6. ATHLETICS: Vale Royal girls claim national title

What? English Young Athletes Road Relays Championships

When? October 6

Where? Sutton Park, Birmingham

It continues to be a source of immense pride in mid Cheshire to see Vale Royal Athletics Club members celebrate success on the national stage.

Grace Roberts and Holly Weedall had won gold in the under 13s girls’ age-group category at the 2017 edition which makes their success 12 months later, competing against older rivals, even more impressive.

They joined forces with Faye Conboy to finish first at Sutton Park in Birmingham, leaving their closest-rivals trailing by 17 seconds after three legs.

The trio’s aggregate time of 42:31 would have been fast enough to deny City of Norwich gold in the under 17s girls’ race.

How we reported it: Vale Royal girls win gold at national road relays

How we Tweeted it:

Our sports writer remembers:

“I always say to people that we should never take Vale Royal Athletics Club’s continued success for granted.

“Remember they don’t have access to modern facilities in Northwich or Winsford, which makes what they do achieve even more remarkable.

“Grace Roberts and Holly Weedall deserve huge credit for their performances at each of the past two editions of the English Road Relays, and to win a gold medal in successive years – and two different age-group categories – is further proof of their talent.

“The former took over from Faye Conboy with Vale Royal 29th, and an impressive run saw her make way for Weedall after rising to fifth position.

“She went on to clock the fastest split of the afternoon, storming clear of Jasmine Young (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow) to claim victory in emphatic fashion.”