Wallasey A.C. had a most successful afternoon at the B.I. Cables athletic track at Helsby, last Saturday, gaining nine Cheshire titles.
This is the club's best haul yet in the County championships and it is worthy of note that since the war Wallasey have each year won more first places than any other club.
As was to be expected Wallasey's, most successful athlete was Len Platt, who succeeded in winning the 100 yards as well as retaining his titles in the high and long jumps and hop, step and jump. Performances generally were only moderate owing to the spongy condition of the grass track which resulted in the six new county records being mainly confined to the throwing events. Platt won the high jump quite comfortably with a new record height of 5ft. 9ins. with clubmate Matt Smith in third place, and then went on to take the 100 yards title from R. A. Brennan of East Cheshire Harriers. He won by about a foot in a time of 10.4 secs. and so justified his Cheshire selection for this event in the recent inter-counties championships. Platt then won the long jump with a leap of 21ft. 10ins, which was quite a respectable distance in view of the boggy condition of the run up and finally took the hop, step and jump with a distance of 43ft. 7½is. He did exceptionally well to beat the young Wirral star Alan Reeve, who is the A.A.A, junior record holder for this event. As Platt now concentrates on the long jump it was considered likely that he would be beaten in this event particularly in view of his efforts in the other events.
However, although Reeve was rather unfortunate in that he equalled Platt 43ft. 7½ins. with his last jump, Len's distances in his other five jumps were generally better than Reeve's and he was judged the winner by virtue of his second best jump.
In the junior mile Don Anderson retained the title he won last year after a really great race in which he and Roy Parry were soon up in front. Evidently considering that the race was being run a little too slowly, Anderson quickened the pace in the second and third laps but Batty of Sefton Harriers was not to be shaken off and the last 150 yards saw a really terrific struggle with Anderson just holding on to win in the fast time for the conditions of 4 mins. 38 secs. This was one of Anderson's finest performances as although he was obviously tiring, he showed great courage and tenacity over the last stretch to cross the line only two to three feet-ahead.
Another splendid performance was that of Margaret Collings who won the women's high jump with a new Cheshire record height of 4ft. 9ins., which equals the Northern standard for this event. Margaret used the old fashioned scissors style and would certainly reach National Standard if she were to master the more difficult western roll style of jumping.
Matt Smith also had a successful meeting as in addition to being third in the high jump, he was placed second in the pole vault and won the 120 yards high hurdles in the good time of 17.1 seconds.
Bob Fullerton put in his usual strong finish in the final of the quarter mile to win by some yards in 54.6 seconds.
John McGill won the junior long jump with a good leap of 18ft. 4½ ins. to confirm the promise he showed last summer, and it seems clear that it will not be long before he is topping the 20ft. mark,
Wallasey's successes were completed with a second place in the discus by Carl Gee, who is improving steadily and will surely reach 120ft. sometime this summer. He has the necessary physique for this event and his technique has noticeably improved over the last few months.
Marathon runner, Frank Ledward travels to London today for the Polytechnic Marathon which will be run as usual from Windsor to Chiswick and will be started by General Freyberg, V.C.
Ledward is now steadily approaching peak fitness - nothing less will suffice for this toughest of all athletic events - and at 48 shows surprising ability which is a real example to the younger members of the club.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/06/1953 by R.M.
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