Wallasey Athletic Club's youth and junior team travel to Bedford for the English cross-country championships to be held at R.A.F. Cardington.
This year there has been a record entry of 2,570 runners in the three races and Wallasey's men will be up against England's foremost cross-country runners. Of course we do not expect to be in the first three teams in either race but the youths are confident they will improve on last year's 21st position, no mean feat against 86 teams, and the juniors should also give a good account of themselves.
The senior race will however be the event of the day for with runners such as Gordon Pirie, Peter Driver, Ken Norris and Ken Yates in the race we should see a most exciting fight between men who must be the world's best cross-country runners.
Of Wallasey's runners I must single out for mention Roy Shaw and Roy Parry.
Roy Shaw, the youth captain, has run consistently well this year, his second place in the West Lancashire championship and 13th in the Northern, must mean that he will be well in the running for a good place in the National, were the first 25 home are considered excellent prospects for honours when they grow older.
Roy Parry has been very unlucky this year, having been twice hit by injuries in important championships, however, if he has recovered from his collapse in the Northern, when he was struck down by severe cold he should also constitute a challenge to the leaders.
Of the two teams the youths will perhaps finish higher up in the results list, as they are all at the top age for their age group and with runners such as Bill Farrell, Ian McIvor, Pete White and Brian Woolford on form, they have a fairly strong team.
Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Mr. R.F. Hubbard, 44 Tollemache Street, Wallasey, or Mr. Woolley, 8 Bradman Road, Moreton.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 05/03/1955 by SPIKE
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