Roy Langford - Article No.32 (05/05/2014)

Birchfield Harriers v West Midlands Track League, Alexander Sports Ground, Perry Barr, Birmingham, Tuesday 15th August 1961 at 7.30 pm

During the last athletic meeting of the 'Stourbridge and Wordsley District Track League' on Wednesday 12th July 1961, the word had circulated that evening that officials of the track league had been in negotiations with Birchfield Harriers about arranging a fixture with them towards the end of the track season which would be billed as the 'West Midlands Track League versus Birchfield Harriers, and with all the relevant athletes assembled at this last meeting point of the season at Aldersley Stadium, this was thought the best time to canvas the support of the best athletes to see if they were up for this new venture, and a few athletes from the Tipton club which included myself were asked if their names could go forward as possible contenders for a place in that team. Really that's the last we heard about it and I never gave it another moment's thought until going down to the club headquarters some three weeks later for one of my weekly visits on Thursday 4th August 1961 and my first foray was to read the various notices pinned up on the notice board, and low and behold that match was booked for Tuesday 15th August 1961, at Alexander Stadium, Perry Barr, Birmingham at 7.30 pm and it seemed the Tipton sprinters had caught the eye of the selectors, because John Brimble, Andy Fereday and myself had been provisionally picked to run at Perry Barr, with surprisingly only a handful of our Tipton team mates making the line up which included Ken Rickhuss, Bob Bratt, Ron Franklin with the ladies section represented on merit by my friends Joy Gray, Glynnis Gray and Geraldine Lovesay.

First impressions

On the days leading up to this grand meeting it was left (as per usual) to John Brimble to sort out our transport details, which really meant bus timetables to this venue, and so it was on the evening of 15th August 1961, the 'Three Tiptoneers' made that journey by corporation bust to Alexander Stadium, Perry Barr, Birmingham home since 1929 of Birchfield Harriers, on entering the stadium I was somewhat surprised to see the stadium hadn't weathered the passing of time very well in its 32 years of existence, but that didn't take away the fact that inside that weather beaten structure there beats a strong heart which is second to none called Birchfield Harriers Athletic Club.

I was almost reluctant to open up my programme for which I had paid sixpence for, because I was afraid how serious Birchfield had taken this clash with the 'Track League', looking through its pages the only Birchfield track legend to put his head on the chopping block was former European 800 metres Champion for 1958, Mike Rawson who was contesting event No 25 the Men's 440 yards this evening and was up against my great rival Jack Cole of Halesowen AC. I'm really looking forward to that race later on this evening, but I'm sure whatever team they conjure up for tonight's match will be pulling no punches because of their great competitive spirit, here's just a few names that will make sure the Track League have a tough competitive night of athletics – Daphne Arden, Don Hitchman, Michael Stowe, Hugh Sumner, John Morby, Roger Impett, Vic Whitehouse and Dave Bartlet. I remember someone once asking me if I would have liked to join Birchfield Harriers and without one second's hesitation I said 'No' for two good reasons. Firstly it was to far away to travel and train, and secondly I would have as the old saying goes 'been a very small fish in a large pond', whereas with Tipton Harriers 'I was a large fish in a small pond'.

Meeting Gets Underway at 7.30 pm

It was a dry humid night almost perfect for sprinting as John, Andy and myself take to the track to start our steady warm-up procedure for our impending respective 100 yards races, but it was the Junior Ladies 100 yards which kick started the match into life at 7.30 pm with event No 1 the race won by C Peace (Birchfield Harriers) with Barbara Edwards and Maureen Tranter from the Track League close up second and third, winning time 11.4 seconds.

Event No 2 saw Joy Gray (Track League) in a good class line up beaten into 4th place by Daphne Arden and A Batson (Birchfield Harriers) with Bilston's quick silver Janice Llewellyn (Track League) in third place winning time 11.3 seconds.

Event No 4 brought Andy and John into conflict in the junior 100 yards scratch race, and it was the young Birchfield sprint star Michael Stowe who took the honours narrowly beating Andy Fereday by a stride across the finishing line in 10.6 seconds with John Brimble in a disappointing 6th and last place.

Event No 5 the Men's Senior 100 yards this turned out to be my nightmare race, but in my warm-up procedure I felt in great form, but knew I faced some tough opposition from the Birchfield trip of J Gleeson, Hugh Sumner, John Morbey and also from my Track League team mates Jack Cole and Peter Hingley. The starter this evening was Mr R Downes, at his command we all settle down into our starting blocks, he then calls 'Get Set' and in fractions of seconds before his gun fires, there's movement from beside me and a blatant false start from my point of view by one of the Birchfield runners which went unpunished by the starter, because the recall gun I was expecting didn't go off and I was left dwelling in my blocks cursing my bad luck and appealing to the starter to re-run the race which all fell on deaf ears, as I saw my 5 opponents blast down the track, the race was won by J Gleeson (BH) with John Morbey (BH) and Jack Cole (TL) finishing in second and third places winning time 10.1 seconds, that heavens I've got the 220 yards as a back up race to redeem some of my lost pride later on.

