VALE Royal Athletics Club claimed victory in four categories during the North West Counties Road Relays at Delamere on Saturday.

Their senior women led the way, crossing the line almost four minutes before closest rivals Liverpool Harriers.

Amelia Pettitt ran the second fastest leg in the field, completing 6.4km in 24.45, before Sarah Griffiths and Sarah Murphy completed the job.

Their feat was matched by the under 17s boys, under 15s boys and under 13s girls.

“It was a great day for the club,” said coach Andy Carter.

“Amazingly, we surpassed last year’s achievement of winning three golds after defending the titles we won in 2015 as well as the under 13s girls finishing first in their age category.

“Lots of athletes posted times that should send them to the regional championships in good spirits.”

Arun Dight ran the fastest split in the under 17s boys’ race, timing 22.53, to anchor a Vale Royal a victorious line-up completed by Harry Dexter and Alex Doyle.

For the under 15s boys, Alfie Bould started the final leg in fourth spot.

However his split, an 11.14 over 3.2km that was faster than everybody else in the age category on the day, propelled a trio including Ed Pettitt and Will McKay to first place.

Grace Roberts, Holly Weedall and Faye Conboy led from start to finish in the under 13s girls’ race.

Weedall, with 12.58, was the only runner to dip below 13 minutes.

The event incorporated the Cheshire championships, which yielded 10 medals for Vale Royal.

In addition to the wins mentioned above, the senior men – with Ryan Moore, Jacob Brown, Oliver Williams and Matthew Sheen on duty – took gold ahead of their county rivals.

Vale Royal’s under 15s girls’ trio of Holly Smith, Lucy Smith and Isabelle Davies claimed silver, as did the club’s B teams in both of the senior categories.

There were bronze medals in the county classification for another senior women’s combination and the second under 17s boys’ team.

Results (Vale Royal teams only)

North West Counties Road Relays

Saturday, September 10

Senior men (4x6.4km): 7. Vale Royal AC A (Ryan Moore, Jacob Brown, Oliver Williams, Matthew Sheen) 1:33.58; 9. Vale Royal AC B (Cameron Weaver, Stuart Doyle, Matt Rowlinson, Mike Harrington) 1:35.36; 30. Vale Royal AC C (George Thompson, Nathan Williams, Tom Armstrong, Gareth Williams) 1:44.32; 50. Vale Royal AC D (Steve Caldwell, Nick Haywood, Richard Murray, Brian Dooley) 1:52.10; 72. Vale Royal E (John Moulds, Geoff Fawkes, Steve Collier, Richard Pettitt) 2:09.33

Senior women (3x6.4km): 1. Vale Royal AC A (Amelia Pettitt, Sarah Griffiths, Sarah Murphy) 1:17.35; 6. Vale Royal AC B (Amy Hinchly, Sophie Smith, Kate Moulds) 1:23.06; 11. Vale Royal AC C (Kate Titlow, Chloe Dooley, Helen Whitby) 1:25.09; 22. Vale Royal AC C (Carolyn Dooley, Chloe Broad, Lucy Burch) 1:30.20; 36. Vale Royal AC E (Sarah Gibbs, Clara Pettitt, Penny Thorn) 1:36.51; 48. Vale Royal AC F (Nikki Cavanagh, Lisa Meadows, Debbie Moreton) 1:39.50

Under 17s boys (3x6.4km): 1. Vale Royal AC A (Harry Dexter, Alex Doyle, Arun Dight) 1:10.46; 5. Vale Royal AC B (Oliver Waring, John Humphries, Curtis Rodway) 1:17.34

Under 15s boys (3x3.2km): 1. Vale Royal AC (Ed Pettitt, Will McKay, Alfie Bould) 35.59; 17. Vale Royal AC B (Charlie Fawkes, Sam Washington, Aaron Doyle) 40.54; 22. Vale Royal AC C (James Griffiths, Nathan Stapleton, Alex Humphries) 45.22

Under 15s girls (3x3.2km): 6. Vale Royal AC A (Holly Smith, Lucy Smith, Isabelle Davies) 43.11; 21. Vale Royal AC B (Lydia Davies, Cerys Pilliner, Megan Ellison) 52.44

Under 13s boys (3x3.2km): 11. Vale Royal AC A (Will Ashfield, Patrick Griffith, Dylan Carney) 42.32; 12. Vale Royal AC B (Wilf Dight, James Lanni, Will Clark) 43.07

Under 13s girls (3x3.2km): 1. Vale Royal AC A (Grace Roberts, Holly Weedall, Faye Conboy) 41.18; 21. Vale Royal AC B (Kate Sherry, Tilly Gibbs, Thea Smith) 49.02