Ellesmere Port runners turned out in numbers Ellesmere Port runners turned out in numbers a week last Tuesday for the hugely popular Chester Spring 5. Over 20 runners pulled on the orange vests for EPort to tackle the 5 mile course which started and finished at Cheshire county sports club in Upton.

The men’s team had no less than 19 runners participating and produced several personal bests to show that the club is certainly moving in the right direction.

First runner home for EPort knocking eight seconds of his personal best was Ian Cooper who finished 29th overall in 28.05

Steve Crowe was second home for EPort in 29.01 (PB) to finish 40th overall. Steve was quickly followed by Tony Hyland 29.23 (PB) who is trying to get back to the form he was in a few years ago.

Simon Jeffs and Peter Geoghegan resurrected their battle from the Four villages half marathon for the next places home for the Port with Simon evening the score by finishing one second ahead of Peter (30.08) in 30.07, however both runners produced personal best times showing the benefits of friendly rivalry at the club. Paul Robertson who hasn’t been able to train recently was next home only one second behind Peter in 30.09

Danny Legg laid to rest his 5 miler jinx by finally posting a satisfying time of 30.24 and slashing over a minute of his previous best. Matt Whitfield was our next runner home in a pleasing time of 31.43. Chris Marshall who will be competing in the mentally challenging Lanzarote Ironman triathlon event next month was a couple of seconds behind Matt in 31.45 giving Chris a PB for the distance.

John Jennings, still struggling with a niggling injury was next home in 32.09 followed by Dave Nalder 32.52, Peter Jones 33.07 and Les Fleetwood 33.46. Alan Durston, slightly disappointed with his time 34.18 was next home, Alan having one eye on the Shakespeare marathon in a few weeks. Alan was followed by Andrew Hunt 35.01, Chris Bennion 35.16 and Brian Griffiths 37.03. In his first race for EPort Kevin Curtis produced a fine time of 38.51 and was followed in by club president Mike Urmston in 41.00

On the Ladies team Nicky Bird produced another excellent performance in a personal best time of 29.54 to finish second overall behind Wirral AC’s Helen Lawrence. Tracey Ellis was the next runner home for EPort in 37.24. Tracy Lewis-Jones produced one of the best performances of the race by knocking four minutes of her previous best to finish in 39.29 and also producing an excellent performance was Amanda Penfold in 40.57 for a personal best. Nicky’s Mum, Madeleine Bird finished in a time of 41.58 followed by Janette Wilson in 43.56. Finally Nicky Musson in her first race in quite a while finished in a satisfactory time of 44.22

In other races Dave Nalder tackled the very tough Chirk 10K on 4th April in an excellent time of 43.30 to finish 4th in the Vet’s 50 Category.

Easter Friday saw two Port runners’ head off to Salford and Southport. Firstly Denis Duret ran the Southport 4 Mile race and finished a respectable 49th in 23.03 averaging 5.45 per mile.

Steve Crowe competed in the Salford 10K and managed to shave two second of his personal best to finish in 36.05 and 38th overall in a quality field which had over 100 runners finishing in under 40 minutes.

Finally, the Mecca in the running calendar is upon us again and we wish the following runners who will be representing EPRC all the very best as the months of hard training throughout the winter come to a close at the London Marathon: Matt Whitfield, Andrew Hunt, Cheryl Evason, Tracey Ellis, Amanda Penfold, Alison McDonald, Brian Treadwell, Eric Corker and Chris Bennion.

Anyone wishing to join Ellesmere Port running club can contact club captain Gary Richards, alternatively the club meet at Whitby Sports and Social Club Tuesdays and Fridays at 6.50 pm.