The Northern Counties Cross-Country Championships, held last Saturday at Bingley near Leeds, proved fairly satisfying for local enthusiasts.
The senior race gave Cheshire runner Johnny Wilde a well-deserved win, after a ding-dong battle for the lead for most of the nine miles, but he managed to grind in the opposition with about two miles to go and won comfortably. Wallasey's hope, John Wright, treated this race as a warm-up for the National Championships, to be held at Arrowe Park next Saturday (March 8). he was never out of the first dozen, and in finishing 10th, he beat several well known names. John should do very well next Saturday. Good luck to him.
The Wallasey highlight came in the final race, the 6-mile junior championship, held late in the afternoon experts considered that the team championship lay between Wallasey and the very strong Bramley team. After two laps it was apparent that Bramley were to score a fairly easy victory and also supply the individual winner in Alan Cocking, who is already an international even though he is not yet 21. The next team was Blackpool and Fylde A.C., who had produced two excellent runners, although unknown to local circles. In third place was Wallasey, and only by one point at that.
Our first man up was Ron Barlow, former winner of the youth race, who ran well to finish 3rd, next came Pete White 11th - a little better following the slump after his early season running. Brother Dave White ran up to expectations in 36th place, but seemed a little disappointed himself. Fourth counter, Tony Townsend, has run much better, but don't worry, Tony, it wasn't really your course and you didn't let the club down.
Today, club members travel to Arrowe Park for a friendly club run with Wirral A.C., anyone wishing to have a look at the course beforehand, should meet at Birkenhead Fire Station, at 2 p.m.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 01/03/1958 by SPIKE
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