In the first Stretford League meeting of the season Wallasey athletes produced some good early season performances against some top class opposition.
For the first time in the league veterans events have been included as vital part of the Northern Veterans A.C. preparation for their match against the Americans in London next year.
Wallasey Athletic Club's chief coach Carl Gee was runner up to former Yorkshire sprint champion Keith Whitaker in both the sprints recording 12.8 secs. and 26.9 secs. for the 100 metre and 200 metre events respectively.
He completed a hard afternoon with third place in the senior long jump with 5.46 metres only inches behind the winner.
With a poor entry from the field athletes most local interest was on the track. The 800 metres saw Pete Lewis in good form running in second place for most of the race only to fade in the final 100 metres to fourth place but with a good time 1 min. 55.6 secs. also from Wallasey, Doug Hanna running much nearer his true form than in recent weeks recorded 2 mins. 1.4 secs. in sixth position.
The 200 metres race attracted several Wallasey athletes, the good competition making athletes forget the very strong headwind down the straight.
Best placed was Helen Taylor in the girls event (29.1 sec.) taking third in a very strong field, a very encouraging first run for the club.
In the women's events Suzanne Kew and Margaret Caldwell finished fourth and fifth well up the winner.
In the youths' event Brian Kanes was also fourth (28.? secs.) and in the senior race Mike Teahan took third (25.? Sec.) well below this best form.
In the boys' 400 metres Eddie Kanes was a close second (66.5 secs.). after producing a fighting finish which almost brought him up to the winner.
Today, the club competes in an inter-club event at Wigan.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 24/04/1971
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