VALE Royal athletes made the most of their home ground to book their places in the English Cross Country Championships on Sunday.

Hartford Campus was the venue for the Cheshire Cross Country Championships, with 456 of the county's best long distance runners in competition.

Of the 92 from Vale Royal Athletics Club, 20 will go on to represent Cheshire at the nationals in Nottingham on February 10 after finishing in the top 12 in their events.

Hot favourite David Mason, of St Nicholas RC High School, furthered his reputation by becoming county champion in the under-13s boys race.

Simon Ellis also qualified in 5th as the team picked up silver. However, the under-13 girls went one better.

Their team picked up the gold, thanks mainly to a tremendous performance from Emma Coxon, who won her individual race. Team mates Katherine Barron (5th), Gemma Lievesley (6th) and Hannah Rugen (8th), who travelled from Leeds for the event, will join Emma in Nottingham.

Ken Moss, approaching his 50th birthday, was also a Vale Royal winner, coming home first in the men's veterans race, while Tom Carter became men's junior champion.

There was a host of silver medals for local athletes, including Karen Ellison in the women's senior race, Julie Ann Hough in the under-17s women and Rob Pemberton, who was 2nd through the tape in the under-15 boys.

Chris Williams was 4th in this race, while Andrew Ellis won silver in the under-17 boys, George Thompson the bronze.

Another team gold was won by the under-15 girls. The team was made up of Sarah Drury (3rd), Becky Ellis (4th), Fiona Rudkin (6th), Caroline Winder (8th), Nicky Archer (11th) and Beth Carter (12th).

Simon Ruscoe also made sure of representation in February's national finals as the Winsford man came third in the senior men's race.