CHESTER athletes forced themselves in contention for a county place at the Cheshire Schools AA Track and Field Championships.

Held at Macclesfield on Saturday, the championships are a stepping stone towards the English Schools Championships at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium on July 13 and 14.

Among those to impress was Christleton High School pupil Andrew Whitton, a member of West Cheshire AC. He delivered a winning personal best performance of 13.27m in the intermediate boys triple jump.

Elsewhere in the inter boys section, Jelle Verwer posted an English Schools qualifying time of one minute and 58.40 seconds to gain victory in the 800m, while Alec Beaney was second in the 1,500m in 4:26.90.

Eddie Reid won bronze in the 100m hurdles (16.80 seconds) and there was a third-place finish for Tom Pashley in the discus (27.99m).

In the 200m, Aamir Walwyn registered a new grade-two personal best time of 23.3 seconds for second spot ahead of third-placed James Roden (24.80).

There were three medal-winning displays for Chester pupils in the senior boys section. They came from Chris Perry, who won the 1,500m in 4:18.50 and was second in the 800m in 2:09.80, and Tom Walley, second in the 100m in 12 seconds.

In the junior boys category, Aidan Stoakley secured a new 400m best after winning the title in 56.8 seconds, and Tom Booth looked impressive on his way to winning the 80m crown in a grade-two time of 12.5 seconds. Nick Crawshaw sprinted home in 12 seconds to triumph in the 100m, while James Ellis was third in the 1,500m (4:43.70) and Matthew Roberts second in the high jump (1.55m).

In the field events, Rob Dagnall claimed long jump silver (5.30m) and Scott Armstrong (10.39m) was third in the triple jump.

Athletes representing Chester also excelled in the girls section.

At junior girls level, Sam Galley won the 200m in a grade-two time of 27.0 seconds.

Rachel Treloar bagged the 100m title in a grade-two personal-best time of 12.9 seconds, and Emily Clarke - a member of West Cheshire AC representing North Cheshire - won the long jump with 4.65m.

In the 1,500m final, Nienke Verwer (5:06.50) was second and there were also medals for Bethany Sproston (third in the shot, 8.25m) and Sami Symes (first in the discus, 19.86m).

Abbie Noble, a member of West Cheshire AC who was turning out for Ellesmere Port, rounded the 800m for a time of 2:28.9 and second spot.

The inter girls category was a strong one for Chester.

Sian Kelman grabbed a grade two 100m winning time of 12.7 seconds, finishing just ahead of Daisy Flynn Piercy, who posted 12.9.

Emily Done won the 300m title with a time of 41.5 seconds, just ahead of second-placed Shona Valentine, who clocked 42.4 seconds.

Kate Titlow finished second with 11:17.00 in the intermediate girls 3,000m and Ruth Pritchard achieved a grade-four performance of 4.44m to win bronze in the long jump.

There was a bronze medal for Francis Dee in the 200m (28.30 seconds) and the same colour for Kate Howard in the 800m (2:23.80).

In the high jump, Fiona McLauchlan (1.45m) leapt to silver while Ruth Howard (10.03m) was a silver medal-winner in the triple jump.

Chester athletes impressed in the throwing events, with a one-two for Danielle Rowley (8.47m) and Caitlin Carter (7.86m) in the shot, a third for Stephanie Hill (19.53m) in the discus and a win for Emily Fisher (32.36m) in the javelin.

Finally, there was a double for Lauren Hunt in the senior girls shot (10.57m) and discus (33.85m).

* Providing they are fit and available for selection, the top two finishers in each section go through to this week-end's inter-counties Mason Trophy meeting in Birmingham.

The county selection committee meets on Sunday to draw up a team for the English Schools Championships and competition for places in the 35-strong squad is fierce.