During last cross-country season Wallasey Athletic Club saw very little of Ray Scammell. He turned out fairly regularly for the club races and though he had definitely improved he certainly never looked like winning any of the runs.
However, Ray was no longer primarily interested in cross-country, his ambitions had turned towards marathon running. He started to train every day, sometimes twice a day, gradually building up the distance until he was sometimes covering 15-20 miles per day. Now Ray feels he is ready to race over 20 miles of hard road running, for he has entered for the 20-mile road race to be held in May by Concliffe Harriers, of Dublin. The club would like to wish Ray well, and even if he does not bring back the
'An tostal' trophy awarded to the winner, he will at least return with all-important experience and Wallasey A.C.'s red vest will have appeared,
perhaps for the first time, on Irish soil.
Wallasey has only one other marathon runner, namely Mr. Frank Ledward. Mr. Ledward, who holds the club mile record and marathon record, is also a very keen runner who is prepared to devote much of his spare time to a sport which demands far more training miles than one is ever likely to race, indeed many marathon runners race only twice during the whole season. Mr. Ledward was extremely unlucky last year in that during the Polytechnic Marathon (from Windsor to Chiswick) during which Jim Peters broke the world record, he badly hurt his ankle and so his training and racing programme was badly curtailed.
Mr. Ledward is now fit again and is training and racing. hard at an age when most people are thinking about pipes, slippers and armchairs, even wheelchairs.
The track runners are starting their summer activities again though we are still seriously hampered by the lack of a track. However, members appear seem to have partly overcome this difficulty and are training hard on the facilities available.
A sure sign of spring appeared last week when two lady members turned out at Leasowe for their training.
There is plenty of room for new ,members however, who have nothing to lose but a few extra pounds in weight and everything to gain in the form of good health. Anyone interested should contact either the club hon. sec., Mr. R. F. Hubbard. 44 Tollemache Street, New Brighton; or the track sec. Mr. C. Gee, 78 King Street, Wallasey or come along to club H.Q. at Leasowe Playing Fields on any Monday, Wednesday or Saturday were they will be assured of a welcome.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 23/04/1955 by SPIKE
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