I became a member of Wallasey Athletic Club around 1950 almost by accident. I was entered by my school's sports master to run in a road race for schools organised by the Athletic Club. I seem to remember that it started and finished on Leasowe Road somewhere near the railway bridge. As a result of finishing in the first dozen or so I was rewarded with a year's membership. I don't remember whether I ran with the Club during that year. I think I only ran for Wallasey in later years whilst I was home from Loughborough College and met fellow team members for the first time at local Cheshire and Liverpool & District Championships. I recall previously meeting Pete White when we met up in Hampshire running for our respective National Service units.
The photo shows number 1542 John Wright competing in the National Cross-Country Championships held at Cambridge in 1963.
After College I came back to live in the area and became more involved in Club running. There are many happy memories - the Spartan conditions at the headquarters on Leasowe playing Fields, which were made more tolerable by George Mason and Tim O'Sullivan who both worked so hard to provide warmth, hot water and welcome tea on cold winter days. Also there was the outstanding contribution by Bob McCaig who tirelessly and cheerfully transported vast numbers of young runners to venues both local and distant, in his Morris Oxford. I recall on one occasion, Margaret, my wife to be, and I were hitch-hiking to a Championship in Derbyshire or a distant region of Cheshire. Having been dropped off somewhere in rural Cheshire we were despairing of ever getting to the race venue in time as the road was largely deserted. At last a car appeared over the horizon and responded to our thumbed request. As the vehicle slowed on approach we were aware of many arms, legs and bodies packed against the windows. The window wound down and Bob cheerfully called, "Jump in!" We joined the 9 passengers who were already on board, making 12 in total. All those on seats had at least one other on their knees. Needless to say it was before the days of seat belts and there was less traffic on the roads. Bob repeated the overboarding on most Sunday mornings when he would do a 'round the houses tour, calling for younger Club members before the training and football sessions in Arrowe Park.
Bob's enthusiasm, allied to that of Carl Gee was responsible, in no small way, for the success of the Club during the late 1950s and the 1960s both over the country and particularly in road races. Also most memorable and enjoyable were the training weekends at Lilleshall arranged by Carl and the weekends to Denbighshire, thanks to John Edwards. For many years, winter and summer, John made the journey from his hill farm in North Wales in order to attend monthly Committee meetings. I was especially fortunate to be a member of the Club's Road Racing Team together with Pete White, Ron Barlow and Brian Woolford when we scored victories over the strongest clubs in the country - Southampton (Bruce Tulloh and Martyn Hyman), Blackpool (Gerry and Geoff North, Brian McCaig), Bolton and Tipton Harriers Waterloo Road Race with 3 counters in the first 11 home in a field of 350 was just one highlight. Team success was also achieved in winning the Cheshire and L&D Cross Country Championships on more than one occasion.
The photo shows Johnny Wild (East Cheshire) leading John Wright (Wallasey) the eventual winner after 6 miles in the Cheshire Senior Cross-Country Championships at Disley in 1960
A personal highlight was 10th position in the Inter Counties CC Championships over the Parliament Hills course in Hampstead. Success in the English National later that year was ruled out by an illness which disallowed my running f or 6 months. I was honoured to be elected a Vice President of the Club in recent years and am pleased to still be associated with Wallasey AC as a Committee member.