Ron Barlow, a 26-years-old member of Wallasey Athletic Club has been chosen as Wallasey's Sports Personality of the year for 1965 and will be presented with the Marples Trophy by its donor Mr. Ernest Marples, M.P. for Wallasey on Thursday.
The choice will delight athletes and athletics followers, for Barlow has been one of the most loyal, runners, both to club and county during over ten years in athletics. He has, in fact, represented Wallasey Athletic Club in more track, road and cross-country races than any other member.
Last year Barlow won the Cheshire, Liverpool & District and West Lancashire cross-country titles, finished runner-up in the Northern event and was 12th in the national championships, a race in which all the big names in British distance running compete. His open road race wins included the Rhyl to St. Asaph and Windermere to Kendal events. He was also one of Britain's representatives in the big Martini race on the Continent. A runner who has tackled the best in Britain over distances ranging from one mile to marathon, Barlow was Northern youth cross-country champion as long ago as 1956.
He has won many Cheshire track, road and cross-country titles, as well as Liverpool & District events. Barlow, only 5ft. 6ins. tall, was a member of the Cheshire Regiment cross-country team which won the Army cross-country championship in 1959 and 1960. He represented the Army on many occasions and set a new Army three miles track record in August, 1960.
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Source - Liverpool Echo - Monday, 17/01/1966
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