SARAH Murphy finished first for a second successive year in the senior women's race at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

The 38-year-old was more than half a minute clear of her closest rival by the finish at a muddy Reaseheath College in Nantwich.

She was one of 10 Vale Royal Athletics Club members to collect an award on Saturday for winning in their category.

They claimed eight team titles as well, completing one of the biggest medals hauls in the mid Cheshire outfit's 22 visits to the annual event.

Add a dozen silver gongs, seven of those for solo efforts, and it’s easy to see why a sodden course did not daunt a 129-strong entry.

“We were undoubtedly the top club in the county again,” said coach Andy Carter.

“I think it’s fair to rate it as our best performance yet at the cross country championships – certainly on a par with two years ago but with a higher number of medals.

“It feels like I keep saying we have exceeded expectation, but it’s true.”

Murphy, together with Kate Moulds – the senior women’s category winner – and Kate Titlow, helped Vale Royal to team gold.

Clubmates Helen Smith, fastest among the over 45s, Gemma Barnett and Penny Thorn finished as runners-up.

Josh Betteley was another to retain a title he won the previous year, finishing clear of clubmate Cameron Weaver in the under 17s boys' race.

It completes a hat-trick of wins the county championships for the 17-year-old, who stood on the podium's top step along with Weaver and Harry Dexter to celebrate a collective victory.

Athletes in Vale Royal's distinctive blue and yellow vests occupied the first two places in the under 20s men's and women's races.

Sam Whitehead held off the challenge of Matt Sheen in the former, while Katie Gerrard was more than two minutes faster than Amy Hinchly.

Matt Rowlinson and Clara Pettitt helped Vale Royal to team titles in both categories.

Sophie Smith, who took individual bronze, Cara Gibbons and Chloe Dooley won the under 17s girls' title, while Oliver Waring – pipped for first place in the under 15s boys' race by Warrington's Sam Evans - took solace by scooping team gold with John Humphries and Alex Doyle.

Ed Pettitt celebrated a maiden solo success at this level in the under 13s boys' race before toasting team glory in the category too with Will Ashfield and James Lanni.

After finishing as runner-up in the North Staffs Cross Country League by a narrow two-point margin, Holly Weedall continued her outstanding winter campaign with victory in the under 11s girls' race.

Grace Roberts, also of Vale Royal, was second.

Among the veterans, Stuart Doyle (men's over 40s) and Colin Rathbone (men's over 70s) were the first to cross the line in their category.

The club's athletes turn their attention next to the Northern Cross Country Championships, at Witton Park in Blackburn, later this month.

Carter added: “Our athletes keep putting in top performances, improving individually and part of a team.

“It certainly puts us in good spirits for the forthcoming regional and national championships.”

Results (Vale Royal AC athletes only)

Cheshire County AA Cross Country Championships

Reaseheath College, Nantwich

Senior men: 4. Chris Perry 32.59; 7. Stuart Doyle (V40) 33.25; 10. Zack Bamber 34.48; 15. Mike Harrington (V40) 36.42; 36. Gareth Williams (V45) 38.47; 38. Chris Jones 39.02; 40. James Ainsworth (V40) 39.11; 55. Matt Sweeting (V40) 40.19; 56. Tom Heaword 40.29; 63. Tom Armstrong 41.15; 69. Stephen Thompson (V50) 41.40; 71. James Griffiths 41.45; 77. Ian Brough (V45) 42.04; 81. James Edwards (V55) 42.25; 86. Tony Archer (V60) 42.44; 89. Chris Weedall 42.55; 90. Rick Murray (V45) 43.05; 106. Euan Dunbar (V50) 44.53; 113. Mark Pilliner (V45) 45.24; 115. Brian Dooley (V40) 45.43; 116. Geoff Fawkes (V45) 45.54; 138. John Clarke (V60) 49.45; 142. Simon Bridge (V50) 50.50; 144. Steve Collier (V55) 51.29; 147. Chris Griffiths (V55) 53.26; 150. Colin Rathbone (V70) 54.02; 155. Richard Pettitt (V55) 57.18.

Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 110pts; 7. Vale Royal AC B 354; 13. Vale Royal AC C 553; 17. Vale Royal AC D 802. Teams (Vets): 2. Vale Royal AC 40pts; 8. Vale Royal AC B 155; 13. Vale Royal AC C 231; 17. Vale Royal AC D 327.

Senior women: 1. Sarah Murphy (V35) 25.16; 3. Kate Moulds 26.44; 6. Kate Titlow 27.29; 9. Helen Smith (V45) 27.58; 12. Gemma Barnett 28.18; 25. Penny Thorn (V40) 30.12; 31. Carolyn Dooley (V40) 31.34; 50. Debbie Moreton (V45) 34.08; 53. Sarah Gibbs (V35) 34.26; 58. Jayne Lomax (V45) 35.10; 72. Carole Williams (V60) 42.13.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 10pts; 2. Vale Royal AC B 46; 11. Vale Royal AC C 134. Teams (Vets): 1. Vale Royal AC 23pts; 8. Vale Royal AC B 97.

