Club Race Reports Season 1971-1972
Cross Country Championships
National - High Wycombe - 26/02/1972 - Senior Women
In the women's national cross-country championships Wallasey Athletic Club's team proved themselves capable of pushing the best teams in the country, finishing fifth, their highest placing ever.
The course proved the toughest obstacle of the season, and all but the very best were reduced to a mere crawl up the steep 1,000 yard slope to the finish. Over the three miles, which were more suited to fell running than cross-country. Wallasey packed five runners into the first 80 home.
Barbara Banks continued her run of good national runs finishing 15th, Wallasey's second counter was Janice Watts in 27th position, a good run for her first effort at this senior event.
Margaret Ashcroft evidently finding the hills not entirely to her liking finished 40th, with Sylvia Brimage continuing her comeback in 76th place beating Mary Caldwell for the first time this season, Mary finished 88th.
Individual winner was for the fourth time Rita Ridley the distinctive blond runner from Essex winner of the Commonwealth Games 1,500 metres title and a hot favourite for Munich. Team wise the southern clubs once again dominated, winners being Cambridge Harriers, 69 pts., from Birchfield Harriers, 129 pts. and Aldershot 142 pts. In the junior race Lynn Carter ran well to finish 50th in her first national and she can look forward to some fine runs in the future.
Christmas Handicap
Christmas Handicap - Leasowe - 18/12/1971 - Seniors
In the annual club handicap Pete Lewis was a very convincing winner. After setting off third from last he sped through the field to win by 10 seconds from Dave Lockley and Phil Wealthy.
Unfortunately, the handicapping was a little biased towards the men, the best placed girl being Lindsay Hewson in 9th position.
The club was pleased to welcome two guests, Richard Boosters, who recorded 4th fastest time of the day, and Mick Firth, a former Wallasey AC runner, now living in London, who ran very well finishing 7th.
Fastest time of the day was recorded by last year's winner, Dave Lockley (12.06), with Bob Brimage, who finished 6th (17.45), and Pete Lewis (17.46) close behind.
As is traditional, everyone received a small prize after what is always a friendly afternoon's sport.
