A NEW running club born out of the coronavirus pandemic is growing in size and celebrating its members competing in races.

In fact, Cheshire Dragons, whose chairman is two-times Paralympian Matt Dimbylow, scorched to success in the first race its members competed.

For a number of years a training group had been meeting in Cuddington to train under the support and guidance of masters international Bernie Jones.

The group consisted of many runners from a variety of clubs across Cheshire and into North Wales.

When the pandemic restrictions eased, running clubs were allowed to train in numbers up to 30 under Covid conditions while other groups were only allowed to train in numbers up to six.

As a result Cheshire Dragons was formed and the club now has more than 60 members.

On a busy first weekend for the new club, athletes contested the Chester 10k, Nick Beer 10k and Grimsby 10k on a day when temperatures reaching 30 degrees at times.

Those competing performed brilliantly in the scorching heat, with Amie Bagnall, Sara Avery and Anna Begbie picking up the women’s first team prize at the Nick Beer 10k in Llandudno.

The race, that also included an inter county representative match, saw Amie finish fourth senior woman in 40mins 23secs, Sara finish first over 55 woman in 40.50 and Anna Begbie fourth woman over 35 in 42.22.

Reflecting the nature of the new club, Sara and Anna were representing Cheshire, while Amie was representing North Wales.

Also competing at Llandudno was Paul Clutterbuck, second man over 50 in 39.44 and Keely Smith, second woman over 35 in 40.29.

At the Grimsby 10k, husband and wife team Mike and Helen Harrington also had a good day.

Mike, who is the race director for Run Cheshire and is also involved in the organisation of the Pie and Peas Race which will take place on Wednesday, finished fourth over 45 man in 38.12, while Helen was third woman over 40 in 43.50.

Earlier in the day at the Chester 10k Carol Parsons finished eighth woman overall in 37.29 and Ross McNair finished in 38.23 not far behind his pb which he set only a few weeks earlier.

Dimbylow said it was a brilliant start for the club and the victory by the women’s team will hopefully be the first of many.

Further details of the new club are available from Bernie Jones on 07919 043117.