EPRC runners before Wrexham 10K, From Left to Right : Chris Bennion, Nicky Bird, Tony Hyland, Chris Marshall, Eric Corker, Alan Durston, Paul Robertson, Steve Crowe and Ian Cooper.

The 14th Helena Tipping Memorial 10K saw eleven EPRC runners make the trip Wrexham last Sunday hoping for some PB’s on what is predominately a flat and fast course.

Following a month out with a foot injury Nicky Bird made a last minute decision to run the race and confirmed her injury is behind her by winning the race in superb style smashing the course record by 45 seconds in a personal best time of 37.28. Alison Macdonald was also amongst the prizes as her time of 43.55 was good enough to give her 2nd in the Lady Vets 35 category.

In the men’s race a strong field was evident as the race incorporated the North Wales 10K Championship and taking the honours was this years Capenhurst 5K winner Steven Henshaw of Deeside AC in an impressive 31.49 with Tipton Harrier Henryk Piotrowski 2nd in 32.54 and Wrexham AC’s Luke Northall 3rd in 32.57

Of the Ellesmere Port finishers, once again there was no separating Ian Cooper and Steve Crowe with Ian holding off Steve by the narrowest of margins to finish 14th in 35.07 and Steve finishing a second later for 15th position in 35.08 (PB).

Tony Hyland was the next runner home for EPRC in an excellent 36.40 (22nd) and looks to get back to his glory days of running sub 35 minutes.

Another EPRC runner on his way back is Paul Robertson who was our next runner home finishing in a time of 37.08 to claim 28th position.

Next runner home for Ellesmere Port was Chris Marshall, fresh from a cross country race in Liverpool just 24hrs early Chris tackled the course in a great time of 39.06 for 43rd place.

Alan Durston showed signs of an improvement in form finishing in 87th position in a time of 43.54.

Kevin Curtis produced the pick of the performances after running a personal best time of 44.26 (94th) knocking a massive 2 minutes 42 seconds of his last 10K race in September. Chris Bennion followed Kevin to tackle the course in 46.45 (129th) and finally Eric Corker crossed the finish line in 50.27 to claim 173rd position.