It was the English Master team race at Chester on Sunday
What are the Masters?
England Athletics recognises that a significant amount of the membership of road running clubs is made up of runners aged over thirty-five years. The Age Group Masters competition programme recognises and rewards the significant contribution that these runners make to our sport. Through an annual rolling programme of qualifying events and representative opportunities we provide Masters runners with a friendly competition format and the chance to earn themselves an England Age Group Masters vest.
The age group categories go from ages 35 to 75+.
At Chester: Over 150 masters athletes from over 140 England Athletics affiliated clubs were selected to take on the Chester Half Marathon this weekend as part of the England Athletics Masters representative race programme. Out of 140 clubs, the three most represented clubs were Ipswich [5]; Southport [4] and Wilmslow [4]!! An amazing feat which shows the strength of our club.
We had three top 3 Category positions too! Great running by our runners.
All our runners had slightly slower times than their qualification times. But I assume that’s because there’s some climbs involved!
Then again it is described as offering one of the flattest routes in many years, with a spectacular city centre finish.
The route starts at Chester Racecourse, heading up Watergate Street, through the Walls and the historic centre of Chester. Runners will leave the city through the Garden Quarter before heading out into the countryside on Parkgate Road.
Just after Little Mollington Hall you turn onto the roman road into the picturesque villages of Mollington and Lea by Backford. The route then continues up Parkgate Road and turns left to loop round part of Saughall village. Returning on Parkgate Road, you pass Chester University and run in to the finish via the Garden Quarter.
The finish in the City Centre outside the Town Hall and Cathedral provides an inspiring setting
Wilmslow runners results below:
| Chip pos | chip T | Runner | Club | Cat | CatPos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01:03:52 | Omar Ahmed | Birchfield H | Snr Male | 1 |
| 9 | 01:11:55 | Peter Speake | WRC | MV45 | 1 |
| 14 | 01:13:18 | Richard Coen | WRC | MV40 | 3 |
| 49 | 01:18:04 | Alice Braham | Ealing Eagles | FV45 | 1 |
| 73 | 01:20:46 | Claire Clancy | WRC | FV35 | 2 |
| 182 | 01:27:34 | Tim Billington | WRC | MV55 | 13 |
| 3267 | Finishers |
What a great performance by our 4 WRC members! A first for Peter, a second for Claire and a third for Richard, fantastic! Tim never ceases to amaze with his performances at the ripe old age he is, must be something in the water!