Wallasey Athletic Club's activities over the Christmas holiday period were confined to a club run on Boxing Day, when a group of runners of various abilities set out from club H.Q. on a 9-mile course, taking in Bidston Marshes, Noctorum and Bidston Hill on the return journey.
This easy-paced run was the first run of the week that sees the start of the championship season, with the first event in the county championships, to be held at Woodbank Park, Stockport.
One wonders at the wisdom of selecting January 1st for a championship date which, for obvious reasons, will place limitations upon many of the older athletes who wish to celebrate the New Year in the traditional manner.
Be this as it may, runners from all over the county will be trying their utmost for their clubs at Stockport today, with interest centred on the senior event, in which Wallasey's Ron Barlow is expected to hold off a strong challenge from M. Cranny of Wirral A.C., who in turn is expected to lead his club to a team victory.
In the youths' race, Wallasey have recently been strengthened by David Jackson, son of Howard Jackson, who was a prominent member of the club some years ago, and these boys could be quite a surprise for some of the more fancied clubs,
The boys' event has D. Buckley of Warrington (English Schools champion) in it, and Wallasey's Dave Lockley will have another opportunity of closing the 9-second gap which as all that separated him from be Warrington runner on the last occasion that they met. If he can take an early lead and control the race instead of following Buckley all the way, he may upset the champion,
An innovation this year is the junior boys' race for lads under the age of 14 years, on September 1965. Wallasey's team of seven runners have the knowledge that they will alt be available for this race again next year, as the eldest is only just turned 13. An interesting race should develop between Neil Hampson and Robert Brimage for first Wallasey man home. May the best men win.
Closely following the 'Cheshire' come the Liverpool & District Championships, which are to be held from Wallasey's H.Q. next Saturday.
Once again the home club will have full teams in each age group, and this year it is hoped to obtain permission to use the Bidston Golf course path in order to extend the loop over which the competitors will have to run.
Course stewards and officials are requested to be at the club by 1:45 p.m.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 01/01/1966 by DISCOBOLUS
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