The blustery wind swept dust storms around the dry track of Woodchurch Community Centre last Saturday.
This dust, the wind and the heat combined to give this meeting, the last of the year's series of Northern Track League fixtures, a much lower than expected standard.
Wallasey Athletic Club would have been hard-pressed to remain in division three even if they had had a fully fit team, needing to finish in the first three to ensure a secure position in division three, but the disastrous start to the season left its scar on many team members,
Rod Dixon, the club captain, cannot receive much praise for his hard work in assembling any team at all for these leagues. He managed to drag out of their houses some members who had been "missing" for many months.
MAJORITY
As always, the majority of points came from field event performances of Chris Preston.
They were: Hammer - 1st A - 43 m 62, 12 points; Discus-2nd A - 34m 38, 10 points; Javelin-3rd A -117 ft 8 ins, 8 points; Shot - 1st A - 11 m 76, 12 points.
Dennis Booth also fared well in these events, finishing 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd in the 'B' strong events.
Pete Jones ran below par, which was much to be expected in the conditions at the end of a long, hard season, but still managed a victory in the 400m and a second in the 800m.
Alan Smith ran an excellent steeplechase, without a water jump due to the water shortage, finishing fourth in this 3,000m event. Rod Dixon finished fourth in his 5,000m race, over 60 seconds down on his best performance, not unexpected from any athlete in the dusty conditions.
Many thanks to those other athletes competing the club. It is hoped that all will still be with us next season to compete for a much improved team.
The club dinner is Friday next, September 3rd all those members who to attend should by now have paid Dave Ashton, or made the necessary arrangements with him.
The club will be meeting as normal again on the first Monday after the return to school, when much harder training will be the norm from all those who expect to remain active members of the Athletic Club.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 28/08/1976 by DH
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