ATHLETICS: KEN BEGLEY has been crowned champion of the locally-based Summer Multi-Terrain League Championship.

The West Cheshire Athletics Club runner, preparing for a busy cross-country racing schedule this winter, wrapped up the four-round series title.

He finished four points clear in the final standings with 44 points, to push Wirral AC's Jon Mellor into runners-up spot, and Helsby Running Club's Graham McNeil grabbed third position on 39 points.

Graham Earlam, Paul Frodsham and Graham Jenkins, all representing West Cheshire AC, finished ninth, 10th and 11th in the overall standings, and Gary Withers was 22nd overall.

Begley also won the over-30 and under-40 age group title ahead of second-placed Mark Bennett, of Chester Tri Club, and McNeil secured top spot in the over-40 age group category, ahead of fifth-placed Jenkins, sixth-placed Earlam, Frodsham (ninth), Gary Withers (10th), Alan Morris (13th), Paul Price (14th) and Clive Donovan (23rd).

Bob Benson, of West Cheshire AC, finished third in the over-50 category, despite missing the final round, ahead of 10th-placed Brian Hastings and Richard Batterham in 11th spot.

Kathryn Roberts, of Helsby, won the over-30 and under-40 title by two points from Ellesmere Port RC's Alison MacDonald, in runners-up spot, and third-placed Alison Talbot, representing West Cheshire.

Ruth Isaacs, of Pensby Running Club, won the ladies' title overall, ahead of third-placed Alison MacDonald, Chester Tri Club's Anna Stamp, in seventh spot, and Alison Talbot in eighth place.

West Cheshire A team finished runners-up in the team competition, behind Wirral A, and Wirral B team finished third.

Pensby Running Club A team won the ladies' team event, from second-placed Penny Lane A, and Pensby B in third spot.

Alan Woods, of Liverpool Pembroke Sefton, won the final round of the multi-terrain race series at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead, where he clocked 18 minutes 34 seconds for the 3.8-mile course. Ian Wetherall, of Sale Harriers, clocked 19.07 for second place, ahead of Graham MacNeil in third place with 19.45.

West Cheshire AC's first finisher was Graham Jenkins who posted 20.20 for 10th position.

Kathryn Roberts, of Helsby, won the ladies' race in 23.34. Alison Talbot was West Cheshire AC's only female runner, posting 25.28 for sixth spot. Members of Helsby Running Club had the best of the conditions for the annual Sandstone Trail races through the heart of Cheshire on Sunday.

The longer A race started at Duckington and covered 16.5miles to finish at Barnes Bridge in Delamere Forest, and was contested for Helsby by Kathryn Roberts, second lady and 42nd overall, in 2hrs 23min 17sec, Vanessa Griffiths 58th in 2-27.48, Diane Turner first lady vet, 60th overall in 2-28.46, Manfred Keune 62nd in 2-29.16 and Cliff Broom 81st in 2-45.12.

The shorter B race started from Beeston Castle an hour after the start of the A race and covered 9.5 miles to the finish in Delamere. Helsby were represented by Richard Stradling, 6th in 1-5.58, Marcus Walker, 12th in 1-10.49, Ian Hilditch, 38th 1-20.25, Lisa Griffiths, 52nd 1-23.41, Lucy Gallon, 62nd 1-27.27, Joe Beswick, 68th in 1-29.39, Carol Shaw, 85th 1-39.17, Henri Grice, 86th in 1-39.40, and Mike Collins, 92nd in 1-50.55. First for Tattenhall Runners over the long course was Steve Hammond in 2-9.52 in 20th place to grab 20 points for his Trophy Series total.

Francis McHale led the Tattenhall team in the shorter race in 14th place in 1-12.2, from Dave Ratcliffe, 22 seconds behind in 17th place in 1-12.25, Greg Berti, 30th in 1-19.06, Dave Clarke, 33rd in 1-19.24, Lawrie Woodley, 47th in 1-22.28, Chris Lamb, 57th in 1-25.59, Sue Ellis, 63rd in 1-28.08, Derek Clague, 65th in 1-28.26, Caroline Howard 67th in 1-29.29, Jane Woodley, 78th in 1-35.56, Tessa Swaine 81st in 1-36.22 and Lesley Clague 1-44.49 for 89th place. Forthcoming fixtures include the Liverpool International Half Marathon and 10k Road Race this Sunday. Details on (0151) 233 3007.