WEST Cheshire AC took on the county’s finest cross country runners on Saturday – and achieved a series of podium finishes.

The made the annual trip to Knight’s Grange, Winsford, for the Cheshire County Cross Country Championships.

West Cheshire AC chairman Dennis Wall was delighted with his club’s display.

He said: “It was nice to kick off the new year with some medal success.

“There were no golds, but there was still plenty for us to be pleased about.

“Hopefully this will be the start of a successful year.”

Runners completed for team and individual medals over courses ranging from one mile (for under 11s) through to about five miles for seniors.

There was a silver medal for West Cheshire’s U13 boys team of Cameron Weaver (fifth in 16:20), Mark Lathom (ninth in 16:47) and Evan Roberts (11th in 17:08). Sam Grinter (fourth in 10:51), Jac Goodall (eighth in 11:24), and Paul Morrison (ninth in 11:28) secured West Cheshire team silver medals from the U11 boys race.

Also stepping on to the podium were Issy Clarke, Elizabeth McMahon and Ellie Finn, who combined to earn team bronze medals for West Cheshire in the U11 girls event.

Mary Radford secured a silver medal from the veteran women’s over-65 age group category after posting a time of 65:07.

Dave Alexander also bagged an individual medal, taking silver from the over 40 veteran men’s race.

He posted 44 minutes 49 seconds to finish second, while Dave Hough was represented in the over-60 age group and clinched a bronze medal after posting 58:30.

Sale Harriers’ Ian Wetherall, a second-claim member of West Cheshire, clocked 43:07 for top spot in the over-45 age category, while West Cheshire’s men finished 13th in the team event and the veteran men’s team finished 10th.

Sophie Hemingbrough posted 20:08 for 14th position in the U13 girls event, while Mark Hearn was the first West Cheshire finisher in the U15 boys race, eighth in 22:46.

Megan McEveley completed the U15 girls race in 25th place with a time of 22:33 and Laura Bestow finished 14th overall and ninth lady in the combined senior and veteran women’s race with a time of 41:29.

In the senior men’s race, Alistair McNay was first home for Tattenhall Runners (29th in 46:50) and Adair Broughton (37th in 47:27) led the way for Helsby Runners.

Jane Ashbrook was 10th for Helsby in the ladies race and the third V35 finisher – in 40:03.

This helped Helsby claim team silver in the women’s vets section.

The Cheshire Schools Cross Country Championships will be staged at Whitby High School in Ellesmere Port this Saturday (first race 10am).