track and field trials to be held at the EPSV Track on the evening of Thursday 29th March (Maundy Thursday) and the morning of Saturday 31st March (Easter Saturday).

Please let Dennis Wall if you can help by emailing: [email protected]

HELP NEEDED AT ESSAR CHESTER SPRING FIVE RACE

Members and friends are being asked to help their club organise the Essar Chester Spring 5 Miles Road Race on Wednesday, 11th April, (7pm start). If you can help please email Dennis Wall at [email protected]

COACHING AND OFFICIATING INVITE

Anyone wanting to get involved in coaching and/or officiating at the club should get in touch with Dennis Wall at: [email protected]

And please also take a look at the information about coaching and officials‘ courses.

OPEN TRACK AND FIELD MEETINGS

West Cheshire AC is encouraging everyone to attend one of many pre-season track and field meetings if members can’t attend the Club Trials on March 29 and 31.

Here is a list of open meetings with links to the meetings:

Monday, April 2: Trafford AC Open Meeting

Sunday, April 8: Warrington AC Open Meeting

Sunday, April 8: Wigan Harriers Open Meeting

Saturday, April 14: Liverpool Jumps and Throws

Sunday, April 15: Wirral AC Open Meeting.

Sunday, April 15: Deeside AAC Open Meeting

Sunday, April 15: Trafford AC Open Meeting

WEEKLY ROUND-UP

This week’s club press report can be found here

FIXTURES (Subject to the weather!)

Saturday, March 3: Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races, at EPSV. 10am start

Sunday, March 4: Borders Road Running League Round Five, at Tattenhall. 11am start

Saturday, March 10: UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough

Saturday, March 10/11: England Athletics/Northern Under 15 & Under 17 Indoor Combined Events Championships, at Sheffield)

Sunday, March 11: Wrexham Half Marathon, 20 miles, and Marathon

A TOTAL of 28 West Cheshire Athletic Club juniors have been selected to represent their county.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit will be represented at the North West Regional Sportshall Athletics Finals to be held at Sportcity, Manchester, on Sunday, March 25.

Matthew Webb, Nathan Partington, Michael Maxwell and Alfie Baker will represent Cheshire in the under 15 boys event, while Emma Ashcroft and Sophie Cribb will team up for the county under 15 girls.

Isla Shillington, Imogen Pughe, Eva Renshaw, Lara Battersby, Ava Byrne, Fatoumatta Bojang, Stephanie Jones and Ruby Wisbey have been selected for the Cheshire under 13 girls, while Uzezi Onomerike, Ted Williams and Regan Stubbs will combine in the under 13 boys team.

Sara Pearson, Harriet Wheeler, Macy Brett, Alexa Byrne, Maddi Mercer and Abigail Jeavons have been selected for the under 11 girls team, while Milo Halliday, Alex Rutherford, Ben Whittlestone, Joseph Watkin, and Matthew Jones will compete for the under 11 boys squad.

ETHAN ACKROYD secured fourth spot at the Welsh National Cross Country Championships.

The talented teenager represented West Cheshire Athletic Club in the under 17 mens race and was the first North Wales-based athlete to finish at Swansea’s Singleton Park after covering the 5.2km course in a time of 16 minutes 27 seconds.

Ackroyd is now preparing to represent North Wales at the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships being held at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough, on Saturday, March 10.

CARYS ROBERTS starred for West Cheshire AC at London’s Parliament Hill in the English Cross Country Championships.

Roberts was among the 467 finishers who covered the under 13 girls 3k course in 14 minutes for 95th spot, while club mate Lucia Pyne posted 16:54 for the under 15 girls 4k course for 153rd in the field of 464 finishers.

Ethan Greenland clocked 37:14 for 100th position in the 6k under 20 mens race which was negotiated by 220 finishers, and Henry Robinson posted 14 minutes for 287th spot in the 570-strong under 13 boys field.

Jac Goodall (175th in 23:10), Dave Dentith (211th in 23:47), Jackson Sloan (287th in 25:24), Sion Roberts (317th in 26:26) and Rory Willson (336th in 27:48) combined for West Cheshire AC in the 6k under 17 mens race, while Will Wright posted 18:34 for 273rd spot in the under 15 boys 4.5km race.

Kerry Riley (287th in 37:13), Claire Harris (334th in 38:08), and Ellie Robinson (374th in 38:41) combined for West Cheshire AC in the senior womens 8km race which attracted 1,113 finishers.

Dave Alexander (561st in 49:34) and Andy Carter (1,447th in 58:27) represented West Cheshire AC in the field of 2,328 finishers in the 12km senior mens race.

GEORGE HYDE hit 14.61m for fifth position in the under 20 mens shot put final at the England Athletics Indoor Track and Field Championships.

He was joined at the event in Sheffield by Ewan Bradley who posted 8.99 seconds for sixth position in his heat of the under 17 mens 60m hurdles.

JOE FOY and Brian Beattie secured podium places representing West Cheshire AC at the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon.

Foy finished second in his over-60 age group with a time of one hour 27 minutes thirty-three seconds, and Beattie was third in his over-70 age group in 1:58:18.

