Today Wallasey Athletic Club ladies' team will be lining up for the final race of the Northern Cross-Country League's meetings.
After two races Wallasey are leading the league by 14 points after having won them outright but due to the narrowness of the victoriesr a bad run could ruin their chances today.
The team score is the total of each runner's position with the first three runners to count towards the team total.
Wallasey's closest rivals are Bury and Radcliffe A.C., the present Northern Cross-Country Champions and Airedale and Spen Valley A.C., both teams contain internationals, but it is hoped that Barbara Banks and Margaret Ashcroft will be able to contain them, for Barbara only a win will preserve her unbeaten record this season.
The team race will not however be won by internationals, it is the support that will count and it has been Wallasey's team work that has steered them to success so far this season.
Third place in the team, is hotly contested between Janice Watts and Mary Caldwell of the senior team and Sylvia Brimage from the intermediates who will be promoted to the senior ranks for this vital encounter, this should see Wallasey home as one bad run should not be too much of a disaster.
Wallasey's men's team has paid the price of having no depth, as injuries and fitness problems have resulted in weak teams being fielded.
In the H. S. Finney Cross-Country Relay Championships at Sherdley Park, the problem was emphasised by the unavailability of Dave Lockley who has run so well recently, always keeping Wallasey in the race.
Without Dave, Wallasey could never quite get into the race. Dave Lindsay completing the first leg in 16 mins. 3 secs. in sixth place. John Wright not at his best over the fast three-mile course, maintained the position in 16 mins. 27 secs.
Unfortunately, by this stage the field were well spread out and positions hard to gain. Barrie Smith did however, run well to record 16 mins. 36 secs., his best performance of the season, an encouraging omen for the championships to come. Mike Whiteside ran the final leg in 17 mins. 25 secs.
The winners were Sutton Harriers from Blackpool and Fylde A.C. and Liverpool Pembroke A.C.
The youths and boys event took the form of a composite relay, the team consisting of two boys and two youths.
The Wallasey team could only manage seventh place, the boys, Steve Scully and Gwyn Griffiths recorded 10 mins. 45 secs. and 10 mins. 20 secs. on the first two legs.
This left Bob Brimage and Bob Warburton with too much ground to make up on the leaders and despite good runs they could never quite get into the race.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 12/12/1970
Ref 1561