In the Cheshire County Cross-Country Championships at Winnington Park, Northwich, Wallasey Athletic Club's senior team were beaten into third place in the team race.
Winners of the team race were Wirral A.C. who finished with a score of 81 pts., Stoke A.C. were runners up, pipping Wallasey by one point with 133 points. Dave Lockley retained his place in the Cheshire team finishing 6th after leading the field for the first one and a half mile lap, and club captain John Wright took 8th place, a performance that should have given him a place in the County team.
On this occasion however the selectors disregarded form and picked someone lower down the field.
Dave Lindsey had suffered from a cold all week and ran well to finish in 12th position and Barrie Smith was the next Wallasey runner home in 21st place -his best performance for two seasons. As was expected Wallasey's weakness was the long gap between, Barrie and the fifth Wallasey runner Mike Teahan, who finished 43rd, just ahead of Pete Lewis in 44th place, two runs well below their true ability.
The other Wallasey runners were Mike Whiteside also having very bad day finishing 53rd, Dave Hughes, 54th, and Len Durkin 61st.
In the absence of last year's champion Alan Blinston individual title was taken by his club mate Geoff Norman, an athlete normally more at home 'fell running', but on this occasion making his stamina well felt.
The youth team went one better than the seniors gaining 2nd place in the team event to Manchester Grammar School.
They were led home by Bob Brimage running at his best and emphasising the progress he has made over the last year finishing in 3rd place. Also running well was Bob Warburton in 6th position.
As had been expected the lack of strength in depth in the team with the absence of Peter Martin ruined their chances of the premier position.
The final two runners could only finish in 21st and 25th positions, the athletes concerned being Gary Fair and Andy Fulton.
Andy demonstrating his versatility yet again and pushing the unfit Alan Osler out of the team. Andy'' best event being the shot putt.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 09/01/1971
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