Rob Little (1:17:12 in 33rd spot) was first home for West Cheshire AC, ahead of Luke Ellis (140th in 1:25:26), Graham Wells (141st in 1:25:16), Steve Fernyhough (168th in 1:26:12), Tony Woodall (212th in 1:27:57), Mark Davies (221st in 1:24:39), Julian Tegg (452nd in 1:33:25 – a personal best), Richard Hunt (631st in 1:42:25), Clare Mallon (1:45:34) and Brygida Gorecka (1189th in 1:58:43).

IMOGEN PUGHE achieved new personal bests of 8.33 seconds and 27.80 seconds in the under 15 girls 60m and 200m respectively at the latest Sale Harriers Indoor Open Meeting.

The West Cheshire AC youngster was joined at the fixture by club mates Stephanie Jones, Ava Byrne, Gabriel Mikoleizik, Liam Davoren and Alan Littler.

Jones posted 27.93 seconds in her under 15 girls 200m and registered 4.46m in the long jump, while Byrne cleared 1-40m in the under 15 girls high jump and long jumped 4.21m.

Mikoleizik clocked 7.88 and 25.78 in his under 15 boys 60m and 200m, while Davoren posted 25.70 in his mens 200m, and Littler cleared 1-65m in the mens high jump.

PHIL WOODLEY (67:49) and Andy Leishman (75:59) completed the Rhyl 10 miles Road Race, and their West Cheshire AC team mates Tom Cable (38:44) and Alex Staniforth (84:11) negotiated the Oulton Park 10k and half marathon respectively.

BROTHERS Joseph and Paul Morrison posted new personal bests at the Ellesmere Port 5km Park Run.

Joseph won the race in 18:03 and Paul clocked 20:17 for fourth position, ahead of Rob Freeman (16th in 23:30), Julian Tegg (25th in 24:53), and Abigail Cartwright (second lady in 25:22).

Andrew Clague posted 18:59 for third spot at the Chester 5km Park Run, ahead of clubmates Ian Gloyne-Phillips (fifth in 19:20), Steve Fernyhough (sixth in 19:49), Mark Davies (eighth in 20:18), Sophie Grainger (second lady in 21:24), Rosemary Rogers (24th lady in 26:48), and Sarah Hughes (35th lady in 28:45).

Sammy Hollins of West Cheshire AC was fourth with a new personal best of 19:45 at the Delamere 5km Park Run, ahead of David Irving (17th in 21:47), Dan Willetts (45th in 24:09), Georgina Duffey (14th lady in 26:25), and Kay Hayes (57th lady in 30:17).

FIXTURES this weekend include the third round of the Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday (10am start), and the Borders Road Running League fifth round at Tattenhall on Sunday (11am start).

NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Northern Athletics Under 15s and Under 17s 5k Road Race Championships and Men’s 12 Stage and Women’s 6 Stage Road Relays will be held at Birkenhead Park on Sunday 25th March.

West Cheshire AC has decided to pay for all members wanting to compete in the 5k and the road relays and all those interested should email Dennis Wall ASAP at: [email protected]

HELP NEEDED AT CLUB TRIALS

The Club needs your help to organise two track and field trials to be held at the EPSV Track on the evening of Thursday 29th March (Maundy Thursday) and the morning of Saturday 31st March (Easter Saturday).

Please let Dennis Wall if you can help by emailing: [email protected]

HELP NEEDED AT ESSAR CHESTER SPRING FIVE RACE

Members and friends are being asked to help their club organise the Essar Chester Spring 5 Miles Road Race on Wednesday, 11th April, (7pm start). If you can help please email Dennis Wall at: [email protected]

COACHING AND OFFICIATING INVITE

Anyone wanting to get involved in coaching and/or officiating at the club should get in touch with Dennis Wall at: [email protected]

And please also take a look at the information about coaching and officials‘ courses here on the following link:

OPEN TRACK AND FIELD MEETINGS

West Cheshire AC is encouraging everyone to attend one of many pre-season track and field meetings if members can’t attend the Club Trials on March 29 and 31.

Here is a list of open meetings with links to the meetings:

Monday, April 2: Trafford AC Open Meeting

Sunday, April 8: Warrington AC Open Meeting

Sunday, April 8: Wigan Harriers Open Meeting

Saturday, April 14: Liverpool Jumps and Throws

Sunday, April 15: Wirral AC Open Meeting.

Sunday, April 15: Deeside AAC Open Meeting

Sunday, April 15: Trafford AC Open Meeting

WEEKLY ROUND-UP

This week’s club press report can be found here

FIXTURES

Saturday, February 24: English National Cross Country Championships, at Parliament Hill, London. 11am start.

Saturday, February 24: Welsh National Cross Country Championships, at Singleton Park, Swansea. 11am start.

Saturday, February 24: Rhyl 10 Miles Road Race (incorporating British Masters Championships). 10am start.

Saturday, February 24: England Athletics Indoor Under 15, Under 17 and Under 20 Track & Field Championships, at Sheffield

Sunday, February 25: Sale Harriers Indoor Open Meeting, at Sportcity, Manchester. 10am start

Sunday, February 25: Village Bakery Half Marathon, at Wrexham, 11am start

Saturday, March 3: Essar West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races, at EPSV. 10am start

Sunday, March 4: Borders Road Running League Round Five, at Tattenhall. 11am start

Saturday, March 10: UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough

Saturday, March 10/11: England Athletics/Northern Under 15 & Under 17 Indoor Combined Events Championships, at Sheffield)

Sunday, March 11: Wrexham Half Marathon, 20 miles, and Marathon