Famous Floodlights Switched On

With the daylight starting to fade fast at 8.20 pm the famous floodlights of Alexander Stadium were turned on, why famous, well these floodlights were first used for athletic meetings in a modest way back in September 1948, but it was two years later in 1950 which saw the Alexander Stadium reach its golden heights as a major force in 'Floodlights' meetings and the master stroke was securing the entry of Fanny Blankers-Koen the 4 times Olympic Champion of 1948, other stars on show on that late September or early October evening of 1950, were two other great Olympic athletes Arthur Wint and lightening fast sprinter Emmanuel McDonald-Bailey, that super star evening was a high success and put the Alexander Stadium on the sporting map with a crowd estimated at over 14,000 which was said to be largest crowd ever to watch an athletic match in the Midlands, what a great contrast to the few hundred spectators present at tonight's meeting.

With the floodlights now switched on and beaming down on the cinder track, and the match now running way behind schedule it was time to hurry along. Event No 19 the Senior Ladies 220 yards race and there was no holding back the Birchfield sprint star Daphne Arden as she blasted around the furlong track to register her second win of the evening in 25 seconds dead, beating her team ate A Batson by 3 yards, my Tipton friends Joy Gray and Geraldine Lovesay finished 5th and 6th.

Event No 20 the Junior Men's 220 yards race say John Brimble come out of his shell and sparkle under the blaze of those floodlights with a brilliant win for the Track League just beating E Lehmkuhl (Birchfield Harriers) in 23.5 seconds.

Event No 21 was my next race the Senior Men's 220 yards race, my pride but not confidence had taken a knocking after being left in my starting blocks and taking no part in my 100 yards race, but I'm quite certain there won't be a repeat performance in this race, as I pace up and down the track waiting for the starter to call us under orders, the line up was – J Gleeson winner of the 100 yards race, Roger Impett, Don Hitchman making up the Birchfield trio, with Dave Pugh, myself and Peter Hingley representing the Track League and from past encounters I reckoned unwisely that my team mate Dave Pugh would be my main opposition in this race. Dave and I were great mates, but once we stepped on the athletic track we were deadly rivals and tonight would be no exception with both of us wanting the accolade of winning this prestigious race under the floodlights of the Alexander Stadium. Time was now up as the starter calls us to take up our staggered positions on the cure of the furlong track, he then calls out 'Get Set' any lingering doubts about another dodgy start were soon swept away with a first time clean break at the sound of the starter's pistol going off. Then six fit young athletes exert very ounce of energy as we all head for glory around the bend of the track, its only on entering the home straight that the placings become clear, with myself and Dave Pugh fighting it out for the lead with the rest of the chasing pack breathing down our necks and I'm so wrapped up in my battle to defeat Dave I pay no attention to my other very talented rivals which proved to my cost my fatal undoing, because just approaching the winning line, with now a good two yards lead over Dave, a blacked vested Birchfield Harrier sped past me on the inside lane and piped me across the finishing line, this young whipper snapper was names Roger Impett, I was absolutely gutted to lose the race, but sportingly I take nothing away from Roger, who had timed his finish to perfection and clocked a winning time of 22.8 seconds, my conciliation was clocking another fast time for the 220 yards in 22.9 seconds, and yet again beating my old foe Dave Pugh.

Event No 23 the Junior Men's 440 yards race, this event brought Andy Fereday out on the track again over his best distance the quarter mile and his free flowing style of running say him give the Birchfield runner Dave Bartlet the race of his life, with Andy only running out of steam over the last few strides of the race, which allowed the fast finishing Birchfield Harrier to snatch the victory from Andy, winning time 50.8 seconds, that's twice Andy's been denied victory this evening.

Event No 24 the Men's Senior One Mile Race, this was Ken Rickhuss's our club captain's race, I would like to give a good account of this race and say the Track League Milers ran brilliant but it wouldn't be true, because they were put to shame by the Birchfield trip of L Orton, W J Feust and M Cooper who crossed the finishing line in that order, winning time 4 min 28.5 seconds.

Event No 25 Men's Senior 440 yards race, this was the race I was looking forward to watching all evening with the two thoroughbred athletes of Jack Cole (Track League) and Mike Rawson (Birchfield Harriers) up against the young colts of Dave Pugh, A Mooney (Track League) and Michael Stowe, Vic Whitehouse (Birchfield Harriers). For me this was the start race of the evening and the crowd wasn't let down, well not if you were cheering on the Track League side anyway, because the two main contenders Jack Cole and Mike Rawson fought out the riveting finish up the home straight, with the young colts hard on their heels, and to the Track League's delight it was super Jack who chested the tape in first place, or by what you might call a short head in horse racing terms from star athlete Mike Rawson with Michael Stowe in 3rd spot, winning time 49.9 seconds.

Resounding Victory for Birchfield over Track League

Event No 26 the Junior One Mile race was won by D Waldron (Birchfield) in 4 min 30.7 seconds, this win gave the great Birchfield team a resounding points massed victory over the Track League, even with five more events scheduled after this mile race, it was at this point that John Brimble, Andy Fereday and myself decided to make tracks for home and just reflect on our own great personal performances this evening and proud to have represented the 'West Midlands Track League'.

Yours in sport

Roy Langford, Tividale