Wallasey Athletic Club teams travelled to Leeds on Saturday to compete in a 6 ¼ mile cross-country race against the universities of Leeds, Bradford, Bangor, Liverpool, Durham, Newcastle and Sheffield.
This was a morale-boosting race for Wallasey, since they closed in second to the formidable Leeds team who packed their whole first team it the first 16 places. Ninety-seven runners finished in a race over a two-lap course of undulating parkland and road.
Briscoe (Leeds University and Leigh), a junior international runner, went quickly to the front and never looked in any danger of being beaten. Behind him the Leeds team, U.A.U. champions four times in the last five years, took over commanding positions.
The race for second place, however, was keen tussle. Barlow (Wallasey) started in the first five and had the beating of his competitors, leaving it until the last few hundred yards before he drew away to close in second.
The remainder of the Wallasey team start slowly and gradually gained ground. After the first lap Smith, Lockley and Jones were in positions almost identical to their finishing places.
Wright, recently recovered from bronchitis, started very slowly and was lying in the late 30s after the first lap. He pulled through to 29th on the second lap and his experience was valuable to the team's overall second position.
Durkin and Knox probably started to quickly and lost some ground later in the race, although Knox was suffering with stomach trouble.
The fixture emphasised the potential of Wallasey's youths such as Lockley, Jones, Knox, Wealthy and Horobin. Blended with the experienced seniors they form an able team.
Team places (first six): 1, Leeds University. I, 44 pts.; 2, Wallasey A.C., 138, pts.; 3, Newcastle University. I, 141 pts.; 4, Durham University. I; 155 pts.; 5, Leeds University. II, 207 pts.; 6, Liverpool University. I 283 pts.
Wallasey 2nd were 13th with 442 pts.
Individuals: 1, F. Briscoe (Leeds I), 32:47; 2, R. Barlow (Wall. I), 33:38; 3, D. Camp
(Newcaste I), 33:40; 4, A. Owen (Liverpool I), 33:42; 5, G. Thewlis (Leeds I), 34:25; 6, J. Freeman (Bradford), 36:46.
Other Wallasey positions; 15, B. Smith, 35:45; 17, D Lockley, 35.48; 22, J. Jones, 36:45; 29, J. Wright, 37:27; 53, L. Durkin, 38:10; 59 B. Knox, 38:29; 63; P. Wealthy, 38:43; 73, A. Keating, 40:20; 74, D. Hanna, 40:23; 79 J. Horobin, 40:50; 94, C. Gee,
41:36.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 11/11/1967
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