A 4-Stage relay in windy Wigan on Saturday morning was to start the weekend for Ellesmere Port Running Club. Denis Duret, Simon Jeffs, Ian Cooper and Steve Crowe made up the team for this event with each leg comprising of a 3.8 mile undulating course within the grounds of Haigh Hall Country Park.

Denis Duret was our first runner out and continuing his good form from last weekend’s cross-country performance produced a fast time of 20.41. Waiting on the start line for Denis to finish was Simon Jeffs who showed great determination to tackle the course in 21.35.
Ian Cooper, who was amongst the trophies last week at the final round of the Cheshire cross-country league for finishing 3rd in the V40 category completed the 3rd leg of the course in 20.23 and left Steve Crowe, running the anchor leg with a few targets to chase. A quick start by Steve saw him soon catch up and over take Horwich RMI Harriers and Wigan Phoenix respectively before holding off a late challenge from Chorley Harriers to finish in a time of 20.24 and to give Ellesmere Port a final position of 14th in a field of 30 teams which saw Salford Harriers as the eventual winners.

Sunday saw our runner’s head off for two long races. Firstly, the hugely popular Wilmslow Half Marathon saw Peter Geoghegan, the self proclaimed ‘White Kenyan’ as Eport’s first runner home in a time of 1.24.20, Peter was followed by Rob Grantham who tackled the course in 1.31.42, virtually the same time as his run last month at the Village Bakery half. Mike Burns 1.37.52 and Eric Corker 1.59.10 completed our Men’s participants.

Alison Mcdonald was the first lady home for Ellesmere Port in a time of 1.37.52 followed by Tracey Ellis who is having a great season and produced another excellent run in 1.43.23 smashing here personal best by over four minutes. Next home was Amanda Penfold who finished in 1.55.53 and taking five minutes off her time two months ago at Helsby. Finally, Tracey Lewis-Jones completed the very windy course in a time of 2.00.57

Our Marathon runner’s header North to Morecambe for the Trimpell 20 as their preparation for the London and Shakespeare Marathons continue. First in for Ellesmere Port was Matt Whitfield in a superb time of 2.24.03 averaging 7.12 pace per mile. Matt was followed six minutes later by Steve Blaylock in 2.32.30 showing that Steve’s season is beginning to pick up in time for the marathons. Final runner home for EPort was Andrew Hunt who completed the race four minutes quicker than he did the Stafford 20 last week in a time of 2.34.13. Brian Treadwell had to pull out the race after just 4 miles with an injury and with London only a few weeks away now we are hoping he makes a speedy recovery.

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.