YOUNGSTERS will be toeing the line on Saturday at the first of four cross country fixtures being hosted by West Cheshire AC.
The Junior Open Schools Race Series has been staged for several years at the club’s Stanney Oaks base in Ellesmere Port to help promote and develop middle distance running for youngsters.
This year’s event will attract primary and secondary school pupils from Chester, Ellesmere Port, Neston and Helsby.
Saturday’s opening round is scheduled to start at 10am with races for pupils in Years 3 and 4, followed by races which will feature boys and girls in Years 5, 6 and 7.
Medals will be awarded to the first three finishers in each race, and a schools’ team event will also be incorporated into the series with the first three finishers from each school scoring towards a team total.
West Cheshire AC club chairman Dennis Wall is hoping the series of winter fixtures will generate enthusiasm for middle distance running.
He said: “West Cheshire Athletic Club is obviously keen to promote and raise the profile of middle distance running.
“The series of four junior cross country fixtures at Stanney Oaks has proved successful since the club started to organise the event and we’re hoping to encourage many locally-based pupils to turn out and help make this winter’s race series another success story.
“Each runner will represent their school as an individual and hopefully contest one of the top three scoring places as a member of their school team.
“I’d like to think that this cross country fixture will act as an important stepping stone to local schoolchildren generating an interest for athletics.”
Other scheduled dates in the West Cheshire AC Schools Open Cross Country Race Series are December 5, February 6 and March 20.
Further information about the series can be obtained by contacting Dennis Wall at:
dennis.wall1@ntlworld.com
