The physical slightness of Bruce Tulloh provokes mild astonishment on each of his appearances, and the deceptive picture of a youngster who has strayed out of his age group was much in evidence at the Waterloo Road Race last week-end, where he was he sole Southern competitor against an array of all the mighty runners of the North.
Clad in the almost anonymous vest of Portsmouth A.C., this fastest-ever European over three miles (for his 13 minutes 12 seconds claim is certain to be ratified) made one serious mistake which might have cost him the race.
Looking for a likely challenger with experience of the course, he deceived himself into thinking that Derek Ibbotson was his man, and wasted valuable time staying well back in the early stages to keep an eye on the Yorkshireman. At around two miles, however, Ibbotson called for his track suit from his mobile supporters and leisurely pulled this on as the back of the 220-runner-long field wound slowly through the twists and turns of Seaforth.
Tulloh, who, being without a supporting team, was interested only in a clear individual win, was left in an unenviable position with the pace at the front being whipped up by such course-experienced household names as North, Craig, Haslam, Freary, Shelley and the Wallasey pair John Wright and Brian Woolford. With commendable control the Southerner kept his head and struck a pace calculated to wear down the leaders through the remaining five miles. Tulloh gained the lead just before the finish and won in 38mins. 17secs., some 17 seconds faster than last year when the modified course was raced over for the first time. Craig did 38mins. 21secs. and last year's winner, Gerry North, was third in 38mins. 36secs.
It speaks well for the quality of the racing that with only three to count, the Blackpool team score was forced up to 23 points to win.
This third counter was Fred Howe in 18th place, whose excellent run in the Dutch Marathon has filled him with confidence for a place in the Empire Games marathon team next year.
Bolton United H. were only four points behind, Freary doing well in this company to finish 4th, Haslam 9th and Platt 14th. John Wright, who has recently taken on the secretarial duties for Wallasey A.C., finished just one minute behind the winner and with Brian Woolford 8th and Ron Barlow 21st, the club scored 36 points to take third team prizes.
In this race, awards are given to the first three Liverpool District finishers outside the main placings, and these went to J. McAllister (Wirral) 29, J. Delooze (Warrington) 37 and M. Cranny (Wirral) 53.
Waterloo Harriers whose 18th annual promotion this was, do a great service to the district by bringing in so many top-class runners from far and wide against whose standard a valuable early season assessment of local form can be made.
Ends
Source - Unknown - Saturday, 18/11/1961
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