Hardy Souls Run Xmas Handicap Race Last Saturday morning saw Ellesmere Port Running Club hold their annual xmas handicap. In poor weather conditions 11 hardy souls prepared to take on the 1 lap route measuring approximately 4 miles around Vauxhall’s roads. Steve Blaylock was this years champion after a gutsy performance saw Steve win by 40 seconds from Dave Sargent whose consolation was running the fastest net time of the day in 21.41 and looks to be back to his best after a lengthy lay off in the autumn through injury. The remaining position were made up as follows: 3rd Dave Nalder, 4th Nicky Bird, 5th Chris Bennion, 6th Paul Welsh, 7th Matt Whitfield, 8th Steve Crowe, 9th Ian Robinson, 10th Tony Hyland and 11th Eric Corker.

On the 19th December, Chris Marshall took the part in the Telford 10k. On a course renowned for being fast, he took thirty seven seconds of his previous 10k best, finishing in 79th place in a time of 38.28.

On the 12th December, five members of Ellesmere Port Running Club competed in the Stockport 10 mile race. Due to road works the course was changed at the last minute, unfortunately this didn't by-pass any of the tough hills but did add a long stretch of rather muddy farm track. Finishing on the athletics track in Woodbank Park, first over the line for Ellesmere Port and in 30th place overall was Paul Robertson in a time of 1:02:23, second in with a personal best time of 1:04:52 was Chris Marshall. Dave Nalder was the next to finish in 1:09:18 and crossing the line together in 1:15:33 were Alison Macdonald and Michael Burns.

Also on the 12th Tony Hyland took part in the Hale 5 mile Road Race producing a time of 29.16 and finishing in 22nd position.