Blackburn Harriers became the new holders of the Liverpool Post and Echo Trophy, defeating Sutton Harriers in the New Brighton road relays. In the youth road race the Wallasey Athletic Club team took runners-up position to Liverpool Pembroke A.C.
The Wallasey youth team was led home by Steve Skully in fifth position, closely followed by his team mates Dave Shipley who was making his debut for the club, and Roy McGurn.
The team were pleased to take the runners-up position as they could not disturb the brilliant running of national cross-country champions Liverpool Pembroke, who took the first four places. The individual winner was Kevin Carrol 11 mins. 23 secs. Girling A.C. were the third team.
In the senior relay of four by 2½ miles, Wallasey A.C. could only field a weak team in the absence of several stars running elsewhere.
When on the slow first leg, Ron Barlow (Sutton Harriers) handed over with a 100-yard lead, he appeared to have laid the foundations for Sutton Harriers to lift the trophy for the third successive year but Blackburn Harrier's John Calvert running a good second leg brought his team to the front with Sutton dropping to third.
For the host club Wallasey A.C., Phil Wealthy, running for only the first time on road since injury nine months ago, recorded a time only 10 seconds slower than last year to finish seventh (11 mins. 17 secs.). Len Durkin, stepping down his distance, lost three places, finishing in 12 mins. 26 secs.
On the third stage Sutton's Brian Renshall fought back to regain the lead and Ricky Wilde, a sub four-minute miler and European gold medallist took Manchester and District A.C. into second place with the fastest time of the day 9 mins. 54 secs.
Wallasey A.C. dropped a further place, Dave Hughes doing well on only a small amount of training to finish in12 mins. 28 secs. On the final leg Mike Teahan dropped a further two places with a very disappointing run. It was also on the final stage that Blackburn's Chris Fay regained the lead with the second fastest time of the day giving his team victory with a total time of 41 mins. 26 secs.
Sutton Harriers held second place with Manchester and District A.C. third.
In the Cheshire Schools Championships at Hartford, Bob Brimage strode to an easy win in the senior 2000-metre steeplechase in 6 mins. 26 secs. He can now look forward to a good run in the National School Championships, when he will represent Cheshire.
Today, Doug Hanna and Alan Cheers are competing in the Northern Championships at Derby.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 19/06/1971
Ref 1579