Wallasey Athletic Club competed with only mixed success in last Saturday's West Lancashire Cross-Country Championships at Hoghton, near Preston.
The highlight of the day was Alan Howard's runaway victory in the boys' race, which was the first event. The leaders ran off the course and after about a quarter of a mile on the road, came back on to the course. Howard took advantage of this lapse to improve from 8th to 2nd place on the road. Running very freely on a heavy and muddy course, he went into the lead about a mile from the end and finished an easy winner, nearly 30 yards ahead.
The Wallasey team - which only a few weeks before had been virtually non-existent backed up well with Roy Voller 18th, John Howard 22nd and Billy Gregory 29th, scoring 70 points to take second team medals. Some of the credit for this success must go to club coach Bob McCaig for the trouble he has taken.
In the youth race the club were unable to field a full team, but two club members run as individuals, Billy Morris who ran a sound race to finish 17th, and John Young, who was some 10 places further back.
The junior team, although without the services of Ron Barlow, finished fourth. Tony Townsend, 25th had an off day. Dave White, 16th, was first club man home Tony's brother, Phil Townsend, was a few places behind him at 27th place and Ian Hunter, was the fourth and final counter. It is hoped that all these lads can strike form next Saturday in the Northern Counties Championships.
Biggest disappointment was the absence from the senior race of John Wright who is down with jaundice and may not be fit enough to compete in the remaining championships this season - a great pity after the brilliant form he had shown four weeks ago. In his absence the race was won by M. Morrell of Wirral Athletic Club. Wallasey had five competitors, who had to runas individuals being one short of a team. First man up was Brian Woolford, 14th, followed by Hugh Pritchard, 25th, Dave Standfast, 30th and Neil Arthur.
Today at club H.Q., a training run is to be held, commencing at 3 p.m.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/02/1959 by R.J.
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