IAIN Wedge spearheaded West Cheshire AC’s contingent to the finishing line in Sunday’s MBNA Chester Marathon.
The ace completed the 26.2-mile course in a time of three hours, seven minutes and 41 seconds for a 101st-placed finish in a field which attracted more than 4,000 runners.
Wedge’s performance also meant he was the 27th fastest over 40s competitor.
Following up for Wests were Neil McIntyre (597th in 3.46:48, 44th over 50s), Mark Povey (783rd in 3.50:52, 176th over 40s), Tony Kennedy (891st in 3.54:57, 58th over 50s), Brian Beattie (1,014th in 3.58:14, sixth over 65s), Darryl Pickering (1,050th in 3.58:52, 123rd over 45s), Michael Gandy (1,139th in 4.03:12, 447th man), Angela Cook (1,179th in 4.03:35, 74th lady) and Karen Billingsley (2,014th in 4.51:33, 57th over 45s lady).
Rob Tudor ensured West Cheshire AC got off to a flying start in their cross country campaign.
The over 45s runner finished eighth in the North Staffs Cross Country League opener at Winsford in 37 minutes and four seconds as Wests topped the Division Two standings.
Tudor was supported by Dave Alexander (17th in 37:49), Andrew Clague (30th in 38:46), Mark Davies (72nd in 42:04) and Dave Hough (171st in 49:27).
Other West Cheshire AC members in action included Jac Goodall, who was 10th in 9:21 in the under 11s boys race, and U13s boys duo Cameron Weaver (fifth in 12:46) and Tom Harrop (24th in 14:58).
Chris Harrop clocked 17:53 for ninth spot in the U15 boys contest as Mary Radford passed the post in 115th in 33:36 in the women’s race.
Andrew Clague (over 40s), Paul Frodsham (over 50s) and Bob Benson (over 55ths) finished the Wirral Multi-Terrain series in fourth in their age categories after the final race at Arrow Park.
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School student Joseph Morrison won the Year 7 boys race in seven minutes and 54 seconds at the opening race in the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Series at Stanney Oaks on Saturday.
Our Lady’s Catholic Junior School pupil Paul Morrison was second in the Year 5 boys race in 5:16.
There were third-placed finishes for Whitby High School’s Laura Smith (13:50) and Woodlands Primary School’s Phoebe Ashworth (6:10) in the Year 8 and Year 6 girls races respectively.