Under 20s men: 1. Sam Whitehead 21.59; 2. Matthew Sheen 22.23; 7. Matt Rowlinson 25.29; 8. Jonathan Chatten 25.53.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 10pts.

Under 20s women: 1. Katie Gerrard 21.30; 2. Amy Hinchly 23.56; 5. Clara Pettitt 24.44; 7. Hannah Young 25.54; 8. Lucy Burch 26.16.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 8pts.

Under 17s boys: 1. Josh Betteley 18.45; 2. Cameron Weaver 19.11; 4. Harry Dexter 19.26; 6. Arun Dight 19.51; 7. Harry Buglass 20.17.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 7pts.

Under 17s girls: 3. Sophie Smith 17.54; 4. Cara Gibbons 17.55; 6. Chloe Dooley 18.20; 8. Esme Bridge 18.26.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 13pts.

Under 15s boys: 2. Oliver Waring 15.18; 3. John Humphries 15.26; 5. Alex Doyle 15.44; 7. Alfie Bould 16.14; 17. Liam Clarke 17.37; 18. Charlie Fawkes 17.39; 19. Jonny Dufty 17.44; 20. Curtis Rodway 17.50; 22. Sam Washington 18.00; 27. Aaron Doyle 19.00; 30. Edward Smiles 19.27.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 10pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 42; 7. Vale Royal AC C 61.

Under 15s girls: 5. Holly Smith 13.43; 9. Lucy Smith 14.21; 10. Ellie Cushen 14.27; 12. Caitlin Dimmick 14.44; 18. Cerys Pilliner 15.32; 25. Izzy Davies 19.05; 26. Erin O’Neill 19.05.

Teams: 3. Vale Royal AC 24pts; 6. Vale Royal AC B 55.

Under 13s boys: 1. Edward Pettitt 9.19; 6. Will Ashfield 9.51; 8. James Lanni 10.01; 12. Alfie Dexter 10.17; 20. Wilf Dight 10.37; 24. Lewis Gray 10.49; 26. Micky O’Neill 11.08; 28. Charlie Humphries 11.18; 29. Nathan Stapleton 11.22; 30. Declan Lamb 11.26; 34. James Griffith 11.35; 37. Tom Hughes 11.49; 39. Liam Waring 12.50.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 15pts; 7. Vale Royal AC B 55pts; 8. Vale Royal AC C 83; 11. Vale Royal AC D 101.

Under 13s girls: 2. Francesca Harris 9.58; 12. Beth Latham 11.41; 14. Kate Sherry 11.44; 17. Lizzie Gregory 11.58; 19. Ellie Booth 12.02; 20. Scarlett Cox-Lomas 12.10; 21. Megan Ellison 12.11; 22. Imogen Kennedy 12.11; 24. Holly Dooley 12.15; 25. Anna Smiles 12.28; 30. Isobel Walker 13.15; 32. Keira Booth 13.23; 34. Ella Sweeting 14.13; 35. Laura Hudson 14.32.

Teams: 3. Vale Royal AC 28pts; 6. Vale Royal AC B 56; 7. Vale Royal AC C 67; 8. Vale Royal AC D 87.

Under 11s boys: 2. Patrick Griffith 9.04; 8. Dylan Carney 9.29; 10. Flynn Loftus 9.39; 11. Henry Young 9.40; 14. Will Clark 9.51; 22. Ivan Karpusheff 10.17; 31. Matthew Gilbert 10.55; 32. Jenson Haydon 10.57; 33. Benjamin Thorn 11.04; 36. Morgan Fawkes 11.35; 38. Will Hughes 11.46; 40. Henry Rogers 11.56; 44. Thomas Roberts 12.45; 45. Oliver Cavanagh 13.37; 46. Dominic Lee 17.18.

Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 20pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 47; 10. Vale Royal AC C 96; 11. Vale Royal AC D 114.

Under 11s girls: 1. Holly Weedall 8.56; 2. Grace Roberts 9.32; 13. Tarlia Higginbotham 10.49; 20. Alisha Archer 11.12; 22. Scarlett Stapleton 11.15; 25. Thea Smith 11.26; 32. Tilly Gibbs 11.46; 35. Cassie Rushe 12.00; 36. Charlotte Parker 12.04; 37. Lucy Key 12.07; 39. Eloise Babbington 12.15; 40. Anna Preston 12.17; 43. Daisy Woodmansey 12.31.

Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 16pts; 6. Vale Royal AC B 67; 11. Vale Royal AC C 103; 12. Vale Royal AC D 116.