Last Saturday, Wallasey Athletic Club competed in the second of their three senior men's league meetings at Sheffield.
On of the worst tracks ever encountered resulted in poor performances.
However, a number of Wallasey athletes managed to overcome these problems to produce top quality performances.
Over the season the battle between Tim Guest and Pete Jones for the best 400m time has been a feature of club life. At Sheffield, Tim Guest clocked up a powerful run, winning his 400m 'A' race in the fastest time by a club athlete this season, 51 sec.
Club captain Rod Dixon also conquered this sand dune of a track by producing a personal best 5000m time of 16min 36secs. Rod really attacked this race from the gun, showing the kind of determination other distance runners would do well to follow.
At long last Wallasey's most powerful 4x400m. Relay team came together. Unfortunately the poor track prevented the team (Dave Ashton, Pete Jones, Doug Hanna and Tim Guest) from producing a good time, but they produced a creditable fourth against a top quality field.
In the field events, Chris Preston produced his now almost usual string of successes in the throws. He produced a second best ever shot-putt finishing, second with 11.71m. He won the hammer with a throw of 45.62m, hit best for two years. He also competed in the discus and the sprint relay.
Bob Brimage, returning to competition after a bout of illness, competed in his usual varied number of events. Apart from his own event, the 3000m steeplechase, he also helped the club out by competing in the long-jump, triple jump and high jump.
This was also a return to competitive athletics of Pete McCloud, he competed in the long jump, triple jump and 100m
In his own event, the long lump, he produced a 5.90m leap which gained him fourth place in a field which included two internationals. Other athletes who made their league debut were Chris Ryder (110m hurdles, hammer, discus), David Southern (800m), Alan Smith (3000m steeplechase) and Dennis Boothe (pole vault and shot).
The full results are:-
100 Metres
A race - T. Guest 5th 11.6 secs
B race - P. McCloud 5th 12.5 secs
200 Metres
A race - D. Ashton 6th 24.9 secs
B race - M. Willacey 6th 27.8 secs
400 Metres
A race - T. Guest 1st 51 secs
B race - P. Jones 2nd 53.6 secs
800 Metres
A race - P. Jones 6th 2 min 4 secs
B race - D. Southern 5th 2 min 12 secs
1500 Metres
A race - N. Williams 6th 4 min 41 secs
5000 Metres
A race - R. Dixon 6th 16 mins 36 secs
B race - N. Williams 6th 18 min 55 secs
Long jump
A - P. McCloud 4th 5.90m
B - R. Brimage 4th 5.46m
Triple jump
A - R. Brimage 6th 11.21m
B - P. McCloud 5th 10.75m
High jump
A - T. Guest 4th 1.57m
B - R. Brimage 6th 1.37m
Hammer
A - C. Preston 1st 45.62m
B - C. Ryder 4th 16.92m
Shot
A - C. Preston 2nd 11.71m
B - D. Boothe 5th 8.5m
Discus
A - C. Preston 4th 31.32m
B - C. Ryder 3rd 27.72m
Javelin
A - D. Boothe 33.04m
B - D. Hanna 25.74m
Pole vault
A - D. Boothe
4 x 100m Relay
P. Jones, C. Preston, P. McCloud, T. Guest 4th 48.1 sec
4 x 400m Relay
D. Ashton, P. Jones, D. Hanna, T. Guest 4th 3m 39.1 sec
Members may wish to know about the forthcoming annual club dinner. Details can be obtained from Dave Ashton or any regular club member.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/08/1976 by D.A.A
Ref 1914