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Date Range |
The 1950s |
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Founded |
In the late 1950's a 'Cinder
track' was laid in Victoria Park previous to the cinder track athletes
trained on grass. In the early 1980's the cinder track at Victoria Park
was replaced by a 6 lane synthetic track. Notes from the 1950's Northern Counties Athletic Association (Established 1879) Programme for the 1950 'Championship' at UGB Sports Field, Bobbys Lane, St.Helens (grass track), shows that G Lawrenson of Warrington Harriers and Athletic Club was third in the long jump with 19feet 10.5inches. He was also fourth in Heat 2 of the 100yards behind E Crangle of Preston H&AC. The latter was later to become a Life Member of Warrington A.C. I was a 15 year old spectator; cycled from Widnes. Result sheet for West Lancashire Junior Cross Country Championships 1956 over 6 miles at Southport shows Warrington AC were third team with 73 points (Danny Hughes 7th; R Brandon 19th; M Peters 23rd; Ken Irwin 24th, I finished 35th - running for Pembroke Harriers, Liverpool, for Cross Country only. In the Pilkington 57th Annual Athletic Sports at Ruskin Drive, St.Helens on Saturday 16 June 1956 (cinder track) Terry Davies won Heat 1 of the 100yards Youths Open Handicap of 3.5yards in 10.9seconds. He was second in the final. Pam East won Heat 2 of the 100yards Ladies Open Handicap of 6.5yards (back marker) in 11.3seconds. Tommy Locke, of Warrington Connections, won Heat 8 of the 220yards Open Handicap, and was 2nd in the final. Geoff Appleton was third in the One Mile Open Handicap of 175 yards. I also completed in this event of 185yards for Widnes Harriers and Athletics Club. Before Warrington Borough Council built the red cinder track on Victoria Park the Athletics Club, then known as Warrington Harriers and Athletic Club, trained from a pavilion on Bewsey Schools playing fields at the back of the Towers Labour Club. Not sure just when the track opened but circa 1957. Also, in the 50s, prior to Victoria Park track the cross country section trained from a hut between Chester Road and the Causeway - long since built on for housing. A very active Club Sec in the 1950s was local Magistrates Clerk, Eddie Crangle, who organised a track meet on the old Warrington Cricket Club ground - now Village Hotel area. George Birchall was a well known Marathon and long distance walker both sides of World War 2. Dave Brennan was an All England Schools Cross Country winner and many track and road champs later in the 1960s and 1970s. Saturday 26 June 1958 The new cinder track at Victoria Park hosted its first event – The Warrington Catholic School Sports. |