HIGH Legh youngster Ben Keeley completed a Cheshire Cross Country Championships double on Saturday, writes James Lee.

He won the under 11s boys’ title at Knights Grange Sports Complex in Winsford.

The 10-year-old High Legh Primary School pupil also won the team gold for Sale Harriers with Liam O’Brien and Daniel Oakes.

He has been running for Sale Harriers for three years.

Ben said: “It was a tough race but I’m so happy I won.”

Kate Mills was the only Knutsford Tri Club competitor featuring in the championships.

She was 33rd in the women’s race, 10th in the over 40s category.

Wilmslow Running Club’s ladies struck gold.

The team consisting of Claire Clancy, Diane McVey and Nicola Reece outperformed the rest of the competition over the 8000m distance, as they individually secured finishes of 4th, 5th and 13th. The accumulation of the points put them six points in front of second-placed Vale Royal AC.

Clancy was the fastest finisher of the team with a time of 33.20. Fifth-placed Diane McVey (33.23) was just three seconds behind her and Nicola Reece a few minutes behind that (36.28).

With McVey and Reece both in the veteran category as well, the women’s veteran team acquired second with 26 points. In their individual categories, McVey finished 3rd in the V40 race, Reece got 2nd in the V35 and Diane Bygrave took third in the V45 category.

Wilmslow’s veteran men’s team shared similar success at the event in Winsford. Much like the women’s veteran team, they took home 2nd in the 10500m race.

Peter Speake and Richard Coen were the two stand-out performers for the team with finishes of 4th and 5th overall. Speake individually obtained 2nd in the V40 category. Andrew Whittingham (44:59) and Tim Billington (47:17) completed the team.

Similarly, the veteran’s B team consisting of Trevor Morris, Matthew Taylor and Tom McGaff claimed 10th position with 208 points. McGaff individually finished 1st in the V65 category; five minutes ahead of his opposition.

The men’s team ,however, had to settle with 4th position with a finish on 231 points.

With most of the teams placing in the top three, Wilmslow Running Club will aim to continue their early success for the rest of the cross-country season this winter.