Wallasey Athletic Club secretary Brian Woolford took another step towards regaining his international ranking when he won the Cheshire 20-mile road championship at Huyton last Saturday.
The race, sponsored by Pembroke Harriers, incorporates the Northern, Lancashire and Cheshire championships and was a triumph for Ron Hill who took the two former titles for the sixth consecutive year, whilst Woolford, who started too fast, finished 11th in a total time of 1 hour 52 minutes 50 seconds to Hill's 1:45:38.
The measure of Brian's previous best over this course can be judged by his excellent 1:43:30 on his first appearance some years ago but with a lay-off for almost a complete year with hamstring trouble, he is only just returning to his former fluent style of distance running.
Next Tuesday evening the club compete for the Liverpool Corporation Trophy in the Parks championships at Wavertree Playground, Liverpool.
Last year Wallasey were placed second, their highest ever position in this event, in which a dozen local clubs take part, so an all-out effort will be needed to wrest the cup from the habitual winners Liverpool Harriers.
A three sided match last week between Wallasey Athletic Club, Wallasey Grammar School and Oldershaw and Technical Grammar Schools combined resulted in a draw, with the club and W.G.S. both on 23 points and the Old Tech team with 17 points.
As the track has not been rolled or marked, the sprinters had to be content with a 100 yards event, and the 220 yds., 440 yds., and relay were cancelled.
After a false start, Allen (W.G.S.) led the 100 yards sprint for 90 yards, but was pipped on the post by Lane (O.T.) with Kin (W.G.S.) third. All three were given 10.6 seconds.
In the 880 yds. Keating and Hanna led throughout the entire race, finishing in that order, with 2 minutes 5.5 seconds to 2:06.6 and Lewis (O.T.) third in a personal best of 2:09.
The mile proved to be the best race of the evening, with Smith and Lockley (W.A.C.) locked together with Jones (W.G.S.) for the last two laps, and Schless (O.T.) always within striking distance a few yards to the rear.
Going into the final bend, Jones turned on the heat, taking Smith with him, whilst Lockley, although striving hard to get up with the leaders could make little impression on them.
At the post it was Jones by a fraction from Smith, with Lockley barely a yard behind them. The grammar school runner clocked 4 mins. 34.8 secs. (a personal best), Smith and Lockley were both given 4:35, and Schless knocked eight seconds off his previous best time in fourth position at 4:38.
The pick of the field events was the javelin, Taylor (W.G.S.) scoring the poor conditions with INCOMPLETE need rescan.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 27/05/1967
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