Highlight of the West Lancashire championships, held at Blackburn last Saturday, was the emergence of Wallasey A.C. junior team as a force to be reckoned with in northern cross-country circles.
In an exciting 6-mile race in which the winner was disqualified for running 300 yards short. Wallasey fought out a tense battle with Waterloo A.C.
The team prize, which seemed safe at the 4-mile mark, became doubtful when Alan Keating suffered an attack of stomach cramp and fell back 6 places over the remaining 2 miles.
When the team cards were handed in, Wallasey had scored 46 points, Waterloo 47, Liverpool Harriers 74, and Liverpool Pembroke 72, to give the local team the winning score by the odd point.
This was a TEAM triumph in which the club's four counting members ran as two pairs. Barrie Smith and Alan Keating were in the leading half for most of the race, while Ken Rosso and Mike McNamee shared a similar situation a few places further back.
The final placings were: Barrie Smith 7th, Ken Rosso 11th, Alan Keating 13th and Mike McNamee 15th and this kind of team work can prove fruitful in the Northern Counties Championships to be held at Eccles next week.
Melvin Schless ran a good race to finish 4th in the boys race, as did his team with Colin Reiners 21st and the even younger Bob Brimage 37th. Peter Lewis never seemed happy in the muddy conditions and could only manage 44th place, well below his potential.
Lockley showed that he is still not back to full fitness by coming 10th, although the standard in this event was high this year.
Mike Weatherilt had his best performance of 20th place nullified by an indifferent run from the usually reliable Johnny Jones, who is going through a bad patch and could no better than 34th place with Steve Walker sandwiched between them in 24th place.
The senior event over nine miles was a race for those strong in heart as well as limb and as the club started short of a full team only Brian Woolford completed the course, the remaining four pulling out at various stages of the race. Brian followed a predictable pattern starting slowly and working his way through the field to finish in 9th position.
Five clubs Sefton, Wirral, Waterloo, Warrington and Kirkby have accepted invitations
to meet Wallasey A.C. in an inter-club cross-country fixture at Leasowe today.
The first race will be at 2:30 p.m. and the club requires as many stewards and officials as possible to be present at H.Q. at 2 p.m. prompt
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 04/02/1967 by DISCOBOLUS
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