Fourteen year old Ian Wilson of Oldershaw Grammar School and Wallasey Athletic Club ran a full second faster than he has ever done before in winning his heat at last Saturday's English Schools finals at Watford.
Running against the best schoolboys in the country he clocked 54.2 secs. in his heat and followed this with 54.8 secs., when placed 2nd in the semi-final. The final was run in a record 52.8 with Ian in 5th place in 54.7, full compensation for all the hard training undertaken in the past few months.
Running with something like his form of three months ago, Ron Barlow held off a strong challenge from Sutton runner John McLoughlin to win the two mile team event at Widnes Police sports last Saturday in a creditable 9 mins. 5 secs. Second man home for Wallasey was club captain Brian Woolford in 11th place with 9 mins. 45 secs. whilst John Young still handicapped by his lack of training, dropped out after four laps.
Competing in the youths' 1 mile team event at the same meeting W.A.C. took 2nd place to Liverpool Harriers with Winton Harriers in 3rd place. The team placing for Wallasey were: Dave Lockley 4th (4 mins. 43 secs.) John Jones 5th in a personal bes 4:46, Ray Kay 8th (5:02), and Les Watcham (5:10); the scoring was Liverpool 11 pts., Wallasey 17, and Winton 18. Mike Teahan was 5th in the long jump (19ft. 2ins.), and John Morley and John Watkins were placed 3rd and 4th respectively in their heats of the 100 yds. and so were eliminated. Later in the meeting these two joined with John Huddart and Alan Keating in the 1 mile medley relay in which a 4th position was not good enough for the final. Barrie Smith and Alan Keating both ran well in their heats of the handicap 880 yards in which Barrie was placed second (off 80 yds.) in 1 min 58 secs. and Alan 3rd (off 85 yds.) in 1:52, but both found their handicap too much in the final and they 'coasted home' well down the field: Barrie Smith ran again half an hour later, in the 1 mile senior race and finished 7th in 4 mins. 17 secs. (off 175 yards).
Invitations have gone out to nine local clubs, for an inter club meeting at Leasowe Road Playing Fields at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. At the time of going to press five favourable replies have been received and there are hopes of more to come so an enjoyable afternoon's entertainment is assured for all those competitors and spectators who wish to come along.
Training continues at Leasowe Road, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7-9 p.m. and Saturday 2-5, when there are no matches arranged, whilst the weekly Thursday sessions at Lingham track progress steadily both in numbers attending and quality of work resulting.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 24/07/1965 by DISCOBOLUS
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