A successful weekend for Warrington Athletics Club members

Having travelled to Dublin as part of England’s over 60s team for the British and Irish Masters International Cross Country, he won his age group’s race in 29mins 32secs and led his country to the team gold medal.

Watmough was one of three Warrington Athletics Club members in action, with Dave Watson in Wales’ over 65s team while Dave Gill was a reserve for England’s team in the same age group.

Running in the open race for over 65s, Gill placed second in 24mins 27secs – just five seconds down on the Irish winner.

Watson was the second counter for the Wales team that placed fourth, finishing 16th overall in 25mins 23secs.

Left to right, Steve Watmough, Dave Gill and Dave Watson (Image: Contributed)

On the same day, Warrington Athletics Club’s under 15s runners had a field day as the Manchester Area Cross Country League reached its second round.

The Victoria Park-based club provided winners in both the boys’ and girls’ races, with Jack Marwood and Esme Heavey securing their spots on the top step of the podium.

Heavey led the girls’ field home in 17mins 36secs and two of her clubmates finished inside the top 10 – Ellie Barker and Hannah Hull both clocked 19mins 41secs to finish eighth and ninth respectively – to ensure the team finished in first place on 18 points. Emma Whiston (23rd, 21mins 14secs) completed the squad.

Marwood finished clear of his rivals in the boys’ race in a time of 15mins 56secs and he was supported by clubmates Seb Hampson (23rd, 17mins 32secs) and Elliot Taylor (35th, 18mins 24secs) as they combined for a fifth-place team finish.

Esme Heavey and Jack Marwood after winning their races at the Manchester Area Cross Country League meet (Image: Contributed)

In total, there were 32 Warrington Athletics Club members in action at Kenworthy Woods, with the club’s other podium finish coming in the under 11s age group.

In what was his debut race for the club, Harry Millar ran excellently to finish third in the boys’ race in 9mins 27secs.

Eddie Walker (9mins 47secs) was close behind in 10th and when those times were combined with Tom Horrocks (48th, 11mins 54secs), the team finished fifth overall.

The girls A team finished eighth as Grace Rashud (23rd, 10mins 54secs) combined with Elizabeth Lowe and Bethany Roberts, who both clocked 11mins 7secs to finish 29th and 30th respectively.

The B team of April Rimmer (43rd, 11mins 46secs), Eve Brazier-Kobus (51st, 12mins 5secs) and Charlotte Andrew (57th, 12mins 25secs) finished 15th in the team rankings.

Euan Lawton was the club’s leading runner in the under 13s age group as he finished sixth in the boys’ race in 12mins 21 secs, with Thomas Darbyshire clocking 15mins 3secs to come home 52nd.

Emily Kinsey ran well in the girls’ race to finish 10th in 13mins 46secs, with the team finishing fourth when her time was combined with those of Evie May Williams (24th, 14mins 25secs) and Ellie-Grace Stuart (25th, 14mins 35secs).

Grace Morrison (44th, 15mins 26secs) and Ruby Brazier-Kobus (54th, 16mins 17secs) completed the girls’ squad.

Molly Wormald was the club’s only runner in the under 17s age group, finishing 25th in the women’s race in 32mins 26secs.

The senior races saw Claire Andrew finish an excellent 14th overall in the women’s race, with her time of 28mins 42secs placing her third in the over 40s age group.

She was followed home by Faith Roberts (134th, 33mins 38secs), Anne Gregory (182nd, 35mins 16secs) and Sharon Taylor (273rd, 39mins 11secs).

Anne and Sharon finished 20th and 28th respectively in the over 50s age group.

The men’s race saw Dan Schofield come home 117th in 35mins 40secs, with Steve Burthem (313rd, 41mins 4secs) and Mark Gregory (408th, 43mins 57secs) completing the club’s representation.

Sticking with cross country, Imogen Wharton continued her excellent form having travelled to Milton Keynes for a British Cross Challenge event.

She came home fourth in the girls’ under 15s race, finishing just 14 seconds behind the winner as she clocked 16mins 27secs.

Imogen Wharton in action in Milton Keynes (Image: Contributed)

Closer to home, Lucie Davies and Georgina Walker competed in the Warrington Way trail race on a 40-mile course circumnavigating Warrington.

Walker, who helps to coach Warrington’s under 11s but competes for Lymm Runners, ran superbly in the individual event to place second in the women’s race in 6hours 32mins 3secs.

Davies ran the final leg from Hatton to Lymm for a relay team, covering 9.2 miles in 71mins 35secs to bring the team home second in the mixed team relay standings in a total of 5hours 57mins 25secs.

On firmer ground, Louise Blizzard headed to Alton Towers for a 10km race around the renowned theme park on Saturday.

She clocked 42mins 27secs to finish 109th overall and place second in the women’s over 45s age group.

Her son Alfie and clubmate Oliver Davenport secured a Warrington ‘one-two’ in the Kids Race, with Alfie finishing in 5mins 3secs and Oliver crossing the line three seconds later.