ATHLETICS: WEST CHESHIRE AC members celebrated medal and trophy-winning performances last weekend.
Stephanie Owen secured the biggest victory by clinching the Welsh indoor shot title in Cardiff. The Buckley-based U15 thrower powered her way to a personal best distance of 10.27m.
Stephanie had threatened to make an impact during the warm-up when one of her practice attempts landed beyond the 11-metre marker.
The teenager recovered from injury and hit her best shot-distance in the second round after opening the competition with 10.25m - two centimetres further than her previous best.
Stephanie added a 60m personal best and is now looking forward to an appearance for West Cheshire AC in the final round of the North West Sportshall League event at Deeside, on Sunday, January 23.
A number of members were also successful at the final round of the West Cheshire AC Open Junior Cross Country Race Series at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, on Saturday.
Bradley Edwards completed a hat-trick of victories from the four round series to claim top prize in the Under 11 boys competition.
He had a time of seven minutes 10 seconds to finish 13 seconds clear of nearest rival Joe Wynne (Wrexham AC) with Carl Griffiths (Thomas Wedge) third in 8:11.
Alice Jennings capitalised on her good form by securing a third straight success in the U11 girls race series.
She finished Saturday's race in a time of 8:03 to claim top spot from second-placed Charlotte West (Broughton Primary) in 8:20, and Abbie Noble (West Cheshire AC) was third in 8:30.
Alice won the U11 series from runnerup Abbie Noble, and Jennifer Lampkin (Deeside AAC) was third.
Jeremy Stothart won the U13 boys race after a head to head finish resulting in a two-second winning margin against West Cheshire AC team-mate Matthew Pratt, and Jack Bancroft finished third.
He won the U13 series title from runner-up Michael Lyness, and third-placed Jack Bancroft.
Georgina Wright polished off her U13 girls series campaign with a flawless record of four consecutive victories. She won Saturday's race in a time of 11:02, 17 seconds clear of team-mate Laura Stott, and Emma Wright (Wrexham AC) was third in 11:47.
Georgina and Laura claimed first and second-placed awards overall in the series, and Gemma Mayled clinched third position overall after finishing fourth at the weekend.
West Cheshire AC's Rebecca Grimes grabbed her fourth successive victory in the U15 girls race to secure a comfortable series victory. Her performance of 15:07 earned her more than a two-minute margin of victory over runner-up Hannah Robb (Deeside AAC) with 17:20, and Ruth Pritchard (West Cheshire AC) was third in 18:29.
Stephen Duckers (Wirral AC) won the U15 boys race on Saturday with a time of 13:41, from West Cheshire AC duo James Parry (16:19) and Alan Littler (17:08).
But Tom Lowndes won the U15 boys series award from second-placed Alan Littler, and James Parry was third.
Alex Jenkins of Our Lady's, clinched top prize in the U9s age group after winning Saturday's race in 4:18, from second-placed Harry Ellis, in 4:30, and George Ogden (Thomas Wedge) finished third in 5:09.
Alex Jenkins and Harry Ellis were first and second respectively, overall in the series, and Jack Fletcher (Neston Primary) finished third.
Alex White (Neston Primary) collected the U9s girls' award from the series despite finishing second to Heidi Williams (West Cheshire AC) who clocked 4:17, and Rosie Bancroft, also West Cheshire AC, finished third in 4:30.
Alex White finished ahead of runnerup Lucy Earl (West Cheshire AC) and third-placed Rosie Bancroft in the four round series.
Several West Cheshire AC members competed at Wrexham on Saturday in the fourth round of the North Wales Cross Country League.
In the ladies race Frances Mudway was 40th and Mary Radford was 57th.
The men's race was won by Chris Davies (Telford), who toyed with the field for one and three quarter laps and then moved easily away.
In the four-lap race Andrew Clague just lapped Mike Lamb to finish 29th. Brian Hastings was 104th and Lamb held off ex-CEPAC member Derek Parsons also an over-60 veteran, to finish 132nd.
Graham MacNeil spearheaded West Cheshire AC's charge at the Liverpool and District Cross Country Championships at Clark Gardens, Allerton, in Liverpool, on Sunday.
He finished 16th in 36mins, ahead of Graham Jenkins (32nd in 37:44), Graham Earlam (33rd in 37:45), Andrew Clague (36th in 37:56), Dave Tiernan (55th in 39:35) and final scoring counter John McGill (67th in 41:00).
Other West Cheshire AC members in action included Alan Cooper (80th in 42:41), Dave Hough (89th in 43:17), Brian Hastings (106th in 45:08) and Mike Lamb (131st in 53:40).
West Cheshire AC had a team score of 239 for sixth place. West Cheshire AC'S senior men and veteran men will be attempting to retain the Cheshire Country Cross Country Championship team titles tomorrow at Knights Grange Sports Complex, Winsford, on Saturday.
The full programme of races on the day is: 11.30am start, U11 boys and girls; 11.40am, U13 boys and girls;
11.55am, U15 girls; 12.20pm, U15 boys and U17 ladies; 12.45pm, U17 men and U20 ladies; 1.15pm, U20 men and senior and veteran women; and 2pm, senior and veteran men. Information about West Cheshire Athletics Club, which caters for anyone aged eight and above, is available from Dennis Wall on 0151 201 1254.
Marcus Walker led Helsby Running Club home in the Liverpool and District Cross-Country Championships in 70th position in 41.11. Kathryn Roberts followed in 79th position overall and second lady in 42.38, Andy Smith 92nd in 43.30, Vanessa Griffiths 102nd and fourth lady in 44.52 and Brandon Taylor 115th in 46.16.
