It was pleasing to note a considerable rise in the number of runners who turned out at Leasowe last week for the Wallasey A.C. annual championships.
There were 28 finishers in the four races. The boys' race had a field of eleven and it says much for the keenness of these lads that they turned out although the result was practically a foregone conclusion.
The senior race was run over a new course of fours laps, a big improvement which enabled spectators to see much more of the race. It was won by Dave Standfast, who took the lead soon after the start and held it all the way despite a strong challenge from Jim Johnston, a most improved young runner. Third was Alan Clarke, who won the handicap prize and who is now showing more of his usual form. Fourth was Roy Scammell, and fifth Jim Rimmer, two greatly improved runners. They were followed, by Bob Arkroyd, Bob Fullerton and Ram Hewson. We were also pleased to see Denis Kelly out once more. We have not seen him for nearly a year now, and it would be good to see him training hard again.
The junior race, also over a lap course, was won convincingly by Roy Parry (who had been in bed nearly all week with 'flu) from John Lynch. John has improved a lot lately but could not hold Roy with the training he had done in the Army. Third was a much improved Hugh Pritchard fourth Colin Harris (handicap winner) and John Ryan, who ran on a sprained ankle.
The youths could only produce five runners, largely because of an epidemic of flu in the team, which won the county title. The first man home was Roy Shaw, a strong runner who won easily from Ian McIvor, in a time much slower than the one he put up last year. Third was Roy Wood, a versatile young runner equally at home over the country as sprinting and hurdling on the track. Fourth was Bill Farrell who has lost all the form he showed against the cyclists.
The boys' race was perhaps the most exciting. It soon developed into a tussle between Ron Barlow and the latest find Tony Townsend. At halfway Ron had about 20 yards on Tony, with Dave White some thirty yards behind. However, Ron's experience told and he went on to win by nearly thirty seconds, with David White in third place, after holding off strong challenge from F. Jamieson.
It was encouraging to see close the rest of the field were to the winners and as many of the boys are young the boys' team should not want for members for some time. Fifth was Brian Anthony, 6th A. McCabe, 7th D. Carter, 8th B. Edwards, 9th D. Williams, 10th Billy Morris and 11th Pete Davies, the youngest miler in the club, but very keen and under the guidance of his uncle, Frank Ledward, he should improve a lot as he gets older.
Next week there will be a club run prior to the Liverpool & District Championships.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 15/01/1955 by SPIKE
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