Chris Preston of Wallasey Athletic Club was the first junior in the Cheshire Track & Field Championships in the shot, discus and hammer competitions at Woodchurch, being beaten out of first place in the senior hammer competition in which he had to compete because of the lack of junior entries, by no other person than Dennis Roscoe.
His winning throw of 49m 58 was the only one over Chris's series of throws. One wonders what would have happened had Chris been 100 per cent fit; he is recovering from an injury incurred on a recent training course.
Last Saturday saw the best Cheshire Championships for many a year. It was only fitting that it should be held at Woodchurch Community Centre, Birkenhead as part of the Birkenhead Festival. This well maintained track saw some excellent performances from Wallasey Athletic Club members who had been training hard for their events for many weeks. To their advantage was the fact that this was their home track. The weather, unfortunately was not at its best, and the steady rain did not make it easy for the runners to warm up and the jumpers to stay warm during the competition. But some very noteworthy performances were made. Bill Innes in the high jump was second in the competition with a jump only 5cm behind the winning jump of 1m 85, excellent jumping in the conditions. Bill has already made 6ft 3in this season and as the season progresses he should easily surpass this. Mike Tunstall a fast improving runner who had already won the Wallasey Schools 800m and 1500m didn't run quite to form but still returned excellent times in his 800m and 1500m.
His 800rn was easily his personal best time, but his 1500m, perhaps his strongest event, suffered slightly as a result of this and the conditions as he finished 7 seconds slower than his personal best set just two weeks earlier.
The women's competitions will be held at the same track on the 25th and one envisages the standard being just as high and the competition well worth a visit.
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Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 25/05/1974
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