On Saturday a weak contingent of male Wallasey Athletic Club members turned out for the West Lancashire Cross-Country Championships, staged at Sherdley Park, St. Helens. A strong wind greeted them on the parkland, which provided little shelter for athletes and officials alike. The event, although well organised, brought, only a mediocre response from most clubs, including Wallasey A.C.
The first race of the championships was the colts, for boys under 13. Wallasey had only three representatives in this race, with just two managing to complete the two mile course.
Between the boys and youths age groups only three ran for Wallasey. The number of competitors in both of these races was well down compared to last years' championships, held at Clarkes Garden, Liverpool. Wallasey had no athletes participating in the junior men's race.
By the time the senior race was ready to start, the wind had abated slightly. Wallasey's seven seniors had to fight their way around seven and a half miles before crossing the finishing line. Only six of Wallasey's runners finished, enough to make up a team.
The following day three of Wallasey A.C.'s girls journeyed to the women's Northern Counties Cross-Country championships, held at Bradford, West Yorkshire, where athletes from all over the North of England came to compete. Again the ladies where greeted with adverse weather conditions. The sky was overcast and it rained on and off all afternoon.
The organisation of the event was poor, causing chaos and confusion among all the athletes but despite these appalling racing conditions the three girls all had good races.
Like the men's championships, the day previously, there were only relatively small numbers of athletes in each race for a Northern Championship but this does, not degrade the finishing positions of the Wallasey girls.
RESULTS
The West Lancashire Championships:
Colts (2 kilometres): David Neal, 34th (13 mins 46 secs); Ramon Eaton, 50th (14 mins 23 secs).
Boys (2.5 kilometres): Peter Doyle, 21st (14 mins 16 secs).
Youths (four miles) Neil Moore, 47th (29 mins).
Seniors (seven and a half miles): Kevin McGee, 42nd (41 mins 36 secs); Bob Brimage, 47th (41 mins 49 secs); Peter Lonsdale, 78th (41 mins 25 secs); Rob Hanby, 78th (44 mins 12 secs); L. Wardleworth, 124th (50 mins 33 secs); Paul Heaney, 127th (51 mins 53 secs).
Northern Women's Cross-Country Championships, Bradford, West Yorkshire:
Junior - Girls: Lynne Kennedy, 68th.
Intermediate - Women: Janet McGee, 27th; Francesca Phillips, 60th.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 06/02/1982 by PETER DOYLE
Ref 1948