Although Wallasey Athletic Club's crack trio of Wright, Barlow and Woolford were broken up by the early retirement through injury of Ron Barlow, in the Warrington 7-mile race last Saturday, the club still succeeded in securing third team place and placing individuals in 3rd and 6th positions.
When the field of over 160 runners were sent on their way Wright, Barlow and Woolford were soon up in the leading group in company with the eventual winner, Ron Hill, currently A.A.A. 6-mile champion, but after only 1½ miles Wallasey fears about Ron Barlow's fitness were unfortunately confirmed when he retired with a worsening muscle strain.
At this point colleagues Kevin Mather and Brian Chalton were running steadily in the forties' and Mather it was who then had to try and close up with Wright and Woolford to keep Wallasey in the team race. Showing welcome signs of a return to last season's form, he succeeded in moving up to 22nd place by the finish, which gave Wallasey a total of 31 points against the 14 of Manchester A.C. and 20 of Bolton United.
John Wright again had a splendid run and he was only narrowly beaten for 2nd place on the run-in with a time of 35 minutes 39 seconds, with Woolford 6th in 35 minutes 50 seconds. Mather's time was 37 minutes 41 seconds and Chalton's 39 minutes 18 seconds in finishing in 55th position.
Generally speaking, the form of all the Wallasey runners was quite encouraging with a heavy programme of road racing now looming up, and it seems likely that the Wallasey team will again win the Sefton Park relay which is being held today over six 3¼ mile laps.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 05/10/1963 by R.M.C.
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