JOHN GILBERT and Emma Parry celebrated success at the popular Chester Round The Walls Race on Boxing Day.

Gilbert, representing Kent AC, and Parry, of Wrexham AC, won the men’s and ladies titles respectively at the 40th anniversary event organised by West Cheshire Athletic Club from Chester Racecourse.

Gilbert, who retained the Chester Walls title after his win last year, headed the 424 finishers in the blustery conditions and completed the 4.5 miles course in a time of 25 minutes 56 seconds.

The former Warrington-based distance running ace, who won the Kent Cross Country Championships earlier this year and finished third in the English Championships at the London Marathon in April, finished 49 seconds clear of second-placed Matthew Jackson on the Roodee.

Jackson, representing Liverpool Harriers, clocked 26:45, and third placed 2009 Chester Walls title winner Daniel Cliffe (Warrington AC) posted 26:58, ahead of Buckley Runners’ Matthew Rose (fourth in 28:13), Sale Harriers’ Ian Wetherall (fifth in 28:32), and Gary Norgrove (first over-40 and sixth overall).

Over-35 veteran Parry, who won the ladies title in 2007, secured success again this year with a time of 32:42, ahead of second placed Sarah Griffiths (Leigh Harriers) with 33 minutes who had won the ladies race last year, while Wirral AC’s Sarah Kearney clocked 33:25 for third position.

Former West Cheshire AC member Alec Beaney, represented City of Norwich AC, and posted 29:31 for eighth position, ahead of Chester Tri Club’s Duncan Harris (first over-45 veteran and 10th overall in 29:50), while Helsby’s Adair Broughton clocked 30:16 for 13th spot.