The British three-mile record holder from Portsmouth, Bruce Tulloh, took on most of the North's top road-runners in the Waterloo seven-mile race at Crosby on Saturday, and handed out a running lesson as well as lopping 15 seconds off Gerry North's course record.
In a field of more than 150 runners internationals Brian Craig, Gerry North and Mike Freary shot off into the lead, but Tulloh felt that in such a big field the start would be far too fast. Thus, while Blackpool teammates North and Craig were trying to run Bolton's Freary into the ground. Tulloh was biding his time in 15th place.
Judging his move forward to a nicety, Tulloh, who was 200 yards behind the leaders at 5 miles, ranged up to Craig soon afterwards and drew away to open a 50-yard gap and easily hold off the fast-finishing Craig, who cut back the gap to 30 yards at the tape.
Craig also broke the previous record, and the third man. North, was only four seconds outside his record.
A tense team race depended on the third man placings of Blackpool and Bolton. Blackpool had the edge in the earlier positions with Craig and North second and third. Freary and Haslam being fourth and ninth for Bolton.
Although junior international Tony Platt snatch 14th place for Bolton. Fred Howe balanced the scales for Blackpool in 18th place, finishing only yards in front of four others in a tight finish, and Blackpool won by four points.
INDIVIDUAL. - M. B. S. Tulloh (Portsmouth). 38m. 17s., 1; B. Craig (Blackpool) 38- 21, 2; G. A. North (Blackpool). 38-36, 3; M. Freary (Bolton), 38-40, 4; D. G. Shelley (N. Staffs). 39-17, 5; B. Hall (M. & D ), 39-32. 6. J. Wright (Wallasey), 39-37. 7; B. Woolford (Wallasey), 39-39. 8; J. E. Haslam (Bolton), 39- 40, 9. S. Sykes (Longwood), 39-44, 10.
TEAMS. - Blackpool (2-3-18) 23 1; Bolton (4-9-14), 27, 2; Wallasey (7-8-21), 36, 3.
Ends
Source - Daily Telegraph - Monday, 13/11/1961 by Peter Keeling
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