Wallasey A.C.'s junior cross-country championship, postponed some weeks ago owing to fog, was decided over a six mile course from the club's H.Q. on Saturday, when Ken Ledward was the winner in 36 mins. 39 secs. Eric Maddock was second in 37 mins. 17 secs. and Dave Standfast third in 37 mins. 50 secs.
The race from the start was a three cornered struggle between Ledward, Maddock and Standfast, who ran together for the first three or four miles, when Ledward came off a stretch of plough strongly to open up a gap of about 20 yards. Over the last couple of miles he proved to have more stamina than his rivals and steadily increased his lead to gain a clear victory by some 150 yards.
Throughout the race Ledward maintained a slight initiative by invariably being the first over obstacles and the timing of his final effort was excellent. The tactical ability of this young runner has noticeably improved over the past year.
It should be mentioned that Standfast had already raced in the morning for Oldershaw G.S. in their annual cross-country event versus Wallasey G.S., which incidentally was won by Oldershaw by one point with Wallasey A.C. runner Roy Parry in first place.
The sealed handicap run in conjunction with the junior championship was won by John Winrow who has a splendid run and was never far from the leaders to finish in fourth place.
Today, Wallasey A.C. will be one of twelve clubs taking part in the West Lancashire Championship, at the R.A.F. camp at West Kirby.
Wallasey's prospects are not as bright as they had seemed a few weeks ago and their best chance of success is undoubtedly in the boys' event were Wallasey will be all out to avenge their narrow defeat by Prenton Secondary Modern School in the Liverpool & District Championships recently.
Wallasey's prospects in the youth race have received a severe setback by the recurrence of an old cartilage injury to Don Anderson, who is a doubtful starter.
However, Wallasey A.C. should be well up with Roy Parry and John Warden in particular being among the leaders.
In the junior race the club should also fare reasonably well and it is hoped that the team will improve on their fourth place in the Liverpool & District, as Standfast, Ledward, Maddock, Lynch and Winrow are all running well at the moment.
The senior race should provide a great tussle between Wirral A.C., Liverpool Pembroke, Liverpool Harriers and Sutton Harriers, when Bob Johnston, Arnold Dinsdale, and Alan Clarke should be Wallasey's leading runners.
Johnston is the present holder of the individual title but as he does not yet appear to have regained his early season form it must he expected that Pembroke's Ken Gates who has already deprived Johnston of his Liverpool & District title, will again carry the day.
Special transport has been arranged and competitors and supporters should meet at Seacombe Ferry, boys and youths leaving at 1 p.m. The last bus will leave at 1:45 p.m.
Ron Brownbill and Jack McCulloch achieved a double in the North West counties Championships held at the Y.M.C.A., Liverpool, when they were placed first in the 8 stone 11 lbs bantam and 10 stone 8 lbs light-weight events.
These championships were contested on the basis of the Olympic scale of body weights and the Wallasey lifts were :-
Brownbill - press 165 lbs, snatch 175 lbs and clean and jerk 210 lbs, total 550 lbs. McCulloch - press 185 lbs, snatch 185 lbs and clean and jerk 235 lbs, total 605 lbs.
Brownbill when in the eight stone class was British champion and as a result of his success in this championship it is hoped that he will receive an invitation to compete in the forthcoming British championships.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/02/1953 by R.M.
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