The fine weather of last Saturday morning soon turned into a steady drizzle when four runners set out on the six mile journey from St. Asaph to Rhyl.
A class field of athletes, including internationals Brian Craig (Blackpool) and Michael Freary (Bolton), ensured a fast initial pace which spread the field out after a mile. Craig and Freary dominated the race from the start but they had to share the lead for the first two miles with Shelley (North Staffs.) and Hargreaves (Royton). Brian Woolford led a chasing group about 60 yards behind the leaders and Kevin Mather and Ron Barlow were running easily about twenty places further back.
At four miles Freary and Craig had pulled right away from the others, Hargreaves had fallen back and Woolford had moved into fourth place behind Shelley.
Mather too, was moving through rapidly but the team race was beyond doubt even at this stage, as Blackpool had all three counters running well up. The two leaders continued to open the gap but could not shake each other off and first Freary and then Craig would try to leave the other.
As they reached the promenade Craig snatched a narrow lead which he managed to hold to the finish opposite the Pavilion, Craig set a new record for the course of 33 mins. 42 secs. with Freary second in 33 mins. 45 secs. The old record of 34 mins. 33 secs. was held by Fred Norris (Bolton). Third position was taken by Shelley with Wallasey's Brian Woolford fourth a few yards behind. Kevin Mather was ninth and Ron Barlow twenty-ninth.
The team race was won by Blackpool followed by Pembroke, North Staffs and Wallasey.
Today the Northern Cross-Country Championships are being held at Bingley. It is a sad reflection on Wallasey enthusiasm that only Brian Woolford has decided to run.
Last Sunday, a group from the Wallasey Club made the journey to Warrington for the second of their winter track meets, Kevin Mather winning the senior three-quarter mile race in 3 mins. 11.8 secs. and Carl Gee winning the discus with a throw of 104 ft. 10 ins.
In his first season as a junior, John Morley did well to lead most of the way in the 330 yards before being overhauled in the home straight to finish a creditable second in 41.3 seconds.
In the senior three-quarter mile Wallasey's Kevin Mather went to the line with Sale's international miler Mike Beresford as his closest rival, From the gun Kevin slotted into third position, close behind Beresford and one of Manchester's runners who I made the pace for the first two laps. At the beginning of the third and final lap Beresford surged ahead taking Mather with him and splitting the field wide open. With 220 yards to go Wallasey's runner eased past his rival, who hung on gamely to the tape but could not overhaul Mather, who won in the good time of 3 mins. 11.8 seconds.
Wallasey's field men also had a good day in their first open competition. Bernie Glass scored second place both in the shot and discus with 39 ft, 11 ins. and 115 ft. 1 in. respectively, whilst Harry Amis made third place in the discus with 114 ft. 4 ins. In the senior events, Carl Gee had very much his own way, winning both shot and discus easily with 39 ft. 1 in. and 124 ft. 10 ins. All these performances were the worst for a blustery cold wind which persisted all afternoon, turning to rain later in the meeting.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 17/02/1962 by P.W.C. & C.W G.
Ref 1275