The windswept spaces of Arrowe Park in Birkenhead provided the testing ground for many Wallasey athletes last weekend.
St. Anselm's College were celebrating their centenary year by inviting schools from all over the country to compete in cross-country events. Schools from as far away as Scotland in the north and across The Channel from France provided the largest schools' event for many years in these parts.
Among the competitors were many members of Wallasey Athletic Club representing their school, Mosslands.
Four races of varying distances, from under 12s to under 19s were contested and Wallasey was represented well in three of them.
The second race, over one lap of two and a half miles, saw around 400 finishers. Among them and finishing in a position which did much to emphasise his new approach to training and competition was Mike King. Hugh Samuel was chasing hard but just could not summon up the speed and power his size might lead you to believe he had.
Further adrift but many places higher than even he would have admitted to being able to achieve three months ago was Nigel Thompson. The improvement in his running recently has certainly inspired others to keep at it. Paul Backhouse and Mike Yates both had below par runs but still did extremely well to the in the top third of the field.
Not doing as well as the younger runners, the club members still managed to finish in the top third of the field in the four-miler. Andrew Pennington lead them home closely pursued by one of the club's up and coming 400 metre exponents, Neil Henfrey. Only a few places again behind Neil was Ian Wiggins, just returning after a cold had stopped him training for a while. A long way back then was Rob Haworth, a relative newcomer to the club, who when he has training under control, will surely have much more to offer.
As if four miles were not enough, another mile was tagged on to the under-19 race. Around 350 finished this race and each, of our club members were inside the first 100.
Leading them home and making a return to the country in his usual club position was Peter Doyle. Dave Pendleton, who has run so well of late in road races was only a short way behind and further behind again was the club's 400 metre hurdler Steve Henfrey.
Each of these athletes are coached by members of Wallasey Athletic Club some qualified coaches and other senior athletes and parents who have decided to help fill the gaps caused by the swelling membership. The coaching takes on many forms and covers many events within the club, so the newcomer will always be assured of a place with a coach.
We meet on a Monday and Tuesday at the Wallasey Rugby Club in Carr Lane, just off Leasowe Road, sessions starting around 7.15 p.m. or at the Woodchurch track in Birkenhead on a Wednesday, again starting around 7.15 pm. Anyone interested, whatever age over 11 and whatever standard, will me made welcome.
This weekend sees the club's male membership represented in the first of the Liverpool & District League runs at Clarkes Garden in Liverpool, the first of many races over the country at which the club will be represented.
RESULTS
KM Computing Cup (for boys under 14): Mike King 35th: Hugh Samuel 36th; Nigel Thompson 55th; Paul Backhouse 114th; Mike Yates 123rd.
Mason Owen Cup (for boys under 16): Andrew Pennington 101st: Neil Henfrey 104th: Ian Wiggins 110th: Rob Haworth 248th.
Royal Trophy (for boys under 19): Peter Doyle 29th: Dave Pendleton 40th; Steve Henfrey 97th.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 22/10/1983 by DOUG HANNA
Ref 1987