RUNNING: ELLESMERE Port RC's Nicola Bird captured a double in back-to-back days over the weekend as she won at both the Cheshire Champion-ships and Christleton 5k race.

Nicola, of Whitby, struck gold on Saturday in the county 1,500m final at Warrington, clocking 4:51.9.

The previous day she had been victorious in the ladies' race at Christleton, finishing in 17:54 to become the only female runner to record a sub-18-minute time.

Friday was also something of a family affair for the Birds as Nicola's mum, Madeleine, also completed the race. The Shell Chester Half Marathon comes under starter's orders on Sunday.

An entry limit of 2,500 forced organisers West Cheshire AC and Chester City Council to close entries last month for an event that has continually grown in popularity.

The main race gets under way from the Old Dee Bridge, Hand-bridge, on Sunday, at 9.30am, and runners will negotiate a course that heads out to Eccleston and Pulford, before returning to the city and finishing on the Roodee.

Entrants for the 13.1-mile race are being requested to arrive early on the day at Chester Racecourse to avoid congestion.

The main race will be supple-mented by a fun run on the Roodee which is due to start at 9.45am, and entries will be taken on the day.

This year's race charity is Save The Family, based at Abbey Square, Chester.