WARRINGTON Athletics Club’s Cameron Field was involved in an incredible battle for victory at Saturday’s Manchester Area Cross Country League opener.
Throughout the senior men’s race, he and Sale Harriers’ Nigel Martin dominated the field and the lead changed hands on several occasions.
In the final sprint for the line, Field made his move but the final stride came just too soon with Martin dipping to finish just ahead of him.
Close behind field was Joe Buckley (9th) while David Martin (70th) was the club’s other representative.
Joe Buckley (no. 2007). Picture by JPK Sports Photography
26 runners from the Victoria Park-based club competed in all, with Imogen Wharton’s third-place finish in the under 15s girls’ race a highlight.
She helped the team to a sixth-place finish alongside Alice Nicholson (12th), Eleanor Grace (38th) and Emelia Blae Edwards (55th) while the boys team finished in seventh place in the same age group.
Jacob Pryor came ninth to lead the team home, with Matt Seddon (24th), Tom Welsby (28th) and Tom Dawson (38th) also running strongly.
Lucie Davies came home fourth in the women’s under 17s race with Joy Ashcroft-Carter (14th) and Molly Wormald (20th) close behind, while Ben Pucill was a strong 16th in the men’s race.
Lucie Davies. Picture by JPK SPorts Photography
For the under 13s, Spencer Astbury (14th) lead the club’s boys home ahead of Thomas Darbyshire (44th) while for the girls, Ellie Barker (17th) and Emily Kinsey (19th) finished just four seconds apart.
Spencer Astbury. Picture by JPK Sports Photography
Cara Gregory (25th) and Sarah Ashcroft (28th) were also split by four seconds while Cara’s twin sister Sinead dropped out with breathing difficulties, with both sisters having recently recovered from Covid-19.
Faye Lawton was the club’s first finisher in the senior women’s race, coming home 78th ahead of Ellen Turnbull (86th) and Leanne Astbury (127th) while Sharon Taylor withdrew halfway around the course with an Achilles problem.
Meanwhile, Warrington Athletics Club had five runners taking part in Saturday’s Cheshire 10km road race in Northwich.
Three of them picked up age group victories, including Chris Stanford who was the club’s first runner home in 14th place as his time of 32mins 15secs was the fastest for an over 40s athlete.
Chris Stanford leads a group at the Cheshire 10k. Picture by RunThrough Cheshire
By finishing in 36mins 52secs, Dave Norman won the over 60s age group while Louise Blizzard was the fastest woman aged over 45 – she clocked 40mins 50secs to finish 88th overall.
Claire Andrew was just ahead of Blizzard in 85th having clocked 40mins 10secs to place fifth in the women’s over 40s age group.
Dave Norman (no. 472). Picture by RunThrough Cheshire
Claire Andrew. Picture by RunThrough Cheshire
Louise Blizzard. Picture by RunThrough Cheshire
Just ahead of them, Cliff Puttock’s time of 39mins 38secs placed him third in the over 55s age group and 76th overall.
Closer to home, Colin Bishop was also an age group victor on the trails on Saturday.
He competed in the 5-Miler trail race organised by Warrington Running Club, finishing the race in third place.
Bishop completed the course in 31mins 33secs, which saw him as the fastest athlete aged over 60 to finish.
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