Support for the long-established Waterloo Road Race has gathered such impetus in recent years that with an entry of 360 runners for next Saturday's race it has become one of the biggest events of its kind held anywhere in the country.
Encouraged by this success, the young organising committee have extended their programme to include a new event, a road relay "Round the Houses" at Blundellsands on the following Wednesday evening, for which entries from 22 teams have been received.
This will be six times two miles, the winning team to receive a new trophy, presented by Mr. John Moores.
Amongst the 37 teams in next Saturday's event, which starts at Manor County Secondary School, St. Michael's Road, Crosby, at 3.15 p.m., is a most interesting one from Donore Harriers, Dublin.
Donore are the Irish cross-country champions, and they include in their team M. Neville, B. Merritt and T. O'Riordan, each of whom is reported to have beaten 29 minutes for six miles.
Here is undoubtedly a threat to the English clubs but I regard the Wallasey group of John Wright, Ron Barlow, Brian Woolford. as equal to anything amongst the entry, and I look forward to a Merseyside win of the Malcolm Bullock Cup in the team event.
It will not be an easy win, for Bolton, Blackpool (last year's winners) and Barrow A.C. are very strong but Wallasey's trump card is the rule "three to score."
Had the rule called for six to score, then Wallasey would have been in trouble, but with only three to count they can hold their own almost anywhere.
There should be a great race for the individual prize. Last year's winner, Bruce Tulloh, will of course, not be defending, as he is Australia-bound for the Empire Games, and this lets in Brian Craig, who was runner-up to Tulloh, Gerry North, of Belgrave Harriers who won in 1960, and Ron Hill, the recently appointed captain of Lancashire, who has not been beaten in straight road races in this country since he won the Liverpool Marathon 14 months ago.
These three are going great guns just now and the opportunity of watching them race together must not be missed. The three Wallasey runners already mentioned will be trying to break up the Lancashire trio and might very well succeed in their aim.
North Staffordshire Harriers will be on the ball with D. G. Shelley and A. Walker, and if the Liverpool University runner, J. Jackson runs for his first-claim club, then North Staffs have a very strong chance in the Roy Fowler, who, like Tulloh team race, even without is bound for Perth.
An outside chance of winning the Waterloo Road Race is held by Martin Cranny, of Wirral A.C., who last week shattered Freary's record for the "Round Derwentwater" race, and beat an impressive field over the 10-miles course in 49 minutes 31 seconds.
The field included in order of finish, Ron Barlow, Brian Woolford, Fred Howe, Paddy Montague and John Wright, all runners of reputation on the road and over the country. Cranny, who is the Cheshire cross-country champion, has frequently revealed flashes of greatness, and one feels that he has a considerable potential in road racing.
There were 86 starters in the Derwentwater race, and Wallasey A.C., who finished 2, 3 and 6 to score 11 points, were easy winners. Barrow A.C., who are now turning out a useful team in support of David Spencer, finished second with 27 points, beating Blackpool who had Fred Howe and Geoff North, into third place.
Ends
Source - Liverpool Echo - Saturday, 03/11/1962 by J. C. Rice
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