Both the men's and women's sections of Wallasey Athletic Club were concerned in road relay events last week-end, the men in the 4 x 3.6 miles relay at Warrington on Saturday, while the ladies competed in the Northern Road Relays at Farnworth on Sunday.
Some of the country's finest runners were at Warrington, where a field of 58 teams set off in cold, blustery conditions, on the first lap of a '4-leg' relay.
Dave Lockley returned an excellent 18 min. 20 secs, to put the 'A' team into 18th position.
Following such a good start it was almost inevitable that a team without club captain Barrie Smith, the peerless John and Phil Wealthy , who excels on the road circuits, would suffer a set-back and it was no surprise to see both teams slip back to 30th and 39th respectively, despite a good run from Len Durkin on the final leg for the 'B' team, on which he recorded 20-11 which proved to be the second fastest time of the eight runners from Wallasey AC.
Full details:
'A' team: D. Lockley, 18th (18.20); M. Teehan, 30th (20.30); P. Lewis, 31st (20. 14); D. Hanna, 30th (21.10). 'B' team: M. Whiteside, 44th (20.15); D. Adair, 48th (22.30): I. Wilson. 49th (23.15); L. Durkin. 39th (20.11).
In four short seasons, Barbara Banks has progressed from last in her first cross-country race to Northern Counties champion. Wallasey's sports personality of 1969 and International runner supreme.
Her run at Farnworth last Sunday was no exception. She took the first leg in a road relay in which three girls each ran a two-mile leg, and left her two nearest challengers, both internationals, wallowing over 250 yards behind her.
Barbara passed responsibility to Sheana O'Dell who accepted 77 seconds ahead of one of three internationals who made up the Bury and Radcliffe team and held off a stray challenge to hand over to an injured Margaret Ashcroft with 41 seconds to spare.
Members are reminded that track sessions are at 7.30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 11/04/1970
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