Wallasey Athletic Club runners gained their seventh victory last Saturday when they placed five in the first seven positions in the annual Port Sunlight open road race contested over six miles of Lever estate at Port Sunlight.
With Ron Barlow again in great form and repeating his win over Lancashire county runner Denis Hopkinson in the individual race, Wallasey were in control from the start as miler Kevin Mather led the way round the first of the four 1¾ mile laps with Hopkinson of Clayton-le-Moors and Wallasey's John Wright and Ron Barlow in close attendance, and Brian Woolford and Brian Chalton moving up.
The second lap soon saw Barlow take the initiative from Hopkinson to win eventually by 60 yards in a time of 30 minutes 11 seconds compared with 30:28 by Hopkinson. John Wright was third in 30:53.
Meanwhile Woolford had put in his powerful mid-distance running to finish fourth in 31 minutes 5 seconds and with Brian Chalton fifth in 31:23 and Kevin Mather 7th in 31:37 the familiar red vests of Wallasey A.C. almost monopolised the head of the field.
Other Wallasey competitors were John Young, who in finishing 21st in a time of 32 minutes 25 secs. produced his best running for some time; and Roy Parry who made a welcome return to athletics after a break of many years. Although retiring after 5 miles Parry showed all his old verve and style and with his addition to Townsend and Young, Wallasey hopes must be high that in the next twelve months they will find that elusive sixth counter which could bring the Wallasey team up to full national class.
Whilst Wallasey's seniors have been engaged in road running during recent weeks their youths and boys competed a fortnight ago in a 4 x 1 mile cross-country relay at Warrington which attracted a large entry including several southern clubs such as Thames Valley Harriers.
The youth team particularly ran very creditably in a field of 17 teams when they finished in 7th place, with Cheshire youth champion Peter Meldrum turning in the fastest lap of the day with a time of 4 mins. 40 secs. Other Wallasey times were David Martin 4:59 a good lap this; Harry Amis 5:19, and Mike Teehan 5:38.
In the boys race Wallasey finished 26th of 36, with the Wallasey times being Robin Tarrant 5:56, S. Parry 6:16, L. Watcham 6:21 and A. Bell 5:51.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/04/1963 by R.M.C.
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