Wallasey Athletic Club members brought their pre track season progress a stage further last Saturday with a 3 x 880 yards relay race at the Lingham Park track, Moreton.
Despite a strong head wind down the back straight, which favoured the bigger and stronger runners, the three teams fought out a closely contested race.
The Watcham, Adair, Lockley trio were home six seconds ahead of the Wilson, Gee, Hanna
team and the Schless, Lewis, Barrie team took third place a further eight seconds to the rear.
From the start, Melvin Schless forced the pace with Les Watcham and Ian Wilson tucked in close behind. On the back straight in the second lap Wilson took up he front position, and stayed there, handing over to Carl Gee after a 2 min 15 secs. run.
Les Watcham passed to Dave Adair in 2 mins. 17 secs. and Schless handed responsibility to Pete Lewis in 2 mins. 19 secs.
The leading runner was passed by the other two once again, and Adair forged ahead just before the 440 yard mark whilst Lewis swept past Gee in the back straight to hand over in second place. Their times were; Adair 2 mins. 22 secs., Lewis 2 mins. 21 secs. Gee 2 mins. 30 secs.
The last leg produced the two fastest times of the afternoon, with Dave Lockley, fully recovered from his bout of flu reducing the previous week's run by 2 seconds and recording a time
of 2 mins. 12 secs.
Doug Hanna put in the fastest run in 2 mins. 10 secs., leaving Paul Barrie (2:23) 8 seconds behind.
Running a 'solo' race is never the easiest of tasks and Mike Teahan was well down on his best time last Saturday over a 2-mile run.
He covered the first 880 yards in 2 mins. 30 secs, and finished the mile in 5 mins. 10 secs. His third 880 flagged to 2 mins. 48 secs. and a final 2 mins. 41 secs. gave him a total time of 10 mins. 39 secs.
Running in the 'Longwood 10', were Wallasey's Ron Barlow and Brian Woolford, both of whom are coming back to form after their injuries.
They finished 5th and 8th respectively in a very good field Ron making 53 mins. 39 secs., and Brian 53 mins. 57 secs. over the hilly and tortuous course.
The race was won by Leeds University student Bob Moore in 51. mins. 35 secs.
An attempt to lower last year's 4 x 1 mile relay time will be made today at Lingham track.
The expected teams will be D. Lockley, J. Jones, S. Walker and L. Watcham, with opposition made up from the other milers in the club.
Three or four teams should be taking part in this event which will start at 2 p.m. prompt.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 14/05/1966 by DISCOBOLUS
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