HOLLY Weedall said running against boys helped bring the best out of her after she won a gold medal at the Cheshire Cross Country Championships.

Only five finished ahead of her as she secured first place more than a minute clear of Vale Royal Athletics Club teammate Grace Roberts in the under 15s race at Birchwood Forest Park in Warrington.

Ellie Hudson, in fifth position, helped the trio claim a team prize, a feat matched by boys’ combination Jake Wilson – who also took the individual title – Patrick Griffith and Dylan Carney.

“You can try and keep up with them,” said Weedall, a student at Weaverham High School.

“They push you a bit.

“I’m really happy; it was quite a tough course though because there were loads of rabbit holes everywhere!”

WATCH > Holly reflects on winning gold

Close to 100 of the club’s members raced in cold, dry conditions and together they claimed 10 gold medals.

There was solo success too for Sarah Murphy (women’s over 40s), Liz Renondeau (women’s over 35s), John Humphries (under 20s men) and Elise Fawkes (under 11s girls).

Hannah Cowley, from Helsby, won the senior women’s race ahead of Murphy with Renondeu a further 10 seconds back.

Chloe Broad’s top 10 finish ensured Vale Royal took team gold.

The men’s race was won by Ed Shepherd (Woodford Green AC), who is training with Vale Royal after moving to Chester.

WATCH > Training pals rewarded with medals on comeback

First home in the club’s blue and gold at the end of the men’s race was Jacob Brown, last year’s under 20s champion, who crossed the line fourth in his first year as a senior.

The under 20s women’s race was a family affair with sisters Katie and Emily Lowery competing for first place.

The former, representing Warrington, took the honours from her younger sibling who runs for Vale Royal.

“There was one point when our mum said ‘Go on Katie’ and I was like ‘Cheers, thanks Mum’,” said Emily, a student at Sir John Deane’s College.

WATCH > Lowery sisters describe what it's like to race each other

Holly Smith could hold onto her under 17s girls’ crown, which was taken away by Lara Crawford of Sale Harriers, and instead claimed silver ahead of teammate Ellie Grinnell.

In the under 13s girls’ race, Alice Gale fought from start to finish to classify as runner-up and support from Hope Smith and Tarlia Higginbotham helped them secure runners-up as a team.

Theo Wassall celebrated taking home his first medal after ranking third in the under 11s boys’ age-group category.

Results

Cheshire County Cross Country Championships

Saturday, January 5

At Birchwood Forest Park, Warrington

Senior men (10.4km): 4. Jacob Brown 35:12; 15. Mark Crabtree (V40) 38:45; 47. James Griffiths 42:23; 50. Tom Armstrong (V40) 42:33; 53. Gary Richardson (V45) 42:43; 59. Lee Carrington 43:03; 64. Darren Cottier (V45) 43:30; 65. Matthew Scott (V45) 43:33; 69. Rick Murray (V50) 44:01; 75. Craig Todhunter (V45) 44:38; 76. Chris Weedall (V40) 44:40; 80. Robert Roe (V40) 44:49; 95. Chris Beard (V50) 46:10; 97. John Thompson (V50) 46:18; 100. David Haines (V45) 46:49; 106. Mark Pilliner (V50) 47:21; 114. Geoff Fawkes (V45) 48:09; 142. Anthony Dutton (V45) 53:08; 154. Richard Pettitt (V55) 1:01.23.

Teams: 4. Vale Royal AC 228pts; 9. Vale Royal AC B 429.

Teams (veterans): 3. Vale Royal AC A 61pts; 6.Vale Royal AC B 118.

