Cheshire County XC Championships

The County Championships are staged each year and provide both the chance to gain “County honours” for both team and individual but also selection for the County team at the “Inter Counties Cross Country” championships. For many club athletes it’s the ultimate accolade.

Strict criteria applies to eligibility for the County Championships, based on birth, residence and previous county eligibility. This is different to the Manchester Area Cross Country League in which the club competes, purely on a league basis over a five race season and criteria merely being club membership of competing clubs.

For the first time the County Championships were staged at Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall & some eight miles south of Chester. Credit to the organisers for a great choice and for putting on an excellent day.

The course was challenging with a gradual and steady climb up to the Castle on each of the laps. The heavy rain of the morning from the junior races eased, and it was a good day for running by the time the seniors ran in the afternoon.

Will Booth provided our representation in the U20 race finishing eighth, and possible selection for the Inter Counties.

In a strong field at the front of the race Diane Mcvey finished eighth to help the ladies team to equal third, but, based on the position of the last counter we lost out on a team medal. The same three (Diane, Louisa Harrison & Di Bygrave), made up for this by finishing first Vets Team.

       Photos : Don

The men have challenged for the County title for many of the recent seasons, some years winning, in other years, narrowly missing out. This year, we packed well both in the sic counters led home by Damian, but also further back in the field…  A great effort by all. Proof was that our “B” team finished fourth and narrowly missed medals themselves.

Further team medals were won, with the Vets finishing both first and third.

Thanks to our supporters, always appreciated by the runners.

We don’t have the shield for the men as yet, but should have individual medals to hand out on Tuesday.

Full results can be seen at :  http://www.cheshireaa.com/Results/XCC/2015/XCC2015Results.pdf

Next Saturday, we move on to Heaton Park for round four of the highly competitive Manchester Area Cross Country League, with work still to be done to win trophies .

I have to submit entries for the National Cross Country Championships by Monday. If anyone else wants to be entered, please let me know. They are the pinnacle of an amateur runners career, and take place at the home of Cross Country – Parliament Hill, London.  Saturday 21^st February.

See you at training,

Nick