Nicky tastes victory at Pie and Peas Race The 21st Annual Pie and Peas Race took place this year on Wednesday 4th August at Moulton. The race is organised by Vale Royal Athletic Club and is a multi terrain race over 5 undulating miles with hills, rivers and streams. Once again putting Ellesmere Port Running Club on the map was Nicky Bird who held off some fierce competition to win the ladies race in a respectable time of 32.34. Club captain Matt Whitfield also featured in the race and finished in a time of 33.15.

Last Thursday saw several EPRC’s runners head to Deeside for the 3rd in the 4 race series of the Deestriders Multi terrain race which is ran over approximately 5 miles in fields and on footpaths along the bank of the River Dee. First runner home for Ellesmere Port was Steve Crowe who worked very hard to hold onto 7th position overall following a late challenge from West Cheshire’s Gary Withers. Steve completed the course in 28.35. Next runner home for EPRC was Ian Cooper who struggled slightly following a return from holiday but still finished in 9th position in 28.52. Matt Whitfield was the next home finishing 21st in an excellent 31.14 just ahead of Les Coathup of Buckley Runners and Ian Carson of Wrexham AC. Chris Marshall followed Matt in a time of 32.45 which is somewhat slower than Chris’s last outing in the series, Chris has been a “race junkie” of late starting at the Lanzarote Ironman and he may now need a few weeks rest to recharge his batteries.
Roy Traynor was next home in 43rd position (34.13) and finally running his first race for the club was Paul Welsh who finished 56th in an excellent time for a first outing of 36.41.

On 29th July captain Matt Whitfield entered his second Sale Sizzler 5K aiming to drop under 18.30. Matt finished the race in 18.39 (84th) equalling his quickest time of the year so far but vowing to return for the next Sizzler this Thursday.

Denis Duret travelled to Gobowen on 30th July for a 4 mile race which forms part of a pentarathon organised by the Oswestry Olympians. Denis finished the race in an impressive 22.49 finishing 17th overall but lying in 3rd position in the series with one race left.

Sunday 1st August saw four Ellesmere Port runners head off for the Sale 10 Mile race. With very hot conditions for the race the heat caused problems and Alan Durston had to pull out after 4 miles with heat exhaustion. First back for EPRC was Tony Hyland who had hoped to finish under an hour but in the conditions did very well to post a time of 1.01.04 to finish 21st overall. Matt Whitfield was next home for EPort in an equally impressive 1.05.14 finishing 42nd overall and 9th in V45 Cat. Finally Dave Nalder completed the course in 1.09.53 to finish 71st overall and a good 9th in the V50 Category.

On Tuesday the 3rd August Longford Park Stadium, Stretford was the venue for two EPRC runners participating in the Trafford Open meeting. Steve Crowe running his preferred distance of 800M was chasing a PB of 2.05 but after becoming boxed in on the first lap had too much work to do on the final 400m but still came through strong to finish 3rd in 2.06.

Nicky Bird who set herself a target for the season of 4.45 for 1500m achieved her time in a mixed race later in the evening following a quick last lap where Nicky battled it out with David Shaw of Salford Harriers and an athlete from Wrexham. Nicky finished the race 3rd in a personal best time of 4.43.

On Wednesday 4th August Tony Hyland headed to Ulverston on the north side of Morecambe Bay for the Glaxo Hoad Hill summer 10K. Tony finished the race in 27th position in a time of 37.23.