NWFPAC ‘Michael Page’ Championship 2025 – Race 1: Alderley Park Parkrun

The 2025 North West Finance Professionals Athletics Club (NWFPAC) Championship kicked off with an exciting and highly anticipated race at Alderley Park in Cheshire.  This event marked the start of what promises to be a competitive season for the club, and the first race didn’t disappoint.  Despite the absence of David Simmons, who supported from the sidelines due to illness and injury [again – Editor], there was a strong showing at the start line, with 16 NWFPAC runners.

Alderley Park, known for its stunning natural beauty, provided the perfect backdrop for this trail run.  The race began near one of the park’s entrances, where runners quickly immersed themselves in the dense woodland paths.  Whilst the scenery was picturesque, the trail presented typical race hazards – rogue rocks, hidden tree branches and uneven footing – that tested the runners’ agility and focus.

The course itself was a well-balanced mix of flat stretches and gentle inclines, allowing a good challenge, whilst still offering opportunities for personal bests.  Despite the chilly conditions, the weather remained relatively mild, with the course staying dry for the majority of the race.  Only towards the end did the runners feel a light drizzle, a minor inconvenience that didn’t detract from the overall experience.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the day was the number of PBs.  Congratulations are in order for Steven Henderson, Ben Greene, Mike Ginn, Charles Singlehurst and Alex Tunstall, all of whom had stellar performances.

After the race, it was clear that NWFPAC had a dominant presence in the field.  The club placed five men in the top ten (including the top 4, led home by Steven Henderson) and two women in the top six.  One of the highlights of the day was the thrilling head-to-head battle between Dan Harrison-Croft and Ralph Walker-Moretti.  Their race was neck and neck, and the final result saw Dan edging Ralph out by a mere one second.

Unfortunately, the only downside to the day was the café, which usually serves as a gathering spot for the runner to catch up and reflect on the races, but was closed.  This was a small disappointment, but didn’t dampen the overall excitement of the first race of the year.

All in all, the opening race of the 2025 NWFPAC Championship was a resounding success.  Roll on the next race!