Three young members of Wallasey Athletic Club, running in the Inter-Counties Championships held at Trentham Gardens, Stoke, last Saturday, pulled off a feat which can never been equalled in the club's history.
John Wright, Ron Barlow and Pete White, running in the black-and-gold vests of Cheshire, finished in 30th, 38th and 48th positions, and played no small part in Cheshire's unprecedented gain of third place in the team championships, defeating the mighty and much-fancied Yorkshire, Lancashire and Middlesex teams.
The positions of these three may not at first sight seem very exciting but when one considers that at least three hundred competitors started, comprising the first ten in, each of the various county championships it will be seen that it was a very strong field and their performance was no mean feat.
The course comprised three laps of 2½ miles and each lap included a steep hill on which the runners reputedly climbed some three hundred feet with a correspondingly steep drop the other side. The going was fairly soft as much was over gravel pits. All in all it was a very exhausting business. At the end of one lap Ron Barlow and John Wright were up with the stars, and it was to their credit that after another 5 miles at the amazing pace set in this type of championship, they were still well within a reasonable distance of the leaders.
It should be mentioned in passing that the famous Gordon
Pirie could only finish 70th on this 'killer' course. I do not think any of us thought we would ever see the day when three Wallasey runners would finish in front of Pirie.
To day the club travel to Wavertree for the Liverpool & District Championships, and if present form is continued I feel we should supply the individual winners in both the senior and junior events and should not have much difficulty in carrying off the junior team prize. However, form can be very erratic, and even if there is no snow at 'The Mystery', it is now obvious that the going will be very tricky.
Youths and boys should meet at Liverpool Pier Head at 12.45. Juniors and seniors should gather at the same place at 1.30 Buses to take are Nos. 76 and 79.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 25/01/1958 by SPIKE
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