ATHLETICS: SEVERAL West Cheshire AC members leapt and putted their way to success at the weekend.

The Chester and Ellesmere Port-based club hosted an open indoor shot and high-jump competition at Stanney High School, Ellesmere Port.

The event attracted competitors who delivered a series of notable pre-track-and-field-season performances.

David McKay, who is getting married at the end of this month, demonstrated his skills with a double success story.

The versatile senior powered the 7.26kg shot to a winning mark of 11.21m for victory, ahead of runner-up and club colleague John Manning, who achieved 8.13m, and third-placed West Cheshire AC member Lee Hearn, who posted 8.06m.

And McKay wrapped up his appearances with a 1-65m clearance for success in the men's high jump.

He beat Manning and Hearn into second and third places respectively once again to boost morale ahead of his outdoor season.

West Cheshire AC's Paul Bateson provided the highlight of the high-jump competitions on the day. The Under 20 competitor cleared the bar with a spectacular winning jump of 1-80m.

Carl Van Schie, also of West Cheshire AC, won the U17 high jump with a best clearance of 1-48m, to finish ahead of second-placed Sam Bateson who achieved 1-35m.

Sam Gillies, of Stanney High School, claimed success in the under-15 high jump with a winning leap of 1-51m, finishing clear of runner-up Andrew Stothart (West Cheshire AC) who claimed 1-45m.

West Cheshire AC's Michael Lyness, a second cousin of British women's champion Susan Jones, clinched the U13 boys' high-jump title with a mark of 1-28m. He beat runner-up and club mate Jeremy Stothart, with 1-20m, and third-placed Wirral Grammar pupil Philip Arathoon, with 1-10m.

Ruth Pritchard, of West Cheshire AC, won the under-15 girls' high jump with 1-33m, to finish clear of club colleague Natalie O'Connell on 1.10m, and Gemma Mayled, also West Cheshire AC, claimed the U13 girls' crown with 1-05m.

Liverpool-based multi-event sisters Wendy and Mandy Laing starred in the veteran ladies' shot after recently returning from the first World Indoor Masters Championships, staged in Stuttgart, Germany.

Wendy, who won the Heptathlon title in Germany with 4,280 points and finished second in the high jump with 1-63m, won the shot at Stanney with

10.36m, and Mandy, who picked up a bronze 60m hurdles medal in Stuttgart, hit 10.17m in the shot at Stanney.

Beverley Jones, who suffers from cerebral palsy, attained a qualifying mark for the Paralympic Games after winning the ladies' shot at Stanney. The Deeside AC member and CP8 competitor hit 9.99m for success, ahead of runner-up Janice Murphy, of West Cheshire, with 6.19m.

James Callaghan, also West Cheshire AC, demonstrated the form that earned him the Northern U15 boys' indoor title with a put of 11.67m at Stanney. Stephen Downes of Stanney High finished second with 9.91m, and Carl Van Schie won the U17 title with 10.42m.

Michael Lyness won the U13 boys' shot title with 6.06m, from Philip Arathoon on 4.94m and Christ Church pupil Andrew Arathoon, third with 4.25m.

Rachel Lever, of Ellesmere Port Catholic High, won the U15 girls' shot with 6.14m, from runner-up Natalie O'Con-nell on 5.65m.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Salford 10k Road Race (11am start) and Southport Races (10am start) on Good Friday; the Melbourne Trophy Track and Field Meeting at Liverpool on Sunday; and a Trafford AC Track and Field Medal Meeting at Longford Park Stadium, Manchester, on Monday.

ENTRIES are now being received for this year's Cheshire County AA Track and Field Championships, being held at Warrington on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. Forms can be obtained from West Cheshire AC coaches. Closing date for entries is April 30.

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