Three races in two days have further emphasised Wallasey athlete Dave Lockley's superb form,
At the Frauckner Trophy meeting, Stretford, Dave was Wallasey Athletic Club's only winner. After running a personal best 800 metres in 1 minute 56.1 seconds coming third in the race in a time only five Wallasey athletes have bettered, he ran in his best event, the 2000 metres steeplechase, leaving the rest of the field adrift from the start, winning in 6 minutes 2.8 seconds from club colleague Bob Brimage who ran a personal best of 6 minutes 15 seconds, finishing very strongly for second place.
In the small party the field events athletics did themselves more than, justice. Andy Fulton won the youth's shot with a putt of over 42ft. and took 2nd places in both the javelin and the high jump.
Alan Cheers put in good performances in the triple and long jumps, and club coach Carl Gee took second place in the shot.
The ladies' section had a quiet day, only Margaret Ashcroft producing a best of 63.8 seconds to finish well up in the 800 metres.
The annual summer handicap run; held over a three-mile course at the club chairman's farm near Denbigh attracted 30 people willing to subject themselves to what must be regarded as the toughest course they are ever likely to compete over.
Each runner sets of at intervals with the best runner beginning last, in this case no less than 9-minutes behind the first.
First off this year was veteran runner Ramsey Hewson with his young daughter Lindsey, closely followed by some other youngsters, the boys, youths, ladies, and finally the senior men giving chase, with Dave Lockley setting off last.
The course which includes a 1 in 6 hill, soon had all but
the very fittest athletes crawling. First back was Margaret Ashcroft; recording 21 mins. 46 secs. with a handicap of 3 mins. 45 sees. giving her an actual time of 18 mins. 1 sec. Almost 20 secs. behind was Robin Tarrant, running better, than before this summer, and 3rd was young Christine Horobin, who did very well to complete the course in 22 mins.
For the senior distance runners the heavy handicapping was too much, with Phil Wealthy taking the highest position in 9th place, with the fantastic Dave Lockley a mere second behind after starting 60 seconds behind.
Dave's time of 14 mins. 6 secs. represents the fatest effort over the course ever, while Phil's time of 15 mins. 5 secs. was the second fastest of the day and one of the fastest ever recorded over the course. Ladies international Barbara Banks was another to find the handicapping a little severe recording the 6th fastest time of the day (16 mins. 53 secs.) in 6th place.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 12/09/1970
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