A team of eight Wallasey athletes travelled to Hartford last weekend for the Women's Cheshire AAA. Championships. Although the rain held off for most of the afternoon, it was cold and bleak and a strong headwind along the finishing straight certainly didn't improve times.
The sprint events were undoubtedly worst affected by the conditions, and in the junior 100 metres, Pat Simpson ran really well to win her heat in 15.1 secs. and qualify for the semi-final. Gillian Ackers ran a very commendable third in another heat, in a time of 15.9 secs, but unfortunately just missed qualifying for the semi-final. Pat then came third in the semi-final, just missing a place in the final.
Sylvia Brimage made a grave error in mistaking the 800 metres heat for the final. She won her heat in fine style only to find she had still to run again, But somehow she found extra strength to run a totally well-judged race to come second. She was fast closing on the leader at the end, and one can't help but wonder if the result would have been different had she just 'run to qualify' in the heat.
There were two of our intermediates competing, Carol Huston, who came 5th in the long jump with a leap of 13ft. 14½ ins., but who has still to find her old form after a spell of illness, and Eunice Coombes, who put the shot 22ft. 4½ins. to come third.
In the senior section, Sheila Clark long-jumped. 14ft. 2½ins., while Margaret Ashcroft and Barbara Banks both ran in the 1500 metres. Barbara came 2nd in 4 mins. 48.9 secs., three seconds behind the winner Jane Perry, and Margaret finished 3rd. in 5 mins. 20.8 secs. That being the end of the meeting the sun then started to shine.
Meanwhile Mike Teahan and Alan Cheers were taking part in an inter-club at Sale. Alan came second in the triple jump, javelin event.
Tomorrow, as part of Wallasey Festival of Sport, Wallasey Athletic Club presents the third annual road relay. Entries have been received from clubs from all over the North; including Bolton, Wallasey, Wakefield, Stoke, Horwich R.M.I.,Waterloo, Wirral, Liverpool, Sutton, Pembroke and others. There are four 2½ mile laps between Egremont Pier and the War Memorial, add the quality of the running and the keen competition for the valuable prizes should provide a race well worth watching. There is also a 2½ mile youths' race, in which there are prizes for the first three teams and first three individuals, In the senior race the prizes are for first three teams and fastest laps.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Friday, 06/06/1969 by B.B.
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