In the Northern Women's 3,000 metre championships at Kirkby Stadium, Barbara Banks demolished the best field the north could offer with a courageous display of front running.
Leading from the gun, Barbara, of Wallasey Athletic Club, had hoped to approach the English record of 9 min. 54 secs., but unfortunately the cold windy day put any record out of the question.
She quickly opened out a gap, but troubled by a hip injury could not maintain her record-breaking schedule, finishing in 10 mins. 2.4 secs. over 30 secs. ahead of her nearest rival Jean Lochead of Airdale and Spen Valley A.C.
Third place was taken by Wallasey's Margaret Ashcroft running the race of her life, after a slow start, to finish in 10 min. 45.8 sees,
Mary Caldwell, Wallasey's third runner in the event, took seventh place in 12 mins, 39 secs., a good run for her first attempt over the distance.
At the same meeting, Wallasey had five more competitors in the Northern Pentathlon Championships. All the Wallasey athletes produced brave performances in their first attempt at this stamina sapping event, which comprises the 200 metres (100 metres for junior girls), 80 metres hurdles, shot, high jump and long jump.
In the intermediate girls' event Susan Murray was unlucky to be injured in the long jump, being forced to retire. Susan Carter produced a best of 4.57 metres in the event followed by a 200 metres in 28.5 secs., to put her in seventh place after two events, with her best the 80 metres hurdles to come. Unfortunately a bad run lost her valuable points and it was Gillian King who took over in leading the Wallasey effort, with a good run in 14.1 secs. A bad shot putt dropped her back, while Susan Carter and Lindsey Mutch both produced superior performances.
In the final event the long jump, all the girls cleared 1.26 metres, Susan clearing 1.30 metres, to give her 2,674 points and sixth place with Gillian 2,544 points and Lindsey 2,319 points. In the junior girls event, Julie Halfpenny was Wallasey's only representative, finishing 15th, with her best performance in the 100 metres of 14.3 secs.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 19/09/1970
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