ATHLETICS: EIGHT members of West Cheshire AC rubbed shoulders with some of the best runners in the north last weekend when they took part in the North of England Cross-Country Champion-ships at Consett.
Georgina Wright finished 28th in a time of 12 minutes 40 seconds in the 3k Under 13 girls event and Rebecca Grimes clinched 30th position in the 4k U15 girls race with a time of 16:24 and Charlotte Roach finished the 4.5k U17 ladies race with 39th position after posting a time of 20:59.
Graham MacNeil continued his fine form by clinching 171st place in the 12k senior men's race which he completed in 47:40.
Paul Frodsham provided support and clocked 49:10 for 224th place, ahead of Andrew Clague, 229th in 49:19.
Ken Begley finished 266th with a time of 50:32, and Gary Munslow completed the purple-vested contingent after finding the line in 279th place for a time of 50:58. nWest Cheshire AC staged its annual presentation evening at the EPIC Leisure Centre, Ellesmere Port, on Friday night.
Rachel Stoakley collected the female athlete of the year cup, and James Callaghan was presented with the male award.
Age group winners on the night included Michael Haynes (U11 boys); Danielle Erskine (U11 girls); Michael Lyness (U13 boys); Georgina Wright (U13 girls); Matthew Kenny (U15 boys); Siân Kelman and Stephanie Owens (U15 girls); Carl Van Schie (U17 youths); and Charlotte Roach (U17 ladies).
Richard Stocker won the senior men's award and Sharon Bell won the senior ladies prize, while Gary Roberts was named veteran men's winner, and Jules Bancroft won the veteran ladies prize. nWest Cheshire have secured five of six age group places in the North West Sportshall League Finals at Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, on Sunday, March 6.
The club's U11 boys finished sixth after four rounds; West Cheshire's U11 girls clinched sixth spot; and the U13 boys finished first.
West Cheshire's U15 girls secured third spot, and the club's U15 boys topped their 1254. age group league table.
But West Cheshire AC's U11 girls fell just three and a half points outside the qualification mark. nFixtures this weekend include the Cheshire County Schools' Cross Country Championships at Reaseheath College, near Nantwich, tomorrow, and the North West Regional Sportshall Championships, also tomorrow at Robin Park, Wigan, for U13s and U15s.
West Cheshire AC's road runners will be heading for Abergele on Sunday for the next round of the Borders Road Running League.
An Inter-Counties Schools Cross Country meeting will be organised by Cheshire Schools at Castle Park, Frodsham, on Saturday, February 26.
This season's Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships will take place at Nottingham on March 5.
Anyone wanting further information about West Cheshire Athletics Club, which caters for anyone aged eight and above, can contact Dennis Wall on 0151 201
