The Cheshire County Cross-Country Championships last Saturday saw Wallasey Athletic Club saw the senior team sadly depleted, Two members weres laid low with injuries
and flu. A last minute check-up on team strength found that with Barlow and Wright recovering from flu we were in a position to gain a place at least.
The start of the race on a fast course saw a pack of Wallasey and Wirral runners in the lead. Fortunes were passed and repassed with Biddle of Wirral, Woolford of Wallasey, Cranny
and Wright all fighting it out. It might be said of all the Cheshire Championships there was never one like this.
At last a pattern was found, Woolford (Wallasey) took the lead and held on until the last mile from home. It was omly then that Cranny (Wirral) took over the lead on a gradient. He made a superb tactical burst that opened up a gap of 20 yards and held on to win strongly from Woolford by 50 yards. Third man was Biddle of Wirral and fourth J. Wright (Wallasey).
It might be mentioned that the unplaced Wallasey runner H. Pritchard, travelled from Tynemouth for this race and is to be congratulated on his performance and for turning out. K. Mather, Townsend and Young all ran well to complete Wallasey's team.
K. Poyning an old Wallasey A.C. member and now a regular army man entered for the Army A.A. and did very well by finishing 8th.
Official results: Team 1st Wirral 52 points (1,3,6,12,14,16); 2nd Wallasey 73 points (2,4,9,10,15,33); 3rd Sale 180 points. Individual Cranny, Wirral A.C. (41:39); 2nd Woolford, Wallasey A.C. (41:46); 3rd Biddle, Wirral A.C. (41:53).
In the youths race the club managed a team in spite of a host of absentees caused mainly by sickness. Meldrum finished 11th, Martin 18th, Morley 25th and Davies 32nd. Davies turned out untrained after a foot operation to complete the team which was 4th.
A final decision of the judges has enabled Woolford to be selected for the Cheshire team to run at Leicester next Saturday, January 20th. Tony Townsend is reserve. K. Poyning of Army A.A. is also included.
Today's championships are at Kirkby where the Liverpool & District Cross-Country Union stage their annual event. Members should meet at Pier Head at 12:30 p.m. at travel to St. Gregory's School, Kirkby on the 93 bus.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/01/1962 by C.R.H.
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