August and September are months of pleasant inactivity for most local athletes as the track season is now finished and the cross-country season does not start properly until November.
However, a few runners from Wallasey have been entering road races with a road deal of success the most prominent being Brian Woolford, who has shown himself to be a runner of the very highest standard on the road. Four members, Brian Woolford, Kevin Mather, Ron Barlow and Billy Morris travelled to Bury to take part in the second annual Y.M.C.A. relay of 4 x 3¾ miles. In spite of below-form runs by the last three runners, the club managed to take third place behind Rochdale and Bolton, only to find that prizes were awarded to the first two teams and not as more usual to the first three. A week later Brian Woolford travelled to Bradford for the 'Steel, Poech and Tozers' 9 mile race over a hilly course. Brian ran magnificently to take third place behind E.G. Matley (cross-country international) and P. Wilkinson (International marathon runner). The winner completed the course in 45 mins. 15 secs. and Brian recorded 45 minutes 54 secs., only 5 secs. behind Wilkinson.
Woolford improved on this performance however last Saturday by leading his team to victory in the Port Sunlight 15 mile road race. Brian completed the three lap course in 1 hr, 20 mins. 40 secs, a minute ahead of second man S. Sykes (Longwood). 1 hr, 21 mins. 47 secs. International road runner Haslam was third in 1 hr, 23 mins.13 secs. Wallasey won the team race with 14 points, the other counting, club runners were Ron Barlow (5th) and Kevin Mather (8th), who recorded 1 hr, 25 mins. 1 sec. and 1 hr 26 mins. 37 secs. respectively.
All the Wallasey runners were competing in their first 15 mile road race and must be congratulated on their fine performances. Brian Woolford, especially, has shown that regular and conscientious training reaps considerable dividends.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 23/09/1961 by P.W.C.
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