CHRIS Perry claimed a maiden county title on Saturday when Vale Royal Athletics Club showed its strength in depth at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

The 22-year-old finished first in the senior men’s age class at Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, to win a first individual gold medal in the category.

“He was made up afterwards,” said Perry’s coach Shaun McGrath.

“It was a classy run to win in what is always a hugely competitive field.”

Perry’s was one of eight category wins for Vale Royal in a medals haul that reached 27.

Stuart Doyle, quickest in the over 40s men’s group, claimed third place in a senior men’s race run over 10.7km in south Cheshire.

The club’s near 100-strong contingent, including almost 30 seniors, is the biggest it has sent to the county championships.

At the opposite end of the age scale, 34 boys and girls raced in the under 13s and under 11s categories.

No rival came close to sending as many runners.

McGrath said: “We had more than double the amount of representatives than anybody else.

“I was as pleased to see so many youngsters racing for the first time in the youngest age classes; it’s so important to have that supply of fresh talent coming through the club’s ranks.”

It was a day of firsts too for under 20s pair Michael Vennard and Tessa McCormick, who stood on the podium’s top step for the first time despite stepping up a category to race against older runs.

The 17-year-olds helped Vale Royal to team success too.

Elliot Bowker and Jessica Parsons, champions at under 15s level at Knights Grange a year ago, proved too strong for their rivals in the under 17s age category too.

The former edged out Matthew Sheen, while Vale Royal’s eight-strong contingent in the girls’ race scooped first and second place in the team standings.

Category wins for Jacky Thorn (over 55s women) and Pauline Davies (over 60s women) completed the individual medals haul.

Former regulars in the club’s junior section, Kate Spilsbury, Jodie Spencer and Kathy Stringer, combined to win the senior women’s team title.

Jon Owen scooped silver in the under 15s boys’ race, the same colour as Amelia Pettitt’s medal in the under 20s women’s category.

A full list of results for all Vale Royal Athletics Club's representatives will be published in Wednesday's print edition.