TWO of Warrington Athletics Club’s veteran runners became British champions on Sunday.

Nick Jones and Steve Watmough both won 10,000m crowns in their age group at the British Masters Championships in Oxford.

In the race for athletes aged between 40 and 54, Jones belied the baking hot conditions to claim a dominant victory in 33mins 1sec, 30 seconds clear of his nearest rival.

Watmough also ran clear in the over 55s race to take the gold medal in 35mins 51secs.

Jones’ son Jordan was also in action this weekend, taking eight seconds off his 1500m steeplechase personal best on Saturday.

He was in Milton Keynes for the British Milers Club PB Classic and the Lymm High School student clocked 4mins 33.31secs – the fourth fastest under 17s time in the UK this year – to finish second.

Warrington Guardian:

Jordan Jones took eight seconds off his 1500m steeplechase personal best on Saturday.

Another Warrington AC member in action on Saturday was Julie Hicken and she brought home three gold medals from the Midlands Masters Championships.

Hicken won the 100m, 300m hurdles and 400m races in Nuneaton on a hugely impressive afternoon.

Closer to home, Dave Gill ran two 5km races in as many days and came away with over 60s age group wins in both.

After completing last Wednesday’s Wirral Seaside 5K in 19mins 7.76secs, he finished 26th overall in the Birchwood Brook trail race over the same distance in 19mins 39secs the next day.

Paul Bagan led home the Warrington AC contingent in the latter race and his time of 17mins 18secs saw him come fourth overall and win the over 40s age group.

Under 20s runner Leighton Sharman was close behind in eighth place to win his age group, while Louise Blizzard was the third woman to cross the line as she placed 44th in 20mins 32secs.

Warrington Guardian:

From left, Dave Gill, Paul Bagan and Louise Blizzard after the Birchwood Brook 5km trail race

Meanwhile, the second round of the Cheshire League took place on Saturday with Warrington AC finishing second in the match.

In the senior age group, all three 1500m races were all won by Warrington athletes as Chris Fance, Jack Wadsworth and Charlie Turnbull were victorious in the A, B and C races respectively.

Cameron Meakin won the A 200m in 22.6secs, while Dave Spencer’s throw of 14.29m was enough for victory in the B Hammer.

Alice Clare was a double winner in the B 200m and the A high jump, with Helen Darbyshire claiming the B shot crown.

There were plenty of winners in the under 17s age group, with Joe Taylor winning the A 200m for the boys.

Over the same distance, Charlotte Stokes and Nicola Metcalfe won the girls’ C and D races, with the latter also winning the B shot with a throw of 3.88m.

Rebecca Hardwicke and Fay Humphreys were also winners over 800m, taking victory in the B and C races respectively.

Tom McKean was the only winner in the under 15s age group as he clocked 12.7secs to finish first in the B 100m.

Despite not picking up wins, many of the club’s under 13s and under 11s performed well and secured personal-best times.

Warrington Guardian:

From left, the Warrington AC girls under 11s 4x100m relay team of Esme Heavey, Ellie Barker, Ella Pennington and Lilly Mae Leary​