In the annual Cheshire cross-country championships held at the Port Sunlight Oval on Saturday over a fairly flat, but muddy course, Wallasey Athletic Club was represented in all four age groups and finished a team in two of them.
In the colts' race for under-14 over about 1¼ miles - unfortunately only two Wallasey athletes competed; but both ran well, Steve Daniels finished 11th and Owen Griffiths 13th. The individual winner was Colton (Sale Harriers). The only Wallasey runner in the boys' race (under-16), over two miles, was Phil Keating, who finished in a very creditable 20th place.
Wallasey Technical Grammar School fielded a team in this race, and Gary Fair ran extremely well in finishing in second position. He was backed up by Bob Warburton (13th), Bob Brimage (14th), and Roy McGurn (27th) to put the team in 3rd position, with 56 points, Paul Catherall, running for W.T.G.S, finished in 38th position. Sale Harriers (33 pts.)won the team race, with Cowley from Sale Harriers as the individual winner.
The youths' race, over 3 miles, was won by George Murphy from Ellesmere Port G.S., an unfit Colin Reiners finished 22nd, one place in front of Pete Lewis, who was two places in front of Ian Wilson.
There is no individual junior race in these championships; instead, juniors count in the senior team and a medal is given to the first junior home. Dave Lockley, who was first man home for Wallasey, claimed this medal with 11th place.
Barrie Smith, who is returning to fitness after an injury, finished in 17th place, and Johnny Jones, another junior, was 23rd. The team was completed by John Wright (30th), Mike Teahan (32nd), Mike Weatherilt (40th), to give a total of 153 points for fourth team place.
Other Wallasey runners were Mike Whiteside and Phil Wealthy who finished 47th and 48th. The absence of Dave Lindsay, who has flu, was felt by the team. The individual senior winner of this 7 mile race was Olympic 5000-metre' runner Alan Blinston, Altrincham and District A.C., who pulled away from the field after the first mile.
Former Wallasey athlete Ron Barlow came 2nd, and Bill Drake from Wirral A.C. took 3rd position. Wirral A.C. won the team event.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Friday, 10/01/1969 by R.W.W.
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