Midcheshire Independent Issue 196

SEPTEMBER 2026 20 Independent LOCAL SPORT England at the World School Games in Serbia last year, where she won three gold medals in the U15 50m and 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle. She received funding from the Nantwich and Acton Grammar School (NAGS) Foundation to help make her trip to Serbia possible. Kate went on to smash the British junior 100m back- stroke short course record at the winter national champi- onships inDecember. On her return fromMunich, she finished the season off with four gold medals and two bronze medals in her age group at the British Summer Swimming Next Gen Championships in Sheffield. NANTWICH Town have made a triple swoop into the transfer market as manager Luke Goddard adds competition to his squad. Joining the Dabbers are former Sheffield United and Wrexham goalkeeper Liam Hall; TomGraves fromCrewe Alex and Luke Enright from Rushall Olympic. The 21-year-old keeper has been training with the club over the past few weeks and joins ahead of the bank hol- iday fixtures. After his release from Wrexham in summer 2025, Goddard joined Sheffield United in October on a deal until the end of the season. Prior to this he came through the academy at Bradford Park Avenue, signing a con- tract at 18 years old before then moving to Wrexham. Manager Goddard said: “We have been fortunate to have a couple of goalkeepers in with Yusuf and Zac over the past fewweeks. Liam has shown a confidence to earn an opportunity with us and is determined to get games under his belt to ultimately go back up the leagues. “In any successful squad you need healthy competition in all areas to ensure players are driven so we enter Sep- tember with great options across the pitch.” TomGraves joins on a one- month work experience loan from Crewe Alexandra. The young defender is an up and coming talent in the Alex academy, playing a part in the side that won both the U17 PDL Cup and the Cheshire Senior Cup for Crewe last season and has captained both their U17s and U18s. His progress was recog- nised by the club when he took home the Harold Finch Scholar of the Year award for the 2025/26 season. Goddard said: “We are really pleased to welcome Tom to the Swansway Sta- dium from our neighbours at Crewe Alex. It’s a link I’ve been really keen on trying to enhance further for the long term benefit of both clubs. “Tomwas outstanding last season when they visited in the Cheshire Cup. For his age that night he led from the back and stood out nota- bly; you could see why he is captain of the U18s. “With a versatility of play- ing anywhere defensively he gives us a further option over LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP BOLLINGTON are cele- brating after winning the Cheshire County Cricket League Division One championship to earn promotion to the elite Premier Division for the first time in the club’s 141- year history. Bol l ing t on secured their place at the top table with a comfortable seven wicket home win over rele- gated Alvanley. Alvanley were shot out for just 89 with Harri Dickinson almost unplayable with fig- ures of 6-26. Fittingly, skipper Richard Hough eased his side home with an unbeaten 39. The title race in the Pre- mier Division is still up for grabs as the season enters its final week. At the top Nantwich are six points clear of Cheadle after a two wicket win over Brooklands. Batting first, Brooklands made a useful 230 (Scott Wardley 4-32) but the leaders edged home by reaching 231/8 with 3.5 overs to spare. Ali Chughtai made 44 and Rob Jones 57. Cheadle had an 81-run win at Lindow who were dis- missed for 106 in reply to the visitor’s 187 all out. One-time leaders Didsbury ended a run of three succes- sive defeats by beating Alder- ley Edge by seven wickets. Alderley Edge were all out for 213 as Didsbury got home by seven wickets to stay in third place in the table. Elsewhere in the top divi- sion, there was a four wicket win for Chester Broughton Hall over second bottom Bramhall. Opener Ashley West made 32 as Bramhall were all out for 160. Andrew McFarlane’s 66 helped Broughton Hall reach 164/6. Zach Thompson was left stranded on 99 as Timperley beat Neston by one wicket. Martiz hit 95 as Neston posted 252/7 with Timperley getting home on 253/9. Back in Division One, Widnes are also promoted despite a six wicket defeat at Bowdon. Widnes were bowled out for 242 but thanks to Ashwin Sharma (95) and Joe Chapple (66no) saw Bowdon home on 245/4. Ned Bailey smashed 94 in Stockport Georgians big 135-run victory at Marple. Bailey’s knock helped Geor- gians to a total of 238/9. Mar- ple were shot out for 103 with Amin taking 3-11. Macclesfield had a three wicket win over Port Sunlight who were dismissed for 147. Matthew Fielding top scored with 38 and James Longhorn (32) and Alex Thomson (32no) sawMacclesfield reach 149/7. In Division Two Romiley beat relegated Ashley by 48 runs and Cheadle Hulme beat Tattenhall by 15 runs. In Div ision Three Winnington Park beat Bred- bury St Mary’s by one wicket. Bredbury posted 113/4 and even though Winnington lost nine wickets they squeaked home on 114/9. Cheshire Cricket League Division One leaders Stock- port Trinity thumped Wood- ford by 10 wickets in a low-scoring clash. Woodford were all out for a paltry 21 in 17 overs with Tom Atkin- son doing most of the damage with 8-11. Lymm Oughtrington Park had a healthy 104-run win over Bowdon Vale. Lymm made 194/9 but Bowdon Vale could onlymanage 90 in reply. Barnton defeated North- wich by 49 runs. Barnton were 151 all out but North- wich were all out for 101. In Division Two Apple- ton beat Prestbury by 101 runs; Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge had a three- wicket success over Chester County Officers and table toppers Holmes Chapel beat Offerton by 35 runs. Wins- ford conceded their match against Cholmondley. In North Staffs and Chesh- ire South Division One, Big- nall End beat Congleton by six wickets. Sandbach, second bot- tom in Division Two, were beaten by 101 runs by New- castle and Hartshill. Chasing 216/7, Sandbach were all out for 115. BOLLINGTON ARE ON THE UP AND UP Kate produced some lifetime best results (Image: Supplied) Kate brings home her lifetime best swimming results A YOUNG Nantwich swimmer produced lifetime best times and helped Great Britain to high finishes at the European Junior Championships. Teenager Kate Schillinger said competing was an “amazing experience” representing GB at the cham- pionships inGermany. The 15-year-old, who swims for Repton Swimming and Winsford Swimming Club, competedagainst someof the fastest 18 and under swim- mers in Europe at the iconic 1972Olympic Pool inMunich. She produced two lifetime best times and reaching the semi-finals in both of her indi- vidual events. Kate also helped Great Britain to two fourth-place finishes in the mixed medley relay and the female med- ley relay. The Brine Leas student said: “I had an amazing expe- rience in Munich and it was such an honour to represent Great Britain. “Racing against the fastest junior swimmers in Europe gave me so much experience and was a fantastic oppor- tunity to see where I could compete at this level. “I’ve learnt so much from the whole competition and it has made me even more determined to keep work- ing hard and see what I can achieve in the future.” Kate’s selection for the European Junior Championships followed her remarkable progress in the pool. The Nantwich young- ster previously represented Goalkeeper Liam Hall is one of three new signings (Image: Nantwich Town) TRIPLE SWOOP Goddard brings in new faces to add competition the next few weeks with the game programme we have as well as another opportunity for us to help a promising young player gain valuable time in men’s football. We hope he enjoys his time with us and helps us kick on in our own campaign in the coming weeks.” Forward Enright, joins on a dual registration from Rushall Olympic. Enright, 19 years old and who now lives locally in Nantwich, started his career with Aston Villa before joining Stoke City where he gained a formi- dable record in their U18s and U21s. Following an ACL injury he departed the Potters last summer, briefly spending time training with AFC Bournemouth and Harrogate Town following his rehabilitation. He then joined Rushall Olympic in the Southern Central Pre- mier Division last December where he has remained since. Goddard said: “Luke lives just a fewmiles from the sta- dium, has an excellent pedi- gree and we hope his energy and qualities we can unearth consistently to become a real threat over the coming weeks giving us another option in an area we are asking for that ruthlessness to be better in the chances we are creat- ing as a team. “We would like to thank everyone at Rushall for allowing the smooth nego- tiations in assisting with the registration.”