Christleton 5K provides fast times for Ellesmere Port runners.

The Christleton 5K got under way last Friday evening and cemented its reputation for being not only a fast course but also having a quality field of athletes.

With big name club runners hovering around the start the writing was on the wall for a hard thought fast paced race and this was to be the case with no less than 8 runners dipping under 15 minutes.

The race was won by the 2004 junior national cross country runner up Tom Humphries of Cannock & Stafford in a time of 14.24, ironically beating the 2004 junior cross country winner Phil McGlory of Liverpool Harriers who finished 3 seconds behind in 14.27. Third Place went to Wilberforce-Talel KapKeny of Nike Athletics who finished in 14.30

Ian Cooper was the first of several Ellesmere Port runners to set a personal best time by finishing 38 th in 16 minutes 32 seconds.

Never far from Ian, Steve Crowe was the second EPRC runner to finish also in a personal best time of 16.43 to secure 44 th position.

Denis Duret was the next runner home showing a return to form by finishing in 17.12 for 59 th position.

Matt Whitfield continues to set personal bests for himself at a range of distances and did so on Friday by finishing in 18.17 for 95 th position.

Following agonising months out through injury it was a delight to see Mike Burns finally back in form with the performance of the night finishing in 18.37 (104 th) and setting a new personal best.

Les Fleetwood was the next runner home for the club after just dipping under the 20 minutes by finishing in 19.42 for 142 nd place.

An excellent run saw Kevin Curtis take almost 2 minutes of his time from last year by finishing in 20.21 for 157 th.

A time of 20.22 (159 th) was enough to please Alan Durston who continues to show improvement.

Andrew Hunt was the final male runner for EPRC finishing in a good time of 22.42 for 227 th position.

On the ladies race Nicky Bird, never far away from the Silverware continued her excellent year of improvement by setting a new PB of 17.27 to clinch second place behind Claire Martin of Telford AC whose winning time was 17.02.

Alison Macdonald finished just a few seconds slower than her time at Christleton last year crossing the line in 21.26. Alison also competed in the Liverpool Women's only 10K on Sunday and finished in 43.31 to secure an excellent 46 th position and 9 th Lady Vet 35 in a race containing over 3000 runners.

Several EPRC runners took part a week last Tuesday in the Thurstaston multi terrain race and a full report will follow once results have been published.