Senior women (8.3km): 2. Sarah Murphy (V40) 32:31; 3. Liz Renondeau (V35) 32:41; 10. Chloe Broad 34:40; 14. Chloe Dooley 35:46; 17. Clara Pettitt 36:39; 19. Sophie Smith 37:09; 20. Helen Smith (V45) 37:11; 27. Claire Thompson (V40) 38:18; 30. Holly Carrington 39:05; 38. Melanie Johnson (V35) 40:06; 45. Jeanette Pope (V40) 40:50; 59. Liz Gale (V40) 43:22; 68. Jayne Lomax (V50) 44:16; 69. Jo Edwards (V55) 44:26; 84. Debbie Richardson (V50) 51:53.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 15pts; 3. Vale Royal AC B 50; 7. Vale Royal AC C 77; 14. Vale Royal AC D 142.

Teams (veterans): 1. Vale Royal AC 10pts; 3. Vale Royal AC B 58; 11. Vale Royal AC C 131.

Under 20s men (8.3km): 1. John Humphries 29:17; 2. Josh Betteley 29:58.

Under 20s women (5km): 2. Emily Lowery 20:25.

Under 17s boys (5km): 8. Ed Pettitt 18:13; 10. Sam Stephens 18:40; 12. Will McKay 19:09; 17. Aaron Doyle 20:52; 19. Sam Washington 21:37.

Teams: 3. Vale Royal AC 30pts.

Under 17s girls (5km): 2. Holly Smith 19:43; 3. Ellie Grinnell 21:17.

Under 15s boys (4.2km): 1. Jake Wilson 14:35; 3. Patrick Griffith 14:44; 6. Dylan Carney 15:07.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC 10pts.

Under 15s girls (4.2km): 1. Holly Weedall 15:05; 2. Grace Roberts 16:09; 5. Ellie Hudson 17:01; 8. Ellie Bushill 17:14; 9. Isobel Ashcroft 17:35; 10. Thea Smith 17:40; 14. Faye Conboy 18:41; 17. Emily Bevan 20:27.

Teams: 1. Vale Royal AC A 8pts; 3. Vale Royal AC B 27.

Under 13s boys (3.3km): 5. Josh Williamson 13:24; 7. Harry Godwin 13:46; 10. Robbie Price 14:03; 16. Aaron Leather-Smith 14:33; 17. Ben Fisher 14:39; 18. Oli Washington 14:41; 22. Oliver Simpson 15:01; 27. James Dixon 15:19; 31. Will Davies 15:56; 33. Joe Bland-McKenzie 16:12; 35. Tom Taylor 16:35; 37. Oliver Johnson 18:40.

Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC A 22pts; 6. Vale Royal AC B 51; 8. Vale Royal AC C 80; 9. Vale Royal AC C 105.

Under 13s girls (3.3km): 2. Alice Gale 13:32; 7. Hope Smith 14:40; 12. Tarlia Higginbotham 15:18; 13. Elouise Babbington 15:31; 14. Darcie Hudson 15:45; 19. Lana Booth 16:23; 25. Molly Roberts 16:54; 28. Anna Smith 17:22; 30. Isabelle Maundrill 17:57.

Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC A 21pts; 5. Vale Royal AC B 46.

Under 11s boys (2km): 3. Theo Wassall 8:34; 9. Alfie Murray 9:04; 16. Ben Lowe 9:23; 20. Thomas Messenger 9:45; 22. Oliver Shaw 9:50; 24. Evan Williams 9:56; 26. Daniel Richardson 10:01; 28. Max Anderson 10:04; 29. James Pope 10:09; 33. Edward Smith 11:31; 34. Jacob Leather-Smith 11:37.

Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC A 28pts; 7. Vale Royal AC B 66; 8. Vale Royal AC C 83.

Under 11s girls (2km): 1. Elise Fawkes 8:57; 14. Erin Carney 9:31; 20. Zoe Broughton 10:08; 25. Caitlyn McKendrick 10:41; 28. Isabelle Pope 11:03; 29. Lauren Weedall 11:05; 30. Fleur Parsons 11:07; 32. Polly Thomason 11:24; 34. Zara Gibbs 11:50.

Teams: 4. Vale Royal AC A 35pts; 7. Vale Royal AC B 82; 8. Vale Royal AC C 96.