The West Lancashire Cross-Country Championships were held under ideal conditions at Sherdley Park, St. Helens, last Saturday, with a good entry in each of the divisions, Senior, Junior and Youths.
Owing to the late arrival at the venue, Wallasey Athletic Club youths' team was unsettled and in consequence were unable to reproduce the form shown in the Liverpool & District Championships a fortnight earlier. R. Johnston in particular was well below form and the race was won by J. Black of Liverpool Harriers whom Johnston easily beat in the earlier race. G. A. Walker, of Wallasey, ran very well for most of the race but his good work was discounted when he lost a shoe, Liverpool Harriers won the team title.
In the junior championship, M. Maleedy of Sutton Harriers, set a fast pace from the start and led all the way to win easily. Wallasey Athletic Club was the first club to finish a team four with H. Thomson 6th, D. Kelly 7th, S. Trusswell 10th, and A. Simpson 11th, a very fine team effort which normally would be good enough to win the title, yet Wallasey had to be content with third place behind Wirral A.C. and Liverpool Harriers. Thomson, however, received a consolation prize in the form of the medal awarded to the first man home of an unplaced club.
Sutton Harriers, National Cross-Country Champions, completely dominated the senior race, run over 9 miles (5 laps), brothers W. and E. McMinnis were 1st and 3rd respectively, and internationals, T. Fillingham and A. E. Fryer were 2nd and 4th, a superb feat of packing. Wirral A.C. were second and Liverpool Pembroke 3rd. The Wallasey Athletic Club seniors acquitted themselves well and were delighted with fourth position. J. Edwards, the captain, whilst he did not run well, kept going and finished 18th with D. Dickinson and W. R. Bee never far behind. J. S. Arkless, E. C. Foster, R. E. Young and J. M. Rimmer completed the team.
Northern Championships will be held over exactly the same course on 28th February.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 21/02/1948
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