Alison holds on to win Christmas Handicap

A busy Christmas period saw Ellesmere Port runners in action 5 times over the festive period.

Boxing Day saw the annual Round the Walls race hosted by West Cheshire AC won by Mike Proudlove who clocked 22.44 for the 4.5 mile course. Clive West of Buckley finished 2nd 22.50 and Graham MacNeil of West Cheshire 3rd 23.29.

Steve Crowe was the first runner home for EPRC after finishing 17th in 25.10 and was followed by Mike Burns who finished 42nd in a time of 26.51. John Jennings was the third finisher for the club after clocking 28.37 for 84th position.

Brian Griffiths was next home in a time of 29.43 for 106th, Alan Durston followed in 29.51 for 109th and Alison Macdonald finished 111th in 30.00.

Thomas Downey was the 7th finisher for the club after posting 33.20 for 211th and finally Eric Corker was to finish in 34.44 for 249th position.

On Tuesday 27th December Andrew Hunt made the Trip to Sale for the Festive 5 and produced a good time of 36.09 for 147th position and 5th in the V60 category.

The clubs Christmas handicap was staged on Friday 30th December and consisted of a 4 mile course.

Congratulations to Alison Hughes who Won the race by 54 seconds from 2nd Place Brian Griffiths.

3rd was Mike Burns, 4th Alan Durston, 5th Nicky Bird, 6th Paul Robertson, 7th Steve Crowe, 8th Matt Whitfield, 9th Tony Hyland, 10th Steve Blaylock, 11th Simon Jeffs, 12th Ian Robinson, 13th Graham Earlam, 14th Paul Welsh and 15th Alison Macdonald (who took a wrong turn).

New Years Day saw the annual running of the Pete Gouldson Memorial Run, a 3.4 mile race from Thornton Hough to Willaston.

Steve Crowe was the winner of the race this year after clocking a time of 18.09.
Mike Burns was next to finish for the Club followed by John Jennings, Brian Griffiths, Danny Legg, Alison Macdonald who was 2nd lady behind Wirral AC’s Helen Lawrence. Finally Denis Duret pushing his family along in a buggy was last to finish for the club.

The second round of the Cheshire League cross country was staged on 2nd January at Castle Park, Frodsham.

In the ladies race EPRC’s Nicky Bird finished runner up in a time of 14.12 and was supported by Alison Hughes who clocked a time of 17.07

In the longer men’s race Matt Whitfield was first to finish for the club in a time of 27.53 and was followed by Danny Legg 28.16 and finally Paul Welsh 31.53.