Wet and windy weather at Blackpool made conditions for the H. S. Finney Trophy Race very unpleasant.
The Senior and Junior races were combined in form of a relay race with four athletes in a team and a lap, of 3 miles - twice round a 1½ mile course. Ron Barlow, running the first leg, came in to hand over to Roy Parry about 200 yards in the lead with a time of 15 mins. 45 secs., Roy was troubled by a bad leg on the first lap but pulled up on the second lap, to hand over in 3rd place to John Wright - Roy's time was 17 mins. 3 secs. John ran very well, showing his old form, to pull Wallasey back to 2nd place with a time of 16 mins. 21 secs. Dave Field completed the first lap in 3rd place and with only quarter of a mile to go was passed by McLaughlan of Sutton to drop to 4th place, the final position of the Wallasey team. Blackpool won the Trophy with a total time of 64 mins. 2 secs.; Barrow' 2nd 65-14 Sutton 3rd 66-42 and Wallasey 67-4.
Wallasey's 'B' team, only able to field three runners, ran gamely for the first 3 legs. John Young ran first leg in 18 mins. 18 secs, to come in in 9th place, Nigel's lap of 17 mins. 57 secs, was very creditable and with the loss of only two places Tony Parry took over in 11th position. Tony's lap was done in 19 mins. 41 secs, and placed the team 13th, but with no further members the team retired.
YOUTHS' RACE
The youths' race was run over two laps of the senior course but took the form of a normal race. The individual winner was D. Brennan of Warrington 16 mins. 12 secs., Barrie Smith and Alan Keating were the first two Wallasey runners to finish. They ran a close race to record the same time, 18-14, with the verdict going to Barrie in 15th place.
BOYS' RACE
The boys' race was a single 2-mile lap using part of the senior course. D. Green of Wigan won. with a time of 11 mins. 12 secs. Dave Lockley, Wallasey, was 5th, but his time of 11.39 indicates that he was well up with the leaders. Les Watcham ran creditably to finish 12th in 12 mins. 19 secs. Only three places behind was John Jones and a time of 12-30, with Paul Spencer a further four places down and 12 secs, behind.
CHRISTMAS HANDICAP
The club has decided to postpone the Christmas Handicap one week to Saturday, December 19. The first runner will start at 8:30 and the rest of the field will start at predetermined time intervals.
The Christmas Social will be held tonight, and ticket holders are asked to arrive as near the advertised time as possible to minimise the time the gates need to be open.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 12/12/1964 by D.F.
Ref 2292