Wallasey Athletic Club senior team were very hard pressed by Wirral A.C. to retain their cross-country championship title, at Arrowe Park last Saturday, the final margin being only three points Wallasey A.C. 51 points, Wirral A.C. 54 points with Sale Harriers third, 144 points.
Ron Barlow who was expected to win the individual race and thus retain the title he won last year, was a little below his normal form and finished 3rd position. Brian Woolford ran probably his best Cheshire race to finish 2nd some 100 yards behind the winner Martin Cranny of Wirral A.C.
J. Wright , regaining fitness rapidly was Wallasey's next man home in 10th position and he was followed very quickly by Ray Parry 11th, Brian Chalton 12th, Kevin Mather 13th.
The Wallasey win can be attributed to the strong running of Chalton and Mather in the last mile, as it was during this stage that they overtook the remaining 2 Wirral men.
As result of this race Woolford and Barlow will represent Cheshire in the inter-counties race at Epson on January 18, and Wright, Parry, Chalton and Mather have been nominated as reserves.
The remaining members of the team were David Field, who is only in his first year as a senior and ran strongly to finish 38th, and the two juniors, Mike Teehan and Tony Parry, who both ran well to finish 41st and 45th respectively.
In the boys' championship Wallasey finished in 4th place, despite a great run by Alan Bell who, in an exciting finish failed to gain 3rd position. One feels that, with a little more attention
and concentration to his training, Alan will be a really fine future prospect. Robin Tarrant 20th, Robinson 21st, and Les Watcham 32nd completed the team, and backing them up were Eddie Oldham 37th and David Adair 46th.
Today sees the Liverpool & District Championships at Wigan and once again Wallasey's main hope liew#s with the senior team. It is hoped that this year Wallasey will be able to add this title to their many successes, as it is many years since a District title came to Wallasey. The individual race seems a certainty for Mike Turner of Liverpool Harriers and should he be home from Cambridge; failing this an interesting struggle should ensue between Cranny of Wirral A.C., Deary of Sefton, Meadows of Sutton, and two Wallasey boys Barlow and Woolford. Completing the Wallasey team will be Roy Parry, Brian Chalton, Kevin Mather and John Wright. And one can see no reason why all these members should not be up with the
leaders. Backing up these six will John Young and David Field. Alan Bell should again be well up with the leaders in the boys race and the team should gain a place.
Members are being notified the travel arrangements for Wigan.
On behalf all members I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to the club Mick Firth, who has recently come to live in the Wallasey area. Mick is a member the famous Southern club London Harriers and a former international cross-country runner his experience and strong running will be of immense value to the Wallasey club. -
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 11/01/1964 by STEPTOE
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