This year's senior road relay race held as part of the Wallasey Festival of Sport was dominated by Sutton Harriers. Their 'A' team won the event from Manchester and District A.C. and Wirral A.C., and their 'B' team took the 'B' team award as well and having the fastest individual in P. Roberts.
Organising club Wallasey A.C. came 8th in the event, a relay of four legs 2½ miles each. Dave Lockley and Phil Wealthy put the team off to a good start, Dave coming home in 6th place (10 mins. 37 secs.) and Phil holding the position (11 mins. 06 secs.).
Unfortunately Mike Teahan, still not fit from a recent injury, could only manage 12 mins. 28 secs. losing four places. At the front Ricky Wilde, European indoor 3,000 metres champion, took Manchester and District H. and A.C. into the lead with a new record (9 mins. 53 secs.) only to see his team overhauled on the final leg by Sutton Harrier's Peter Roberts, who also snatched his record with a time of 9 mins. 45 secs.
Barrie Smith ran the final leg for Wallasey, gaining two places in 11 mins. 31 secs.
Best runs in the Wallasey ''B', team were from Mike Whiteside (11 mins. 38 secs.), and club cross-country captain John Wright (11 mins. 33 secs.) although not yet In regular training with Len Durkin and Dave Hughes completing the team they took 10th place.
The Wallasey A.C. youths took second team place in the supporting youth's team nee, behind Pembroke A.C., Bob Brimage and Bob Warburton finishing together in 4th place (11 mins. 16 secs.), and Roy McGurn bravely completing the course in 10th place after losing a shoe early in the race.
At the Northern Ladies' Championships (Blackburn) Wallasey's Barbara Banks took second place in the 1500 metres behind Norine Braithwaite (Lancaster and Morecambe A.C.). Barbara's time of 4 mins. 38 secs, was a little disappointing, while the winner ran the second fastest 1500 metres of the year. In the same race Margaret Ashcroft took 8th place.
In the intermediate girls' 800 metres Lindsey Mutch confirmed her recent form, just failing to reach the final finishing 5th in her heat in a best of 2 mins. 34 secs.
Wallasey A.C. took 5th place in the 1st Northern league meeting, at Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. On a day when temperatures soared into the 80's the Wallasey
athletes never quite recovered from the long journey.
Dave Lockley, Wallasey's track captain gave his team a good example by running well in the 1500 metres, 5000 metres and winning the 3000 metres steeplechase, well supported in this event by young Bob Brimage who took 2nd place in the 'B' event.
Andy Fulton produced a best javelin throw of 147 ft. to take 2nd in the javelin but even this couldn't lift the gloom.
Today is the Cheshire Schools Championships at Woodchurch, and Wallasey are expected to produce a few wins.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/06/1970 by P.M.W.
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