Last Saturday in snowy conditions at Woodbank Park, Stockport, Wallasey A.C. regained the title Cheshire Cross-Country Champions, with a display of powerful team running that crushed arch-rivals and holders Wirral A.C.
For the first time this season with all their top runners more or less fit, Wallasey left no doubt that they are indeed the top team on Merseyside and also one of the strongest in the North of England. By placing their 6 counting runners in the top ten places, they turned what was expected to be a close thing, into an overwhelming victory.
From the start of the race the picture was clear, Ron Barlow, Tony Townsend and Kevin Mather went right to the front of the eighty strong field all keeping a watchful eye on leading Wirral runners Cranny and Jeffs, and setting a good pace. With Chalton, Wright and Woolford also in the first twelve places, Wallasey were clearly leading on points.
By half-way through the race with Wallasey's Ron Barlow and Kevin Mather in first and second positions and well backed up by their team mates, Wirral were a beaten team. Their best runner Cranny was having trouble and lost his confidence, and their other runners were obviously shaken by Wallasey's shock tactics.
With John Wright coming through into third position in the last mile to join Barlow and Mather the first three places all went to Wallasey's runners. Not far behind and completing an excellent team finished Brian Woolford 6th, Tony Townsend 9th, and Brian Chalton, although not yet recovered from injury, 10th. Three other Wallasey runners finished: John Young 30th, Hugh Pritchard 44th and David Field 54th.
Team positions: 1, Wallasey A.C. 51 pts.; 2, Wirral A.C. 53 pts.; 3, Sale Harriers 204 pts.
The youth's race also provided Wallasey with more medals. Another individual triumph for Peter Meldrum finishing in 3rd place and leading his team into third position behind Sale Harriers and Stockport A.C.
Wallasey's counting runners were 3rd, Peter Meldrum; 9th David Martin; 18th John McWilliam; 19th Tony Parry and 29th Harry Amis.
As a result of their fine running, four members of Wallasey's team were selected to represent Cheshire next Saturday in the Inter-County Championships to be held this year at Reading. They are John Wright (capt.), Ron Barlow, Kevin Mather and Brian Woolford. Tony Townsend is 1st reserve. Congratulations to all.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 12/01/1963 by LYDUTTY
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