Richard Eccles and Jon Evans claim superb new PBs at fast Mid Cheshire 5k race.

Road running duo claim superb new PBs at fast Mid Cheshire 5k race.

Report by Don Hale.

Two North Wales Road Runners competed in the Mid Cheshire 5k Spring race last Friday night and both claimed incredible new PB times within a quality field of top athletes.

This star-spangled event attracted 747 international, elite, and club runners from across the UK, with many simply intent on recording personal best times over this exceptionally fast course. And the race pedigree was proven by the first twenty-seven runners all dipping under 15-minutes.

Just one second separated the first three finishers, with David Devine (Liverpool Harriers) the race winner in 14.19, with Cameron Bell (Hallamshire Harriers) 2nd in 14.20, and James Knockton (Trafford AC) 3rd in the same chip time of 14.20.

NWRRC members Richard Eccles and Jon Evans enjoyed superb performances along the same leafy lanes around Cheshire with Richard finishing 244th overall in a chip time of 17 minutes 25 seconds for a brilliant new PB, and he also claimed 3rd place in his MV55-59 age cat.

Richard Eccles said: “Never underestimate the effects of great support and self-belief, after a few weeks of struggling with my running I managed a new PB over 5K.”

Jon Evans was also in fine form and finished 429th overall in 20.02 for another excellent PB, and afterwards, Jon confirmed: “It was a great course and an amazing standard. When you think my time would easily place me in a cat 1-3 in most races and I was nowhere! I have been targeting this race for 16 weeks and training hard. Slightly disappointed to miss sub-20 but I gave it everything!”

Chris Yorke (Prestatyn RC) was another good local athlete in top form, recording an impressive time of 16.57 in 184th place overall, and finishing 6th in his MV50 age cat.