Club Race Reports Season 1961-1962
Liverpool & District XC Union
Championships - Kirkby - 13/01/1962 - Senior Men
The Liverpool & District Cross-Country Championships were held last Saturday.
Wallasey fielded only five runners in the senior event, five of the club's best runners being unable to compete through injuries and illness. The best performance of a Wallasey runner was put up once again by Brian Woolford, who was second to Warriner, last year's winner. Following were Mather and Townsend in 7th and 8th position respectively.
A biting wind and mud slowed down the field considerably and the extra efforts of avoiding the brick-bats and ironmongery on a deplorable course were very telling. Once again H. Pritchard travelled from Tynemouth to compete and came 42nd; John Lynch, after a considerable break from running, finished 51st and promises well for the future. Official results:-
Individual, 37.15 mins., 1st Warriner (Pembroke); 37.50 mins,, 2nd Woolford (Wallasey); 37.57 mins., 3rd Biddle (Wirral).
Team results.-1, Pembroke 44 pts., 2 Wirral 86 pts., 3 Liverpool 138 pts.
Cross Country Championships
National - Stanley Park - 10/03/1962 - Senior Men
The National Cross-Country Championships were held at Blackpool last Saturday over a course of undulating grassland. These championships are the climax of the season for every
cross country runner, worthy of the name, and although the Wallasey Athletic Club was unable to enter a team because of the last minute injury to John Wright, Club supporters were privileged to see Brian Woolford run his best ever race.
Seven hundred and forty runners started in the nine mile senior race and Brian, after moving steadily through the field eventually finished in 36th position, just behind and thirteen places in front of Martin Hyman winner of the 'Round the Houses' race in South America in the New Year.
Ron Barlow also ran well to finish in 87th position. This has been a rather erratic season for Ron and it was good to see him, running with something like his old form. Kevin Mather was the next man home in 260th position, followed by Brian Chalton in 383rd place, Hugh Pritchard was the last club runner to finish in 618th place. A little training would undoubtedly result in an improvement for this runner.
In the youth championship Peter Meldrum and David Martin both ran well and only lack of experience prevented them from achieving a much higher placing in the race. Peter finished in 182nd place and David in 266th place.
Christmas Handicap
Christmas Handicap - Leasowe - 16/12/1961 - Seniors
On a fine cold day Wallasey Athletic Club's annual Christmas Handicap Race was held at Club H.Q. last Saturday.
The number of competitors was considerably reduced but club president John Edwards, and John Lynch made welcome reappearances.
Mike Shepherd was the first runner out on Leasowe Road, with five minutes start on scratch men Wright, Mather, and Woolford. One minute later John Edwards and John Lynch set out on the three and a half mile course, followed at an interval by Ramsey Hewson, Brian Chalton and John Young. Tony Townsend and Bill Morris were next out and these two started forty-five seconds in front of the scratch runners.
As expected the back markers quickly made up ground, and at the start of Telegraph Lane, Morris had gained a slight lead, which he held to the end, just holding off the fast-finishing John Wright.
The handicapping was excellent, with only twenty seconds covering the first five runners.
