FIVE runners claimed county titles for the first time in Vale Royal Athletics Club colours during the Cheshire Cross Country Championships at Warrington on Saturday.

The Knights Grange-based outfit demonstrated their considerable strength in depth too, winning eight team golds.

“It was stunning,” said coach Shaun McGrath.

“We had by far the biggest entry, something that really stands out when you look at the results.

“I’m pleased as well that our winners are new names and those athletes can enjoy a deserved moment of glory.”

Will Ashfield and Grace Roberts, both competing at the annual event for only the second time, finished first in the under 13s boys and under 13s girls’ races respectively.

Cameron Weaver cruised to victory in the under 20s men’s category, while Arun Dight did the same among the under 17s boys.

Sam Evans, who switched to Vale Royal from Warrington last year, extended a remarkable record when he crossed the finish line in the under 15s boys’ race.

He has won an age group title every year since making his debut in 2012, his latest success earning for him the Brian Hall Memorial Shield.

Sarah Murphy, seeking to claim a hat-trick of wins in the senior women’s race, had to settle for a first veteran prize at a muddy Birchwood Forest Park after she was edged into second spot by Heather Timmins (Thames Valley).

There were silver medals too for Harry Dexter, who followed Dight across the line in the under 17s boys’ race, Caitlin Dimmick in the under 17s girls’ category and first-timer Alice Gale – narrowly beaten by West Cheshire’s Carys Roberts in the under 11s girls’ age group.

Matthew Sheen (senior men), Nathan Williams (under 20s men) and Francesca Harris (under 15s girls) classified third in their respective categories.

“We matched our haul of gold medals from 2016,” said coach Andy Carter.

“That’s an excellent achievement considering we were missing some of our contenders because of illness and injury.

“I’m certain had they been there then we could have won 10 team titles.”

Oliver Williams, Chris Standidge, Zack Bamber, Chris Jones and James Griffiths, together with Sheen, were the pick of the senior men’s teams on the day.

Meanwhile Vale Royal were unchallenged for the team awards in both the under 20s men’s and under 20s women’s categories.

Alex Doyle, along with Dight and Dexter, helped the under 17s boys see off Warrington’s challenge.

Meanwhile top-six finishes for Holly Smith and Lucy Smith in the under 15s girls' race pushed Macclesfield into second spot.

Vale Royal took both titles in the under 13s age group, with Patrick Griffith and James Lanni supporting Ashfield for the boys.

Newcomer Rebecca Nixon and Faye Conboy added decisive points to Roberts’ victory for the girls.

Tarlia Higginbotham and Emma Holmes, along with Gale, ranked highest among the under 11s girls’ team standings.

Results (Vale Royal AC members only)

Cheshire Cross Country Championships

Saturday, January 7

Birchwood Forest Park

Senior men (10km): 3. Matthew Sheen 37.48; 7. Oliver Williams 40.14; 14. Chris Standidge 43.13; 22. Zack Bamber 45.10; 30. Chris Jones 45.57; 38. James Griffiths 46.46; 46. Brian Dooley (V40) 48.04; 50. Craig Sephton (V45) 48.19; 57. James Ainsworth (V40) 48.48; 62. Stephen Thompson (V50) 48.59; 81. Rick Murray (V50) 51.08; 92. Mark Pilliner (V45) 51.58; 101. Joe Cavanagh (V40) 53.13; 110. David Haines (V45) n55.30; 111. Chris Beard (V45) 56.17; 114. John Clarke (V60) 56.50; 138. Steve Collier (V55) 1:03.35; 139. Richard Pettitt (V55) 1:03.55; 141. Ray Tran (V45) 1:04.13; 143. Chris Griffiths (V50) 1:04.31. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 114pts; 10. Vale Royal AC B 388; 15. Vale Royal AC C 713.

Senior women (7.5km): 2. Sarah Murphy (V35) 34.29; 6. Kate Titlow 36.18; 12. Helen Smith (V45) 38.31; 18. Gemma Barnett 40.21; 21. Claire Thompson (V35) 40.49; 30. Carolyn Dooley (V40) 42.11; 39. Nikki Cavanagh (V40) 44.33; 48. Julie Annable (V55) 45.58; 58. Liz Gayle (V40) 47.32; 59. Jayne Lomax (V45) 47.53. Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 20pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 69; 14. Vale Royal AC C 145.

Under 20s men (7.5km): 1. Cameron Weaver 31.18; 3. Nathan Williams 35.09; 6. Matt Rowlinson 37.27. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 10pts.

Under 20s women (6km): 4. Clara Pettitt 27.58; 5. Chloe Broad 28.16; 6. Chloe Dooley 28.26; 7. Sophie Smith 29.29; 11. Lucy Burch 31.37. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 15pts.

Under 17s boys (6km): 1. Arun Dight 23.38; 2. Harry Dexter 23.13; 4. Alex Doyle 23.32; 12. Oliver Waring 24.57; 18. Jonathan Dufty 26.28; 19. Curtis Rodway 26.36. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 7pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 49pts.

Under 17s girls (4.5km): 2. Caitlin Dimmick 17.23; 4. Esme Bridge 18.04.

Under 15s boys (4.5km): 1. Sam Evans 14.36; 5. Ed Pettitt 15.52; 12. Will McKay 17.17; 22. Aaron Doyle 18.56; 24. Ed Smiles 19.27. Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 18pts.

Under 15s girls (3.5km): 3. Francesca Harris 14.18; 4. Holly Smith 14.39; 6. Lucy Smith 15.05; 17. Beth Latham 17.48; 18. Cerys Pilliner 17.48; 21. Isabelle Davies 18.57; 23. Annabel James 19.33; 25. Holly Dooley 20.41; 26. Lydia Davies 22.24. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A13pts; 4. Vale Royal AC B 56; 6. Vale Royal AC C 74.

Under 13s boys (2.8km): 1. Will Ashfield 10.50; 6. Patrick Griffith 11.17; 7. James Lanni 11.22; 14. Dylan Carney 11.42; 27. Yasper Freestone 12.42; 28. Lewis Gray 12.47. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 14pts; 6. Vale Royal AC B 69.

Under 13s girls (2.8km): 1. Grace Roberts 11.09; 4. Rebecca Nixon 12.06; 12. Faye Conboy 13.06; 13. Kate Sherry 13.06; 20. Kiera Booth 13.48; 21. Tilly Gibbs 13.52; 25. Sophie Morrin 14.21; 30. Anna Smiles 16.14. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 17pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 54.

Under 11s boys (2km): 6. Harry Godwin 9.14; 11. Adam Wright 9.44; 20. Jenson Haydon 10.16; 25. Charles Lloyd 10.28; 26. Freddie James 10.29; 30. Will Hughes 11.04; 36. Oliver Cavanagh 12.04; 37. Archie Price-Siddiqui 12.29; 38. James Fifield 14.00. Teams: 5. Vale Royal AC A 37pts; 10. Vale Royal AC B 81; 11. Vale Royal AC C 111.

Under 11s girls (2km): 2. Alice Gale 9.27; 12. Tarlia Higginbotham 10.21; 18. Emma Holmes 10.35; 20. Aisling Stott 10.48; 32. Anna Preston 11.31; 33. Molly Roberts 11.31; 36. Natalia Doe 12.54; 38. Lana Booth 13.30. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 32pts; 9. Vale Royal AC B 85.

How are the team standings decided?

The winner is the team with the lowest aggregate of finishing positions of the six best-placed athletes in the senior men's category and three highest-ranked runners in the senor women's and junior races