Wallasey Athletic Club's Barbara Banks played a major part in England's team triumph at the International Womans Cross-Country Championships in Maryland, U.S.A., last weekend.
Barbara ran excellently to finish fourth, the second-placed English runner behind Essex's Rita Ridley.
On the home front, the ladies' team, minus Barbara, did well to finish second to Northern champions Bury and Radcliffe. The event was the City of Stoke-on-Trent open ladies' cross-country race held at Fenton Park, over a tough course of road and country.
In the 5,000 metre race Margret Ashcroft was Wallasey's first runner home in eighth place with a time of 19 mins. 51 secs., just 2 minutes behind the winner Rosemary Stirling (Wolves and Bilston A.C.).
Just behind Margaret was Sheena O'Dell in ninth spot.
Unfortunately Wallasey's other two runners, newcomer Janice Watts and Mary Caldwell could only finish in 16th and 17th places, both being given the time of 22 mins. 52 secs.
In the intermediate girls' race over 3,000 metres, the girls' did well to finish sixth despite all being at the end of the age group.
Sylvia Brimage was 15th in 15 mins. 40 secs., Susan Carter had an inspired run to finish 19th only 28 secs. behind, with Lillian King and Lindsey Mutch running well together in 21st and 22nd positions in a field of nearly 40 runners.
The junior girls' team had a bad day, Cheshire champion Lillian Ackers being ill after the journey, only managed 32nd position, with Susan Lloyd and Julie Halfpenny 31st and 47th respectively. The team only managed 9th place.
Running for Cheshire in the National Schools Cross-Country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn, Bob Brimage excelled himself with a brilliant 94 place despite being at the youngest end of the senior age group.
Coming in as a reserve Bob was Cheshire's 5th runner home over the 5 mile course just beating club, school and county colleague Bob Warburton home, who finished 96th, helping Cheshire to 12th place.
In the intermediate race Pete Martin in his first run for Cheshire did well to finish 220th in a field of over 300.
Also gaining representative honour running for the North was Dave Lockley in a 2,000 metre steeplechase on the indoor door track at R.A.F. Cosford. In the match between the North, Scotland, Midlands, the Army and Navy, Dave led for the first 800 metres and in doing so helped Rob McAndrew (Scotland) to a U.K. indoor best, Dave finishing a close third in 5 mins. 52 secs.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 28/03/1970
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