LADIES led the way for Vale Royal Athletics Club during Saturday’s Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

Four of the first five places in the senior women’s race at Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall, were filled by runners wearing the Knights Grange-based outfit’s distinctive blue and gold vests.

Sarah Murphy edged a battle for first position with Great Britain international Katie Brough, the former Belgrave Harrier overtaking her rival on the last lap of a challenging course.

They collected team gold too thanks to Kate Titlow’s fourth-place finish.

Kate Moulds, fifth overall, Laura Bestow and Penny Thorn took team silver for Vale Royal.

“It was outstanding to have two teams beat everybody else,” said Shaun McGrath, endurance coach.

Murphy claimed category honours in the women’s over 35s, as did Carole Williams among the over 60s.

Meanwhile Jo Edwards was second of the over 50s to cross the line.

Vale Royal’s senior men, represented by Stuart Doyle, Ryan Moore, Rob Olliver, James Ainsworth, Tom Annable and Tom Armstrong, were runners-up to Wilmslow.

Doyle was best in the over 40s class, placing fourth overall, while Annable (over 50s) and James Edwards (over 55s) were runners-up in their respective age groups.

Josh Betteley edged teammates Jacob Brown and Jon Owen in a race for gold in the under 17s boys race, a trio that celebrated collective success too.

There were individual silver medals for Matthew Sheen (under 20s men), Jessica Parsons (under 20s women) and Caitlin Dimmick (under 15s girls) too.

A bronze gong went to Clara Pettitt (under 20s women).

Vale Royal’s contingent at the venue, hosting the championships for the first time, was more than twice as big as any of their rivals.

That dominance was reflected in the team results, with gold medals for the under 20s women and under 15s boys - a trio made up of Arun Dight, Alex Doyle and Oliver Waring – to go with those for the senior men, women and under 17s boys.

The under 17s girls, under 15s girls and under 11s boys were runners-up in class.

In the youngest age group, including boys and girls, Vale Royal’s entry consisted of 18 runners.

McGrath said: “The number of under 11s we took was one of the biggest plus points.

“The county championships are not solely about winning races or medals.

“Just as important for us is to see a large number of young athletes, lots of them new to the sport, enjoying themselves.

“When we have a group of juniors that is so big, then it’s vital to get as many of them out on the course gaining experience of competition in a pressure-free environment.

“To see them smiling at the finish is as big a reward to us as coaches as those stood on the podium.”

Results

Cheshire County AA Cross Country Championships

Bolesworth Castle, Saturday (Vale Royal AC members only) – Senior men (10km): 4. Stuart Doyle 37:25; 16. Ryan Moore 40:31; 25. Rob Olliver 41:48; 35. James Ainsworth 43:32; 40. Tom Annable 43:59; 51. Craig Sephton 44:45; 55. James Edwards 45:39; 56. Gary Weedall 45:45; 58. Alex Mason 45:55; 65. Scott Bamber 46:38; 67. James Griffiths 46:50; 77. Anthony Atkinson 47:34; 97. John Carroll 50:12; 98. Brian Dooley 50:30; 106. Geoff Fawkes 52:01; 113. Simon Bridge 53:57; 122. John Clarke 55:48; 130. Steve Collier 58:28; 132. Richard Pettitt 59:46; 138. Paul Hudson 1:06.54. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 164pts; 6. Vale Royal B 352; 16. Vale Royal AC C 613.

Senior women (7.2km): 1. Sarah Murphy 30:14; 2. Katie Brough 30:45; 4. Kate Titlow 31:32; 5. Kate Moulds 31:43; 11. Laura Bestow 33:40; 22. Penny Thorn 37:10; 23. Sophia Rees 37:16; 37. Carolyn Dooley 39:25; 40. Jo Edwards 39:43; 46. Debbie Moreton 41:00; 59. Sarah Walker 43:55; 62. Carole Williams 48:33. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 7pts; 2. Vale Royal AC B 38.

Under 20s men (7.2km): 2. Matthew Sheen 26:51; 5. Daniel Morrison 29:08.

Under 20s women (6.2km): 2. Jessica Parsons 29:34; 3. Clara Pettitt 30:44; 4. Emma Pyatt 30:52; 5. Lucy Scott 31:33; 8. Lucy Burch 34:25. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 9pts.

Under 17s boys (6.2km): 1. Josh Betteley 23:43; 2. Jacob Brown 24:04; 3. Jon Owen 24:31; 4. Jonathan Chatten 25:13; 9. Will Parsons 28:26. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 6pts.

Under 17s girls (4.4km): 6. Sophie Smith 20:43; 9. Chloe Broad 21:49; 10. Cara Gibbons 22:12; 12. Chloe Dooley 22:29; 13. Megan Hough 22:51; 16. Catherine Gray 24:22; 17. Becky Smith 25:28. Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC A 25pts; 3. Vale Royal AC B 41.

Under 15s boys (4.4km): 5. Arun Dight 18:02; 6. Alex Doyle 18:06; 7. Oliver Waring 18:10; 9. Harry Dexter 18:26; 10. Rob Weir 18:35; 19. Curtis Rodway 21:05; 25. Jonny Dufty 22:54. Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 18pts; 4. Vale Royal AC B 38.

Under 15s girls (3.6km): 2. Caitlin Dimmick 15:09; 8. Esme Bridge 16:20; 9. Georgina Denham 16:31; 15. Georgia Moreton 18:34; 17. Phillippa Miles 19:49. Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 19pts.

Under 13s boys (2.6km): 5. Edward Pettitt 10:12; 8. Will Mackay 10:30; 14. Aaron Doyle 11:07; 16. Charlie Fawkes 11:11; 19. Morgan Gray 11:30; 24. Ted Smiles 11:46; 25. Alex Gregory 11:53; 29. Lewis Stanley 12:06; 32. Sam Washington 12:27; 36. Alfie Dexter 12:40; 37. Ethan Sephton 12:53; 39. John Booher 13:39. Teams: 3. Vale Royal AC A 27pts; 7. Vale Royal AC B 59; 9. Vale Royal AC C 86; 11. Vale Royal AC D 112.

Under 13s girls (2.6km): 11. Lucy Smith 11:53; 12. Holly Smith 12:02; 14. Cerys Pilliner 12:13; 15. Neve Maddock 12:29; 25. Ellie Lock 13:24; 28. Holly Dooley 13:31; 32. Izzy Davies 16:00; 33. Lydia Davies 16:49. Teams: 3. Vale Royal AC 37pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 68.

Under 11s boys (1.8km): 6. James Lanni 7:43; 8. Lewis Gray 7:48; 9. Dylan Carney 7:58; 19. Flynn Loftus 8:26; 23. Wilf Dight 8:53; 27. Liam Waring 9:09; 29. Daniel Houghton 9:33; 30. Dylan Rice 9:54. Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC A 23pts; 6. Vale Royal AC B 69.

Under 11s girls (1.8km): 6. Kate Sherry 8:23; 21. Anna Smiles 9:15; 23. Imogen Kennedy 9:23; 24. Faye Conboy 9:25; 27. Elizabeth Gregory 9:33; 30. Isobel Walker 9:53; 31. Charlotte Parker 10:09; 32. Cassie Rushe 10:12; 33. Cadi Pears 11:16; 34. Laura Hudson 11:16. Teams: 5. Vale Royal AC A 50pts; 7. Vale Royal AC B 81; 8. Vale Royal AC C 96.