There were definite indications that the long awaited revival Wallasey's running section is nigh, when 33, members took part in meetings on both sides of the river last Saturday.
As expected, Wallasey Grammar School retained the senior title in the Wirral Schools' Cross-Country Championships held at Port Sunlight over a three-mile hilly course, but the slender margin of five points from Birkenhead School with Wallasey Technical G.S. 4th and Oldershaw G.S. in 5th position.
Individual honours went to local runners and Wallasey's first man home was Steve Walker in 5th place despite running into barbed wire which gave him several lacerations on the chest which needed stitches.
Mel Schless ran well to finish 6th considering he had played rugby in the morning and just beat Brian i Knox (7th) with the much improved John Hardin in 9th place.
Peter Byrne also surprised his contemporaries with a 10th placing and club runners had five members in the first 10 at this point. Other positions were: 13th Phil Wealthy, 14th Colin Lewis, 24th Ian Wilson, 26th Pete Lewis, 27th Garry Little and 45th Mike Potter.
In the junior race over two miles W.G.S. were placed 3rd with the Tech. G.S. in 4th position and club members placed were; 6th Gerry McGregor, 10th Gary Fair, 11th Bob Brimage, 15th Phil Keating, 19th Bob Warburton, 23rd Ron Martland, 24th PauI Hughes and 31st Peter Martin.
Whilst the younger members were fighting it out here in the Wirral, their elders were engaged in a similar struggle in Woolton Park, Liverpool.
Following a two-mile event for boys in which Steve Daniels was 10th behind Barbara Banks who ran as a guest) the juniors and seniors combined to score 171 points for 4th place in an eight team event, behind Liverpool Pembroke (84 points), Sutton (97) and Wirral (98).
Wallasey's Ron Barlow showed a return to former fitness by finishing 5th with club captain Barrie Smith well up in 12th place.
If one may be permitted to theorise and place none runners Brian Woolford and John Wright in 8th and 11th positions, Wallasey A.C. could well have sprung a surprise win with 83 points to the actual 84 points of the winning team, however on the day Brian was married to his charming fiance, Annette and the club wish them both every happiness for the future.
ln order to decide the teams to represent the club in the Aaron races at Leeds in a fortnight, there will be a run off for boys and youths this afternoon from club headquarters. Start 2:30.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 28/10/1967 by DISCOBOLUS
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