Wallasey Athletic Club's senior team wound up their road racing season with an excellent performance in finishing in third place last Saturday in the Blackpool Memorial Road Relay, which was won by the famous Southern club Belgrave Harriers, led by English international Gerry North, Bolton U.H. were second.
The merit of the Wallasey performance can be judged from the fact that such well-known teams as Manchester And District L.C.H., Rochdale, Rotheram and Longwood all finished behind them, and all of these clubs will be competing in the annual Manchester to Blackpool relay, for which Wallasey's application has been rejected.
The Wallasey team altered their running order to get into the race from the start and Ron Barlow on the first stage broke right away to hand over in the lead with the fast time of 23 mins. 7 secs, John Wright kept Wallasey in the lead by some 400 yards, but Roy Parry on lap 3 unfortunately did not produce his normal running and lost four places. Brian Woolford ran brilliantly to restore Wallasey to second place, in 23 mins, 1 sec., but despite a well-run lap Brian Chalton could not prevent Wallasey from being relegated to third place, due to a brilliant run by Bolton international Mike Freary who recorded the fastest time of the day with 22 mins. 7 secs., Chaltons time being 24 mins, 3 secs. With Belgrave and Bolton in unassailable positions, Kevin Mather had to concentrate on keeping Wallasey in third position, finishing in 24 mins. 13 secs.
The total times of the first three clubs for the 28 ½ mile course were Belgrave 139 mins. 2 secs., Bolton 139 mins. 43 secs., Wallasey 142 mins. 23 secs.
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Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 25/04/1964
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