Frosty start for Helsby Half Marathon Last Sunday saw the 24th staging of the hugely popular Four Villages Half Marathon. The scenic course starts and finishes in Helsby, and passes along quite country lanes and roads passing through the attractive villages of Dunham on the Hill, Mouldsworth and Manley before returning to Helsby.

This years race was won in 1 hour 7 minutes and 25 seconds by Lancaster & Morecambe runner Michael Aspinall with Bristol & West AC’s Martin Cox not far behind in second in a time of 1.07.54. Third was Ray Plant of City of Stoke in a time of 1.08.25.

Of the 1500 finishers 23 were representing Ellesmere Port Running Club, reflecting the popularity of the race.

First EPRC runner home was Steve Crowe who tackled the 13.11 mile distance in a time of 1.21.01 to secure 58th position, unfortunately Steve’s time was not official as his electronic tag came off before the finish line.

Not far behind Steve came Tony Hyland who completed the course in 1.21.25 for 64th position.

Right on the heels of Tony was Nicky Bird who finished the race just 10 seconds outside her personal best in a time of 1.21.28 to secure 65th position overall but a well deserving second in the senior ladies race behind international runner Anna Pichrtova who was representing Ford Halewood AC.

Simon Jeffs was the next runner home for Ellesmere Port finishing in 1.28.00 (180th) with Chris Marshall right behind in 1.28.08 (181st)

Next runner home for the club was Danny Legg who got round in 1.29.13 for 209th position. Danny was followed in by men’s captain Matt Whitfield who finished in 1.31.34 (271st)

Club chairmen Dave Nalder was next to finish in 1.33.46 (323rd) followed by Steve Blaylock 1.35.00 (356th).

Les Fleetwood making a rare half marathon appearance finished in a pleasing 1.36.26 (406th) and was followed then by John Jennings 1.38.18 (475th), Michael Mcshane 1.38.27 (485th), Alan Durston 1.40.22 (548th), Paul Welsh 1.41.41 (590th), Alison Macdonald 142.16 (618th), Mike Burns 1.42.17 (619th), Chris Bennion 1.46.29 (756th), Kevin Curtis 1.46.36 (760th), Andrew Hunt 1.52.03 (960th), Brian Treadwell 1.55.12 (1060th), Eric Corker 1.58.47 (1163rd), Karen Craig 2.03.03 (1260th) and Ann Wragg 2.10.21 (1371st).