Sickness prevented Wallasey Athletic Club turning out a full colts team list Saturday for the final cross-country league meeting at West Derby.
Two colts, i.e. under 13 last September, did run, however, over the flat, one lap course.
Improving steadily over the country is Philip D'Arcy who finished in 24th position in 12 mins. 17 secs. This was the first time that Ian Fennelly had run in competition for the club and did extremely well to finish 51st in 15 mins. 01 secs.
No sickness problems affected the boys' team, i.e. those who were 13 and 14 last September, and six of them ran to finish overall 4th team. Such is the depth of talent in this age group that it will be a difficult decision to decide who to 'drop' next week from the team of four needed to run in the Ham Finney Relays.
They finished as under for the same two mile course:-
Rick Hemmings, 8th, 10 min. 54 secs.; Dave Southern, 15th, 11m 21s; Kevin McGee, 16th, 11m 22s; Paul Delap, 21st, 11m 28s; Graham Comer 26th, 11m 37s; Nick Robinson, 35th, 12m 06s.
The junior/senior race was over three laps of the two mile course, Bob Brimage and Rod Dixon both ran strongly and finished respectively 33rd and 40th with respective times of 32 mins. 20 secs. and 32 mins. 44 secs.
Doug Hanna writes: Affecting the choice of team representatives next week will be a Merseyside schools race. It is the opinion of many people connected with club athletics that schools races should either be (a) during the school time, especially as most of the people involved in school athletics are 'expected to represent the school', having little or no choice in the matter or (b) the school authorities should liase much more closely with the local athletic governing bodies to arrange important fixtures in such a way as they do not clash with each other.
I don't intend to expand the pros and cons of school athletics as opposed to club athletics but I believe as someone involved closely with the boys' training at the club, that they should be given the freedom to choose who to compete for and that their athletic talents should not be too vigorously exploited as this is one reason for the loss of many top class school age athletes from senior competition.
Perhaps if more school athletic teachers were connected with the local athletic clubs, then the athletic clubs would flourish and the standard of school and club athletics would improve. It is important to add here that this is only the opinion of myself and may not reflect the opinions of the rest of the club membership.
For any information about the athletic club contact Doug Hanna at 9 St. Elmo Road, Wallasey, Merseyside, L44 8BL by letter or telephone 638 0296.1 Please remember the minimum age for membership is 11 years, there is no maximum.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Friday, 05/12/1975
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