Just one point out of a total of 700 prevented Wallasey Athletic Club from gaining promotion in the Northern League.
That was the tiny margin by which they lost to Border Harriers, of Carlisle, in the closing fixture of the season at Cudworth.
It means that Border, along with Darlington Harriers, go up to division V, but Wallasey stay where they are for another year.
Even so, there is every reason for Wallasey's officials and athletes to feel highly delighted with their showing this season under the inspiring captaincy of Peter Jones.
Such is the progress being made in all age groups that Wallasey could once again be a major force on the Merseyside athletics scene within the next couple of years.
Among the promising youngsters who have emerged this season are high jumper Rob Peckham, triple jumper Steve Henfrey and 400 metres, 800 metres runner Peter Doyle, while valuable acquisitions have included sprinter Mike Johnson and high jumper Martin Andrews.
But the backbone of the team has been the hardworking sextet of Pete Jones, Bob Brimage, Doug Hanna, Neil Tunstall, Chris Preston and Alan Johnson, who have each contested four or more events in each of the three league fixtures and contributed the lion's share of points.
In the decider at Cudworth, Bob Brimage was rewarded for his sterling efforts all season with a personal best of nine minutes 49.5 seconds in winning the gruelling 3,000 metres steeplechase. Pete Jones was a decisive victor at 400 metres in 51.6 seconds and both he and Brimage joined forces with Doyle and Tunstall to score a crushing win in the 4 x 400 metres relay.
Gradually getting back to form after long lay-offs are Kevin McGee and James Roberts. McGee, with university exams behind him, took second place with a brave four minutes 6.2 seconds at 1,500 metres and returned to be placed third in the 5,000 metres in 15 minutes 56 seconds.
Roberts, who broke a leg last winter, maintained his excellent progress with two minutes 5.7 seconds at 800 metres, followed by fourth place at 5,000 metres in 15 minutes 57.4 seconds.
Steve Henfrey, still only aged 16, set a personal best of 11.15m metres in the triple jump, while Martin Andrews added to his 1.80 metres high jump clearance, a fine sprint double with 12.0 seconds for 100 metres and 24.6 seconds for 200 metres.
Overall, Border scored 242 points to Wallasey's 241, with Leigh, East Hull, Altrincham and Rockingham trailing behind.
Further evidence of Wallasey's optimism about future prospects is provided by some of the even younger athletes in the club.
Wallasey can now claim what is surely one of the most talented groups of 10 year-old girls in the Northwest, with four of these fleet-footed ladies all champions in the making.
In the latest of the highly competitive Stretford Open meetings, Joanne Johnson ran two minutes 39.6 seconds for 800 metres, winning her race by a clear 50 metres, while Jane McCoy (two minutes 43.0 seconds) and Kerry Eaton (two minutes 47.0 seconds) also produced outstanding performances in their separate races.
Then, at 100 metres, another 10-year-old, Liesel Phillips, produced the fastest time of the day in her age group with 15.2 seconds, just ahead of Joanne, while Jane won another heat of this same event.
Joanne is the daughter of Alan Johnson, who had set a personal best for 400 metres hurdles in the previous day's Northern League race. In addition, Joanne's younger brother, Paul, also ran at Stretford and recorded his fastest 800 metres time of two minutes 58 seconds.
Liesel is the daughter of another active Wallasey member and the younger sister of Francesca, who finished sixth in the English
Schools' 400 metres hurdles last month. Both Jane and Kerry are also daughters of club members. All four of them are showing the benefits of the carefully controlled training sessions organised for them by one of the Wallasey club's coaching staff, Alan Clarke.
Wallasey Athletics Club meets at Leasowe Leisure Centre on Mondays, St. George's Middle School on Tuesdays and Woodchurch Sports Centre on Wednesdays at 7.15 pm, and qualified coaching for all ages and abilities is provided.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 14/08/1982 by R. Phillips
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