In the National Cross-Country Championship at Caversham Park, Reading last Saturday, Wallasey A.C. were represented in both youth and junior events, and an outstanding performance was put up by Roy Parry who came in 32nd in the three mile youth event.
It is generally accepted that only a top class athlete can reach the first 50 in a national championiship. Parry was away to a fine start showing such pace, that for the first three-quarters of a mile he was in the leading half dozen. He then flagged sufficiently to be overtaken by another group of runners, but he continued to step out well to be the first, Liverpool & District runner home. The hilly course did not really suit Parry's rather slight build, and although it is idle to speculate, one cannot but feel that on a flatter course he may well have been in the first ten.
John Warden, although not quite up to his normal form, nevertheless ran creditably to finish in 133rd place, as also did Hugh Pritchard (183) and Michael Greenhalgh (215).
David Standfast was again first Wallasey man home in the junior event over six miles, and he ran with real determination throughout to finish well up in 98th position. The merit of this run can be seen from the gap between him and the next Wallasey man up in Ken Ledward in 203rd place, and it is clear that in Standfast, Wallasey A.C. have a real acquisition.
Wallasey's other counters in this race were Ray Scammell (244) and John Winrow (248).
The individual race in this event was surprisingly won by Peter Driver, of South London Harriers, who convincingly beat the holder, Johnny Wilde, of East Cheshire.
The senior race, in which Wallasey were not represenrted, was also won by another South London Harrier, Olympic athlete Gordon Pirie, who shows every promise of turning out to be Britain's best long distance runner.
Today quite a number of W.A.C. boys and youths will be representing Wallasey and Oldershaw Grammar Schools in the Northern cross-country championships at Wythenshaw Park, Manchester. Particularly as Oldershaw have beaten Wallasey Grammar School twice this season they appear to have the better chance, and it is worthy of note that they finished fourth in these championships last year. At Leasowe Road headquarters there will be an inter-club fixture versus Liverpool Harriers and Wirral A.C.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 14/03/1953
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