Saturday saw the opening of the Liverpool & District Cross-Country season with the annual "Monstre Meet", held this year at the Old Roan, Aintree.
The course of about five miles was quite good in places. The only trouble was that it was a new course and only one person knew it, so it was a case of follow my leader, as the 199 followed the one. These social runs are very good for athletes to get to know each other - also the farm life and countryside. We found out that farmyards are often very muddy and smelly; that farm dogs, although they bark, do not bite (unless bitten first); and that one bull when confronted with 200 athlete shouting "Move 'em out," will certainly run away.
At the end of the run, in which no records were broken, except for the number of barbed wire fences that had to be climbed in any given five miles, everyone agreed it was all very pleasant and proceeded to line up for the serious race of the day, the one-mile road race.
Kevin Mather, after lying a comfortable second most of the way, used his track speed to pass Steve Rogers of Sefton in the last 300 yards and win in 4 mins. 22.8 secs. Ron Barlow showed a good turn of speed and finished an excellent. 3rd in 4 mins. 30 secs., just ahead of John Wright in 5th position.
Brian Woolford finished 14th, Brian Chalton 21st and Len Durkin, who started well but found the pace to fast for him, finished half way down the field.
David Field was Wallasey's only representative in the junior race, but as he is not yet fit, he also found the pace too fast for him.
To-day the team has a fixture with Warrington A.C. at Victoria Park, Warrington, start 3 p.m. Next Saturday sees the first of the League match races at Woolton, start 3 p.m.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/10/1962 by LYDUTTY
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