WARRINGTON Athletics Club achieved a remarkable success at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

On top of a superb medal haul throughout, all five of their under 13 boys' runners have been selected for Cheshire to compete in next month's Inter-Counties Championships at Nottingham.

Joining them will be 12 others who performed magnificently in the Cheshires at Reaseheath College, Nantwich, on Sunday.

The men produced the biggest haul of gold medals this decade, across the u11, u13, u17 and u20 age groups. The u11, u17 and u20 teams took first places.

For the women, there were two golds, one silver plus team silvers and bronzes.

It was the performance of u11 runner Ben Mallison that inspired many of the later performances in the men's races.

After trailing for the first two laps he steadily overhauled the early pacemaker and fought off a late challenge from Joe Burgom, of Macclesfield, who had beaten him in the last two outings, to become county champion.

Tremendous work from Michael Pemberton, sixth, David Middlehurst, seventh and Karl Steinnegger, eighth, ensured victory for the team for the first time in two years.

Jonathan Charlton recorded an easy victory in the u13 race to retain his county title.

Good support from Chris Gibbons, fourth, Ben Green, seventh, Matt Parris, eighth and Tom Sherrington, ninth, ensured second team spot, which was a frustrating one point behind the winners. The consolation was their selection for Cheshire.

At u15 level Richard Horton, running at the bottom of his age group, fought out a tremendous battle over the 4km course to finish second and will also represent the county on February 20. Paul Bristow finished 11th.

In the 7km u17 race, the deadly duo of Danny Addison and Dave Green did battle for Warrington but it was the turn of Danny to become champion for 1999, despite both receiving the same time. Both athletes, together with Ian Bateman, fifth, will be among the forerunners at Nottingham on this form.

In the junior men's race, John Gilbert once again showed the form that is earning him international recognition by destroying the opposition by more than a minute in the 8km race. Ross Donaldson, fourth, and Kieran Layfield, sixth, supported well and did enough to gain county selection.

At senior level, 11.5km, Les Brookman was first home in ninth, taking the second place over 40s medal in addition. The team came sixth overall with S. Burthem, 20th, J. Russell, 51st, N. Stephens, 52nd, J. Keene, 66th, P. Clarke, 75th, and N. Jones, 116th, doing well.

The senior women's team of Jane Burthem, fifth, Alison Smith, 11th, and Gill Stephens, 17th, took the team silver award. Jane also was first veteran in the 7,000m race.

But it was nine-year-old Jade Crosby who got the women's team off to a great start by winning the u11 girls 1,900m race (see back page). Warrington's other runner, Bethan Simpson, ran well to claim 20th place.

The u13 girls ran 2,500m and the A team of Emma Makin, sixth, Rachael Brookes, 10th, and Helen Warren, 12th, finished third. Emma will represent Cheshire at Nottingham. Warrington's strength in depth was illustrated by Helen Plant finishing 13th, Dawn Makin, 15th, Susie Chiverton, 20th, Nadia Koriba, 25th, Analyse Turner 26th and Amy Daniels, 29th.

Anna Henderson was unlucky to just miss an individual medal when finishing fourth in the 3,500m u15 girls race. Fourth spot booked her place on the bus to Nottingham. Alana Pridden ran her best race for some time finishing seventh with Kim Roach, 11th, completing the A team which finished third overall. Jodie Ormerod finished 15th and Kirsty Seymour 22nd.

In the u17 girls, Katie Brennan took gold with a powerful display in the 4,500m race. Louisa Wood took second in the 20s championship which was combined with the u17 race for team awards. Jenny Smith completed the Warrington team finishing ninth to give the team the silver medal. Gemma Flannery was 11th, u17, and Fiona McGrath ninth, u20. Katie and Louisa will race for Cheshire.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Warrington host the Cheshire Schools championships at Victoria Park. Entrance is free!

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