Last Saturday, Wallasey's senior athletes transferred from track to road-racing to take part in the annual Sefton Park Road Relay Race.
This race, a six-stage relay, is run around the perimeter of Sefton Park, each stage being approximately 3¼ miles long.
The torrential rain and occasional strong wind produced bad conditions for racing and dashed anyone's hopes of a fast time.
However, the weather did not keep the teams away and there was a fairly large field at the start.
Rod Dixon was Wallasey's first leg runner and he handed over to Bob Brimage in 12th position, and in a time of 18.02 minutes. In the jostling and closely packed first leg, Rod had unfortunately fallen in a clash with another athlete early on in the lap and was frustrated not to have finished faster.
Bob Brimage held Wallasey's 12th position in a time of 18.05 minutes, which was a good time as Bob has not been training very hard this summer due to illness and getting married.
Bob handed on to Alan Smith, the youngest member of the team. Alan ran well to again hold on to our 12th position in a time of 19.07 minutes. Alan's running is improving every week and the coming cross - country season should hold some success for him.
Alan handed over to Noel Williams, who started when the rain was at its heaviest. Noel, who claims road racing is his favourite event, ran a fast 18.51 minutes, finishing strongly and again in 12th place for Pete Jones to start on the fifth leg.
Pete, essentially a track athlete, proved his ability to run further than he is accustomed by running a comfortable, 19.12 minutes, more or less ensuring our 12th position.
Lenny Durkin, Wallasey's most active veteran, ran the sixth and final leg ensuring our 12th position with a time of 20.51 minutes and with the rain still pouring down.
Liverpool Harriers, the National Six-Stage Road Relay Champions, won the event easily.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 18/09/1976
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