Wallasey Athletic Club's Christmas Handicap attracted 32 athletes, the largest entry for several years. Dave Lockley celebrated his 21st birthday in winning form, starting off last and finishing first, taking the lead in the final quarter mile.
Once again the handicappers did a fine job, the first 14 runners finishing within a minute of the winner. This year Ramsey Hewson and his daughter Lindsey were first away over nine minutes ahead of Dave Lockley.
Between them were 30 other runners of varying ability and experience, including international Barbara Banks, determined to produce her very best performance before leaving for a six months holiday in India.
The handicapping proved a little too tough for Barbara, and indeed all the girls, and it was the senior men who came through successfully to take the top positions, with Margaret Ashcroft leading the ladies home in seventh place.
In second place to Dave was marathon runner Mike Whiteside, running well over the fast three-mile course, and recording the fifth fastest time of the day, and third Barrie Smith.
Dave Lockley recorded the fastest time, just outside his own course record of 16min. 54sec., second fastest was Barrie Smith, 17min. 45 sec., and third fastest was Pete Lewis, 18min. 02sec.
Everyone received a small prize and the president, Mr. George Mason, proposed a vote of thanks to the organisers, and expressed the club's best wishes to Barbara.
Margaret Ashcroft has been selected to represent the Northern League in an inter-area cross-country match at Bolton. The only other local runner selected was Wirral Athletic Club's Jane Perry.
Results:
1st, D. Lockley (16m. 54s.) 26m. 19s.; 2nd, M. Whiteside (18m. 10s.) 26m. 25s.; 3rd, B. Smith (17m. 45s.) 26m. 30s.; 4th, P. Lewis (18m. 02s.) 26m. 37s.; 5th. M. Teahan (18m. 32s.) 26m. 47s.; 6th, B. Brimage (18m. 07s.) 26m. 51s.; 7th, M, Ashcroft (20m. 13s.) 26m 53s.; 8th, B. Banks (19m. 25s.) 26m. 55s.; 9th, I. Wilson (20m. 39s.) 26m. 59s.; 10th, B. Warburton (18m. 33s.) 27m. 03s.; 11th, D. Jones (22m. 34s.) 27m. 04s.; 12th C. Gee (20m. 30s.) 27m. 10s.; 13th, D. Hughes (19m. 15s.) 27m, 15s.; 14th, L. Carter (23m. 09s.) 27m, 24s.; 15th, L. Durkin (19m. 33s.) 27m. 38s.; 16th, S. Kelly (22m. 49s.) 27m. 39s.; 17th, A. Fulton (21m. 02s.) 27m. 42s.; 18th, G. Griffiths (21m. 08s.) 27m. 48s.; 19th, A. Reid (23m. 08s.) 27m. 58s.; 20th L. Hewson (27m. 58s.) 27m. 58s.; 21st. (20m. 10s.) 28m. 10s., 22nd, J. Rimmer (25m. 59s.) 28m. 19s.; 23rd, R. Hewson (28m. 42s.) 28m. 42s.; 24th, D. Adair (22m. 25s.) 28m. 45s.; 25th, R. Tarrant (22m. 06s.) 28m. 46s.; 26th, S. Brimage (23m. 07s.) 28m. 52s.; 27th, N. Simpson (24m. 30s.) 29m. 20s.; 28th, G. King (23m. 46s.) 29m. 26s.; 29th, C. Horobin (25m. 49s.) 29m. 49s.; 30th, D. Kelly (25m. 59s.) 29m. 49s.; 31st, L. Mutch (24m. 49s.) 30m. 29s.; 32nd. J. Halfpenny (27m. 01s.) 31m. 31s.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 26/12/1970
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