CROSS-COUNTRY: GRAHAM MacNeil steered West Cheshire AC's team home to a top-five finish in Liverpool.

The distance-running ace continued his impressive form by completing the Liverpool and District Cross Country Championships at Clare Gardens, Allerton, in 13th position.

MacNeil was second in the over-40 veteran men's category and posted a time of 34 minutes 42 seconds.

He was joined in the race by clubmate Dave Alexander who finished 16th in 35:02.

Dave Tiernan continued to show improvement after his return from injury by finishing 20th with a time of 35:23.

Club treasurer Graham Jenkins pocketed 25th position with a time of 36:05, finishing first in the over-45 veteran category.

Russell Kirk clocked 37:32 to secure 42nd position, ahead of Paul Price who bagged 63rd place in 40:03.

Other West Cheshire members in action included Dave Hough who finished 90th, Barry Gardner who completed the course in 105th position, and over-60 veteran Mike Lamb in 129th spot.

Phil McGlory of Liverpool Harriers won the race in 31:39, ahead of clubmates Tony O'Brien (31:50) and John McCole (32:14) who finished second and third respectively.

Team result: 1 Liverpool Harriers 25 points, 2 Wirral AC 132, 3 St Helens Sutton AC 148, 4 Liverpool RC 171, 5 West Cheshire AC 179, 6 Spectrum Striders 297, 7 Wallasey AC 308, 8 Southport Waterloo AC 313, 9 Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton 390, 10 Skelmersdale Boundary 437, 11 Penny Lane Striders 448.

Meanwhile, several West Cheshire AC members represented Cheshire Schools at an Inter-Counties Cross Country match held at Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, at the weekend.

And a number of West Cheshire AC juniors have been selected to represent Cheshire this Sunday, at Robin's Park, Wigan, in an Inter-Counties Sportshall match.

Other fixtures this weekend include Vale Royal AC's first open cross country races at Knights Grange tomorrow and the Norton Priory five-mile road race at Run-corn on Sunday.

Forthcoming dates to note include the Ellesmere Port and District Schools' Sportshall athletics finals at Stanney on Wednesday (4pm start), and West Cheshire AC's monthly committee meeting at Stanney Track, Ellesmere Port, on Thursday (8pm start).

West Cheshire AC's next open junior cross country race series takes place at Stanney Track, on Saturday, February 18 (10am start). Entry is on the day for U9s, U11s, U13s and U15s.