With 230 runners finishing the course in last Saturday's 7½-mile Waterloo Road race, and the field including such well-known athletes from far afield, it was a great performance by Wallasey Athletic Club to finish third in the team event with Ron Barlow and John Wright running magnificently into third and fourth individual positions.
The leading positions a mile after the massed start were occupied by Gerry North, the present inter - counties cross-country champion and winner of a big race in Belgium the previous Sunday ex-world record holder Derek Ibbotson and Wallasey's John Wright. Ibbotson was evidently very fit and at approximately three miles he and North had succeeded in dropping Wright, with Barlow fourth a further 50 yards or so behind. The pace was very fast and unrelenting and in the last mile and a half North pulled steadily away from Ibbotson while Barlow succeeded in catching John Wright to finish in third position some fifty yards behind Ibbotson.
Meanwhile Brian Woolford had been running his usual strong race and he finished 25th to ensure Wallasey being third team and comfortably the first Liverpool & District Club to finish. Longwood Harriers, led by Derek Ibbotson, were the first team, with Manchester A.C. second, a few points ahead of Wallasey.
Barlow and Wright are clearly the best performers on Merseyside at present and some great tussles can he expected between these two when the championships are held in January. Billy Morris in finishing 92nd, was one of the first juniors home.
On Sunday, Carl Gee competed in the meeting at Wavertree Playground for field events athletes and won the discus with a throw of 123' 9'. These meetings, are held each month and any interested members are advised to contact Carl Gee at 78 King Street Wallasey (tel Wallasey 5129). Today Wallasey A.C. organise the Wallasey Schoolboys' race from their own club headquarters at Leasowe Road.
Next Saturday they will be hosts to all the other Merseyside clubs in the third and final mob run. This will be held over a seven-mile course of country, and as many members and friends as possible will be welcome. Inquiries regarding membership
should be addressed to the hon. sec. Matt Smith, 29 Beechwood Avenue, or Bob McCaig, 30 Taunton Road (New Brighton 1632).
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 19/11/1960
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