The road handicap held by Wallasey A.C. served to further convince me that the club is going to be a very powerful force in local cross-country circles this winter.
The weather was perfect when Mr. Sandy Young, the club ex-president, sent the runners off on the four-mile course of road and promenade, the race soon developed into a fierce struggle for the lead. At first Tony Townsend headed the pack, but he soon relinquished the position to Ron Barlow, who was in turn passed by John Wright and Pete White, after about a mile, and these two finally built up a lead of about a minute on the remainder of the field.
Pete forced the pace for the rest of the race, only to blow up with about 200 yards to go, and was passed very strongly by John Wright, who had run very intelligently and won with a well-timed burst. In third position was Ron Barlow, in fourth place was Dave White, fifth was Phil Townsend, registering his first victory this season
To-day sees the opening of the league competition, and Wallasey have drawn Wirral and Warrington as their first opponents. The course will be the same as used for the Waterloo match, though it should by now have dried out a little. It has enough mud to keep it interesting - a stream or two, several stretches of rough grassland and about three-quarters of a mile of footpath to suit the speed merchants.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 19/10/1957 by SPIKE
Ref 2476