Cheshire champion, Ron Barlow, of Wallasey A.C., turned in his best senior cross-country performance yet in the Northern championships two weeks ago at Witton Park, Blackburn.
Although the field included all the nine Lancashire county team, who won the inter-counties championship, and many other international athletes, he finished in seventh position, ahead of such runners as Brian Hall, Peter Hall and Colin Robinson.
On a treacherous ice-bound course of nine miles he was always in the leading group and his powerful running augurs well for his chances this summer when he joins Brian Woolford in a joint effort to reach the top amongst Britain's marathon runners.
The slippy course appeared to affect Wallasey's runners more than most and John Wright was their only other representative to run well finishing in 20th place.
The race was won by Liverpool Harriers' Mike Turner, who led throughout, and it will be interesting to see whether he can bring his fellow Cambridge runner Tim Johnson's unbeaten record to an end in today's national championship.
Wallasey's Youth team, also found the conditions a bit beyond them, although Peter Meldrum finished a very creditable 11th, supported by Dave Martin, 85th, Tony Parry 100th and Mike Teehan 116th. .
Today sees the last of this season's cross-country championships, and several Wallasey runners will travel to Cambridge for the "National", in which over 1,500 runners are expected to contest the Senior event.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 02/03/1963 by R.M.C.
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