At the Northern League meeting at Blackpool, Wallasey Athletic Club men's team produced their worst performance of the season finishing last of the six teams competing. Only success of the afternoon was Alan Cheers who recaptured his form in completing a fine double winning the long and triple jumps.
Alan's long jump of 20ft. 7ins. was his best of the season despite the cold and wet conditions which had threatened to stop the meeting at one stage, John Rowlands made it a double for Wallasey winning the 'B' long jump 4 in. behind his club colleague.
The poor conditions made good track times impossible, Wallasey's best chance of success appeared to be the 800 metres where Doug Hanna was teaming up with Pete Lewis, both ran well, Pete coming a close second and Doug third in the second string event.
Most heroic performance of the afternoon was by Gwyn Griffiths, who only minutes after competing in the 1,500 metres was again performing in the 5,000 metres against runners several years older.
Ian Wilson ran well coming a close second in the 400 metres hurdles in 59.1 secs., a very respectable time on the wet track. He also contributed a fine 400 metre relay leg, taking Wallasey into the lead on the first leg, a lead that they held until the final stage when Waterloo's international Ben Hartley scorched past Phil Wealthy. In the sprint relay Wallasey were unaccountably two seconds slower than the previous week and slumped to last position.
It was this a poor end to the series for the Wallasey team that has never been strong enough in depth to compete against the winners, Manchester A.C. and Waterloo A.C., who now looked destined for a place in the National League.
Today, Bob Brimage is competing in the A.A.A. junior championships at Leicester where he hopes for a good placing in the 2,000 metres steeplechase.
Other athletes will be competing in an inter-club meeting at Blackburn.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/08/1971
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