In a tremendous team effort at Blackpool last Saturday, Wallasey Athletic Club won the third of four Northern League meetings beating their nearest rivals, Blackpool, by 21 points.
There were some outstanding individual performances; but it was the overall 100 per cent effort which made it such a rewarding afternoon, many competitors 'having a go' at events in which they do not normally comPete.
In the field events, Wallasey again had Eric Taylor with them after a long time without him. He won the javelin. He and Carl Gee n the discus and shot, and with Mike Teahan in the javelin, won many points. None of them finished lower than second.
In the hammer event, a rapidly-improving Chris Preston threw a hammer 105ft. 11 ins. and came second.
Wallasey athletes seldom have the opportunity of trying the pole-vault, but Carl Gee and Mike Teahan each gained a second place on Saturday.
Sprinters in Wallasey colours were very busy, doubling up the jumps also. Phil Truscott produced a first class 200 metres in 23.7 secs., jumped his first-ever triple jump with remarkable success, and managed a fourth in the 100 metres and a relay leg.
Keith Sorrell, a newcomer to Wallasey's ranks, jumped four inches higher than ever before. He also long-jumped, and sprinted. Alan Cheers did the triple jump. While the points were piling up in the field events, the track events had got of to a fine start for Wallasey.
Peter Lewis and Phil Wealthy both won their 800 metres. Pete's time of 1 min. 54.8 secs. was a considerable achievement on the hard track with the rest of the afternoon's work still to come. He later won the 400 metres and ran a leg in the 4 x 400 metres relay.
Ian Wilson, Phil Wealthy, and Mike Teahan made up the team, which finished third.
Dave Lockley was another athlete with a lot on his plate. He won the 'B' 100 metres hurdles very comfortably. Soon afterwards he had a gruelling 3,000 metres steeplechase in the hot sun, coming in second behind international Paul Morris of Blackpool. Later, Dave ran a good 1,500 metres race to come fourth in 4 mins. 8 secs.
Bob Brimage made a new personal best in the steeplechase, to finish first in the 'B' race. He turned out again, to run with Bob Warburton for the 5,000 metres, the longest race of the afternoon. Bob Warburton finished second in the 'A' race and Bob Brimage second in the 'B' a great result, which put Wallasey too far ahead to be caught.
The win puts Wallasey overall second in the league, one point behind Blackpool. It all hinges now on the last meeting, due to take place in Oldham in the next few weeks. Saturday's result should arouse enthusiasm among Wallasey athletes as a win in this league is an important step in the direction of the National League. There was only one member of Wallasey Athletic Club women's section in action at the weekend, and that was Janice Watts, who ran in a BMC invitation 800 metres race in the Midlands. She produced a new personal best of 2mins. 14.7 secs., which is also a club record.
Results
100 metres: 'A' K. Sorrell 4th 11.5 secs.; 'B' P. Truscott 4th 11.7 secs.
200 metres: 'A' A. Cheers 5th 24.2 secs.; 'B' P. Truscott 2nd 23.7 secs.
400 metres: 'A' P. Lewis 1st 50.4 secs.; 'B' L. Jones 4th 58.8 secs.
800 metres: 'A' P. Lewis 1st 1 min. 54.8 secs.; 'B' P. Wealthy 1st 2 mins. 2.5 secs.
1500 metres: 'A' D. Lockley 4th 4 mins. 8 secs.; 'B' P. Wealthy 2nd 4 mins. 14 secs.
5,000 metres: 'A' R. Warburton 2nd 16 mins. 4 secs.; 'B' R. Brimage 2nd 16 mins. 30 secs.
3,000 metres steeplechase: 'A' D. Lockley 2nd 9 mins. 40 secs.; 'B' R. Brimage 1st 9 mins. 51 secs.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 05/08/1972
Ref 1738