ATHLETICS: LAURA Bestow produced a fine performance on her international debut.

The 18-year-old Chester Queen's School student finished 10th overall in the under-20 junior ladies race at the Belgian Cross-Country Cup meeting, and was the fifth English competitor to complete the course.

Laura, a member of West Cheshire AC, represented the North of England team at the event held in Ghent, Belgium.

She clocked a time of 18:44 for the race won by Belgian runner V Dejaeghere in a time of 17:56. Dave Alexander, of West Cheshire AC, finished 10th at the opening round of the Liverpool and District Cross-Country League at the weekend.

He covered the course at Skelmersdale's Boundary Park in a time of 32:52, and was joined at the fixture by fellow West Cheshire AC runner Paul Frodsham (20th in 33:43), Alan Cooper (106th in 42:22) Mike Lamb (121st in 45:32).

Phil McGlory steered Liverpool Harriers to a team success after winning the senior race in a time of 30:09, from Harriers team-mate Lee Siemarzko, who was runner-up in 31:01.

Helen Lawrence, of Wirral AC, was the first lady finisher in a time of 33:03, which placed her 12th overall in the race.

Liverpool won the team event on 74 points, 20 points clear of second-placed Wirral AC, and St Helens Sutton AC finished third on 153. The race attracted 139 finishers. West Cheshire AC duo Danielle Bentley and Josh King scored success at the first round of the Ellesmere Port and Neston Primary Schools' Cross-Country Race Series on Saturday, at Sutton High School.

Danielle, representing Brookside School, won the girls' race, ahead of Tamsin McVeigh (John Street) and Marie McEwan (St Winefride's), who finished second and third respectively.

Josh King represented John Street and reached the line first, ahead of runner-up Jack Roberts (Brookside), and third-placed Niall Robinson, representing St Wine-fride's. Junior distance runners are reminded to make a note in their diaries of a four-round series of cross-country races being organised by West Cheshire AC and scheduled to start at Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port, later this month.

The first round will be held on Saturday, November 29, round two will take place on Saturday, December 13, round three on Saturday, February 14 and the final round on Saturday, March 6.

The first race on each date will start at 10am, and a 50p entry will be payable per runner on the day of the race. Medals will be presented to the first three finishers in each of the under-11, under-13, and under-15 boys and girls' races staged in the four-round series.

Fixtures this weekend include the first round of the Borders Road Running League on Sunday, for West Cheshire AC's distance runners at Deestriders (11am race start).

And West Cheshire AC's youngsters will be heading for the EPIC Leisure Centre, Ellesmere Port, on Sunday, for the third round of the North West Sportshall League (1pm start). Members of West Cheshire AC are reminded that their club's annual general meeting will take place at Bishop's High School, Chester, on Friday, November 28 (7.30pm start).

West Cheshire AC's monthly committee meeting will take place at Whitby Sports Club on Tuesday, November 18 (8.15pm start). Entries are now being accepted for the Chester Round The Walls Races to be held on Boxing Day from Chester Racecourse (11am). Further details from Brian Hastings on 01244 311908.

While details about West Cheshire AC can be obtained from Dennis Wall on 0151 201 1254 (evenings).