In the Cheshire Athletic Championships at Sale, Phil Holmes was Wallasey Athletic Club's, only winner in the senior hammer event.
In his first serious season Phil took the Cheshire 'gold' medal with a throw of 81 feet, 10 feet clear of, his nearest rival and colleague, Carl Gee.
The absence of many of the county's top track stars including John Davies, the English 800 metre star reduced the standard considerably.
The senior 800 metres was typical, a slow first lap meant the winner's time was only 1 min. 58 sec. From Wallasey, Doug Hanna failed to produce his best form, finishing fifth in 2 mins. 1.6 secs. In the junior 800 metres Bob Warburton finished runner up in 2 mins. 4 secs. a good time in his first serious competition after serious illness.
In the boys' event over the same distance Neil Simpson made a creditable break-through beating his previous best time by over 10 secs. in finishing third (2 mimn. 22 secs.).
The long jump was one of the better competitions of the afternoon held in near perfect conditions. Carl Gee's 18ft. 10in. was only good enough for fifth place. Alan Cheers gained the 'bronze' with 20ft. 4in. to add to his 'silver' in the triple jump where a jump of 43ft. 4in. was nearly 6ft. behind the winner, George Owens (Wirral A.C.).
Today, Bob Brimage will be running in the Northern Junior 3,000 metres championship at Cleckheaton, and should be well placed after a fine mid-week performance over the same distance when he recorded 8 min. 58 secs.
Also at Cleckheaton, a Wallasey team will be competing in a medley relay with two 200 metre legs, a 400 metre and 800 metre leg. With Pete Lewis in the 800 metre, Ian Wilson in the 400 metre and Alan Cheers and Mike Teahan on the shorter runs the team should be highly placed.
Tomorrow, Janice Watts leads the women's team in the first of the Cheshire League meetings at Sale. The meeting is for all ages and events meeting at St. Albans Road at 12 noon.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 15/05/1971
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