Wallasey Athletic Club members contributed a large proportion of the points towards Oldershaw Grammar School's victory in the senior boys section of the Wallasey Schools Championships held at Oldershaw last Saturday.
Double firsts came from Ian Wilson, who broke the meeting record for the 100 yds. with a fine 10.6 secs., although helped by a following wind, and then went to take the 220 yds. with an equally creditable 23.7 secs., and Melvin Schless, who won the 880 yds. slowing down in 2 mins. 7.8 secs., which allowed him enough steam to take the mile with 4 mins. 47.8 secs.
Although from different schools - Wallasey Technical Grammar and Oldershaw Grammar - club-mates - Peter Byrne and Peter Lewis fought out a hotly contested quarter-mile with the former just taking the verdict in 54 secs. to the latter's 54.1, with only a yard between them.
In the intermediate mile prospective members D. Rogers of the Wallasey Grammar School proved to be too strong for the field and won easily in 5 mins. 6.1 secs., with Bob Brimage recording a personal best 5:12 in second place.
Terry Fleming won the intermediate shot with 36' 1½'; but unaccountably slumped to a poor 108 feet in his better event, the discus, and could only manage a fourth placing.
Not the greatest of sprinters, Pat Robertson ran a sound tactical race in the girls' 880 yds. Using her greater strength to draw any sting which might have been present in the field she pushed it hard to the 660 yds mark and ran in on her own in 2 mins. 43 secs.
Second to Pat was Rosa Thomas (2:46) whom we are used to seeing in the shorter events and long jump, but this venture into the 'middle distance' could be a pointer for a number of girls who just fall short of the required speed in the sprinting events and with a little endeavor and perseverance, could come up with some surprising results in these events.
Whilst Len Durkin makes his debut in marathon running to-day in the Liverpool event, club secretary Brian Woolford makes his return after nearly two years' absence from this most testing of endurance events.
Brian has built his mileage up gradually since a bad hamstring injury laid him of in 1965 and although he insists that he is only running to 'finish' today, those who know him well will not be surprised if he not only finishes, but is well up with the leader's at the end of this 26 mile 385 yds., bitter-sweet course.
The club makes a minor invasion of Denbigh tomorrow. No fewer than seven car loads of runners (and their families) will disgorge at Foel Glap Farm, which is the house of club chairman John Edwards, and in handicapped sequence will start on the three mile tortuous hill course, known to club members as the 'Denbigh Switch Back'.
An additional prize will awarded this time, for the runner reducing his (or her) personal-best time for the course by the greatest margin, the only stipulation being two previous runs over the course.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 15/07/1967 by DISCOBOLUS
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