Nicky Wins Christleton 5K Ellesmere Port Running Club’s Nicky Bird produced the goods again when it mattered to win the Christleton 5k a week last Friday. The ever popular race saw Nicky pull away from her rivals in the last kilometre to win in a superb personal best time of 17.54 nine seconds ahead of second place Sarah Harris of Macclesfield.

Tracey Ellis was second lady home for EPort finishing in a satisfying 22.33. Madeleine Bird chasing her daughter’s footsteps finished in 24.38.

The men’s race saw a gathering of some of England’s top club runners produce very quick times with Liverpool Harrier and National junior cross country champion Phil Mcglory holding off Salford’s Nick Jones by a single second to win in 14.36

First runner home for EPort was Ian Cooper who knocked almost half a minute off his PB to finish in 16.36. Peter Geoghegan was next runner home for EPRC clocking a personal best time of 18.00. Danny Legg was third runner back for EPRC in 18.20 followed by current EPRC Grand Prix leader Matt Whitfield 18.39. Just two seconds behind Matt was club coach Tony Smith 18.41. John Jennings was next runner home in 18.51 followed by Les Fleetwood 19.28, Steve Blaylock 19.31, new club runner Ian Robinson 19.49, Kevin Curtis 22.16 and Brian Treadwell 22.47 for a personal best time. Finally Mike Urmston finished in 24.38

Sunday saw the hugely popular Chester half marathon take place. The 13.11 mile course that starts out towards Hanbridge and finishes on Chester racecourse had over two thousand runners participate.

A hot sunny morning meant fast times would be hard to achieve, Tony Hyland was first runner back for Eport in 1.23.40 astonishingly his second half marathon in less than 24 hours.

Next runner home for Eport and in fine form at the moment was club captain Matt Whitfield who finished in 1.26.59. John Jennings who put on a great sprint finish was next home in 1.30.47; John was quickly followed by Danny Legg 1.30.47, Alan Durston 1.36.46, Michael Mcshane 1.44.02 and finally Peter Jones 1.46.11.

In the ladies race Alison Macdonald was first lady home for EPRC in 1.40.54 followed by Tracey Ellis 1.50.11, Tracey Lewis-Jones 1.58.15 and finally Amanda Penfold in 2.00.54

In other races Nicky Bird turned her attention to the track two days after Christleton for the Cheshire Track & Field Championships and Nicky started where she left off on Friday by winning the Senior Ladies 1500m in 4.51.9.

Tony Hyland finished a brilliant 5th in the White Peaks half marathon on Saturday in 1.20.14. Les Fleetwood also running well in 1.35.42 followed Tony