At Port Sunlight Oval today, Wallasey A.C. will make their first bid of the season for championship honours when the Cheshire County Cross-Country Championships will be contested over a 7-mile course.
This race also decides the composition of the team to represent Cheshire in the Inter-County championships to be held at Bingley on January 21, and it is a distinct possibility that Wallasey will have three representatives on that day. Despite, the presence of such runners on Mike Berisford of Sale Harriers (a 4-minute 2 second miler on the track as last runner) and international Johnny Wilde, it is generally expected that the individual race will be fought out by Wallasey runners Ron Barlow and the present champion John Wright.
After many successes in the younger age group, Barlow during the past year appears to have developed into a first-class senior athlete not, lacking in pace, strength or determination. On the track last summer during his Army service he succeeded in lowering his time for the mile and 3 miles to 4 minutes 15 seconds and 14 minutes 1 second respectively, the latter performance being a new Army record.
Over the country this season he has proved far superior to all other Merseyside runners with the exception of clubmate John Wright and it will be interesting to see whether his form and fitness will carry the day against Wright's greater experience.
Brian Woolford can also be expected to challenge for a place in the Cheshire team and with Tony Townsend now available after Army services overseas, Wallasey must also have a good chance of carrying off the honours in the team event.
The Senior race starts at 2-40 p.m. and as many friends and members of the club as possible will be most welcome to give vocal encouragement.
There will also be Boys' and Youth championships, starting at 2-15 and 3-0 p.m. respectively. Today's championships will be followed next Saturday by the Liverpool & District championships, which this year will be held from Pembroke Harriers H.Q. at Kirkby.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/01/1961 by R.M.C.
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