Veteran runners Ramsey Hewson and Jim Rimmer took first and second places in Wallasey Athletic Club's sealed handicap cross-country held outside Denbigh last weekend. Audrey McKay had her first taste of distance running with the club third.
The field of nearly 30 competed together over the tough three-mile course and on completing the course the runner's handicaps were added to their times. The race was awaited by club members' with a great deal interest, as not only was it an important guide to the approaching cross-country season, but it marked the return of Barbara Banks and Dave Lockley to competitive running after an absence of over six months.
Both underlined their unquestionable talent, Dave was first home in 15 min. 4 sec., about a minute outside his best, which is the course record, but well ahead of Bob Brimage and Mike Teahan. Mike recorded his best-ever time for the course and should be a force to be reckoned with over cross-country courses this winter. These three, with the addition of several absentees Phil Wealthy, Dave Lindsey, Bob Warburton and Pete Lewis should form a formidable team this season.
Barbara Banks brought the girls home proving too strong for Janice Watts, who was making her debut on the course.
Of the other girls, Lyn Carter was outstanding despite her youth, she finished well up the field in fourth place beating a senior, Mary Caldwell, an experienced and formidable competitor. This was despite a severe handicap, she won earlier in the year.
Under the leadership of Barbara and Janice, two athletes with international experience, the women's team should be very successful this season.
Davy Jones running very well, gaining the prize for the most improved performance since last year. He improved his time by over two minutes.
Ramsey Hewson also showed an improvement of over 3 minutes, not bad for a veteran.
Also producing performances of not were Ian Wilson and Dave Ashton, both ran well and were unlucky to be out of the prizes.
This weekend a group of 16 athletes are going to the National Recreation Centre at Lilleshall for a hard couple of days training.
Sealed Handicap Results (actual times in brackets)
1, C. Hewson (23 mins. 21 secs.) 23 mins. 21 secs.; 2, J. Rimmer (24:42) 24:42; 3, A. McKay (23:35) 23:55; 4, L. Carter (20:04) 26:14; 5, S. Kelly (19:55) 26:35; 6, I. Wilson (17:04) 26:44; 7, C. Gee (19:25) 26:45; D. Jones (19:45) 26:45; J. Halfpenny (24:25) 26:45; 10, B. Banks (18:06) 26:46; 11, D. Lockley (15:04) 26:49; 12, B. Brimage (15:50) 26:50; 13, M. Teahan (16:17) 26:57; 14, H. Taylor (26:36) 27:06; 15, D. Ashton (19:45) 27:15; 16, M. Caldwell (24:13) 27:23; 17, S. Kew (23:06) 27:26; 18, G. Griffiths (19:32) 27:42; 19, D. Hanna (17:38) 27:48; 20, J. Watts (19:02) 27:52; 21, S. Carter (22:23) 28:03; 22, L. Hewson (26:07) 28:07; 23, M. Caldwell (20:41) 28:21; 24, J. Forshaw (29:43) 31:43; 25, P. Booth (29:25) 35:32; 26, C. Davenport (31:33) 37:13
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 25/09/1971
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