The GRE Men's Gold Cup and Women's Jubilee Cup, held on Sunday, May 6, saw Wallasey teams competing against Bolton, Sutton, Blackpool, Warrington and Rossendale, with two second round places available in each match.
The day got of to an excellent start for the girls' team. The first two events, the 400 metres hurdles and the 800 metres, were won by Francesca Phillips and Lynn Kennedy. Fran, after her win in the hurdles, continued to pick up points extensively, coming third at 100 metres, fourth at 200 metres, second in the long jump, and fifth in the javelin, as well as running in both the 4 x 100 metres and 4 x 400 metres. Lynn, despite feeling sick for a while after the 800 metres, came back later in the afternoon to finish fourth in the 1,500 metres, and run well in both relays.
In the men's match, Steve Henfrey showed impressive form to finish second at 400 metres hurdles and third at 400 metres, though the other Wallasey runners fared less well against the strong opposition.
James Downey and Andy Skinner ran personal bests of 2 minutes 7.3 seconds and 33 minutes 53 seconds respectively, for 800 metres and 10,000 metres, but both finished last.
Bob Brimage ran an impressive 10 minutes 12 seconds for the 3,000 metres steeplechase, but finished fifth.
Dave Pendleton led for much of the 1,500 metres, and recorded an encouraging 4 minutes 22 seconds, but again was fifth. Paul Beacall was sixth at 100 metres, though 12.5 seconds was still a fine performance for a 14-year-old. James Downey's 17 minutes 9 seconds, 5,000 metres, would have been expected to be last, and was.
Two useful contributions were made in the men's field events by Chris Leas and Alan Johnson.
Chris was fourth in the triple jump with a personal best of 11.27 metres, and then earned a surprising fourth in the pole vault. Alan threw 17.48 metres in the hammer, 6.80 metres in the shot, and gained an excellent second place in the long jump.
The women's discus saw Daphne Phillips throw a personal best of 22.4 metres.
Anne Brimage had a good run in the women's 3,000 metres, to record 12 minutes 45 seconds in fourth, place, and later ran in both relays. Gisele Atherton, though originally coming to spectate, was persuaded to make up the relay teams, and ran excellent legs in both.
Overall, Wallasey finished fifth in the women's match and sixth in the men's, both of which were won by Bolton.
The previous weekend, Wallasey Athletic Club had staged the Northern Veterans' six mile road race, which was run from the club's Cross Lane headquarters.
In the race, Bob Phillips was 21st, Gordon Robinson 57th, Ken McCartney 61st, and Ray Scammell 81st. Bob Phillips time was an impressive 34.23, which shows a return to form after a slightly disappointing 2.57 in the Wolverhampton Marathon.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 12/05/1984
Ref 2006