At Bingley last Saturday over seven miles of Yorkshire Hills and dales John Wright once again showed his national potential against the best of British distance runners when the hilly course of frost-bound mud combined with the snow falling throughout the race provided gruelling conditions for the large field.
Throe hundred and ten runners representing 35 counties faced the starter and the high class of the field was soon evident with no runner willing to give ground easily.
Despite the usual fast start, Wright in his unobtrusive fashion, was soon to be seen amongst the leading runners and he continued to run confidently and well until the last of the four laps.
At this stage the conditions began to tell and the pressure for places was clearly to be seen when only a slight weakening resulted in his slipping back to 34th position at the finish, when all the first fifty runners were all still very close and in sight of the winner, Alec Fowler of North Staffs, who was followed by John Hillen and Olympic runner Bruce Tulloh.
Wright was comfortably the first Cheshire man home and he certainly showed the injustice of his defeat in the recent County Championships when he lost to Broom of East Cheshire Harriers through a marker's error near the finishing funnel. On this occasion Broom was over fifty places behind Wright and it is worthy of comment that nationally known runners such as Stan Eldon, Martin Hyman, Hugh Foord and Alan Perkins were also well behind.
Ron Barlow was troubled with his foot injury again and retired at the end of the first lap, but Wallasey A.C's other representative Brian Woolford must be commended on a fine effort in his first inter-counties when he fought splendidly throughout to finish 115th.
Woolford has shown great improvement over the past 12 months and with more experience of this class of running looks likely to have many successes over the next few years.
Today Wallasey A.C. take part in the Liverpool & District Championships at Kirkby, when the Senior race will commence at 3-15 p.m. (93 bus from Pier Head to Brookfield School).
On Saturday next another championship will be decided, when the West Lancs will be run from Sherdley Park, St. Helens.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 28/01/1961 by R.M.C.
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