BARNTON'S Helen Griffin made a dash for glory on Sunday to clinch the North of England AAA's Under 1 (From Warrington Guardian)

BARNTON'S Helen Griffin made a dash for glory on Sunday to clinch the North of England AAA's Under 1

The 16-year-old St Nicholas RC High School pupil clocked a personal best and championship best time of 7.77 secs in the final at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium to win gold.

Fittingly, the North of England victory came at the same stadium where, on December 20, she opened her indoor campaign with times of 8secs and 7.9secs.

In every indoor race meeting she has competed in this season Griffin has improved her personal best. With that in mind, Helen must be hopeful of her chances in the England AAA's National Indoor Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on February 20 and 21.

She has also been selected for the Great Britain Catholic Schools team to compete in the International Student Games in Portugal in July.

SEVEN of Weaverham High School's 24 entrants in action for Mid Cheshire at the Cheshire Championships in Warrington on Saturday have been selected to run for Cheshire.

The Victoria Park based event saw seven runners from Weaverham earn a place in the Cheshire team which will be in action at the inter counties match against Cumbria on Saturday at Frodsham.

The seven are: Charlotte Doughton (minor girls); Beth Carter, Kate Lievesley (junior girls); Robert Pemberton, Ben Purdle (junior boys); George Thompson, Richard Glaze (inter boys).

THE annual Helsby Half Marathon was staged on Sunday, amassing a field of thousands. Peter Maher was the first Vale Royal AC runner over the line in a time of 76 minutes, followed by Pat Toolis (78mins), Al Maddock (86mins), Ted Johnson (88mins) and Peter Cornes (101mins).

Maggie Davenport, running in the over 50s, finished in 1hr 46mins. But the accolade of the day went to Rachel Barlow, who completed her first half marathon in 1hr 50mins. Rachel, 25, only started running in September. Sunday's run was her second competition.

AT the Deeside cross-country series Vale Royal's Suzanne Wood won the senior ladies race and Mike Weedhall was first over the line in the men's race.

Phil Robinson won the over 50s and Barry Chambers was fourth in the over 45s.

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