TARPORLEY celebrated a hat-trick of victories at the opening round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Race Series held at Stanney, Ellesmere Port.
Sam Grinter, Sophie Hemingbrough and Katie Clarke all secured victories at the event organised to promote middle distance running in the district.
Grinter represented Tarporley Primary School and clocked five minutes 20 seconds to win the year six boys event ahead of runner-up Dominic Button (Newton) in 5:29, and third placed Ross Murdoch (Christleton) who posted 5:45.
Hemingbrough clinched victory in the year seven girls race in 8:57, ahead of runner-up Hannah Bissell (Chester Catholic High) in 9:59, and Tarporley's Abbie Williams who was third in 10:05.
Clarke represented Tarporley High and won the year eight girls title in 13:10, ahead of second placed Catherine Gray (The Grange) with 13:32, and Whitby’s Laura Smith who was third in 13:50.
Utkinton duo Ellie Finn and Izzy Clarke grabbed glory in the year five and year six races respectively.
Finn posted a winning time of 5:41 ahead of second placed Kate Kenworthy (Tarporley) in 5:47, and Emma Bissell (Overleigh) who was third in 6:07.
And Clarke clocked 5:49 for success ahead of runner-up Beth McMahon (Millview) in 6:03, and third placed Phoebe Ashworth (Woodlands) who clocked 6:10.
Helsby Hillside pair Charlie Potts and Sonny Dean claimed the year four and year five boys titles respectively.
Potts clocked 3:16 ahead of runner-up Oliver Button (Newton) in 3:17, and Sam Gittins (Helsby Hillside) was third in 3:20.
And Dean posted 5:10 for victory ahead of runner-up Paul Morrison (Our Lady’s) in 5:16, and Chris Garner (Acresfield) was third in 5:21.
Eaton’s Jake Baker Humphries (3:10) and Lewis Gray (3:29) finished first and second in the year three boys race ahead of Ryan Evans (Christleton) who finished in third place in 3:29.
Acresfield’s Hannah Ferguson won the year three girls race in 3:53, ahead of runner-up Claire Cooper (Helsby Hillside) in 4:04, and third placed Katie Murray (Tarporley) in 4:05.
Christleton’s Tamsin O’Keefe won the year four girls race in 3:04, ahead of Tarporley’s Anna Grayston who was second in 3:14, and Annabel Hemingbrough (Tarporley), third in 3:24.
Joseph Morrison (Ellesmere Port Catholic High) won the year seven boys race in 7:54, ahead of runner-up Cameron Bradley (Christleton) in 8:24, and third placed Taylor Kearns (Upton) in 8:50.