The big athletics event this weekend takes place at London's White City Stadium today and on Whit Monday when the inter-counties championships will be incorporated with the British Games meeting.
Wallasey's main interest will be in Len Platt who last year won the long jump title for Cheshire and who is again representing his county in this event as well as for the high jump and 100- yards sprint.
Judging from early season form Platt will have his work cut out in the long jump as P. Whaley has already topped Len's best jump last season by 5in. with a leap of 23ft. 11ins., while one or two others have exceeded 23ft. As the field includes at least half a dozen athletes capable of over 23ft., it will no doubt be the inches which will decide this event.
However, although this will be Platt's first competition tbis season he is very fit and can he expected to make a big effort to retain his title.
Although one cannot expect record breaking this early in the season it will be interesting to see if the continually improving standard in athletics will result this summer in the much overdue breaking of Harold Abraham's English native record at 24ft. 2½ins. Platt and one or two other athletes were quite close last year but even a few inches take a lot of achieving when one is already attaining peak distances.
The inclusion of Platt in the high jump and the 100 yards sprint gives an idea of his versatility and his performance in the sprint particularly will be watched with interest as some of us connected with Wallasey A.C. have long thought that he would be a sprinter of distinct promise if he was able to pay more attention to this event.
The club senior 3 mile championship held recently was won in very windy conditions by John Winrow in a time of 18 mins. 2 secs. and he was followed by Ray Scammell and Dennis Kelly. Club championships to be held next Wednesday evening are the senior 220 yards, junior hop, step and jump, youths' ¼ mile and women's discus throw.
Members are again reminded that the closing date for the Cheshire County championships to be held at Helsby on Saturday, June 6, is next Monday, May 25. application forms being available from Ron Hubbard, 44 TolIemache Street, New Brighton. Coach transport has been arranged and those interested are asked to notify general secretary Carl Gee, 78 King Street. Tel. Wallasey 5129.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 23/05/1953
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