The sternest critics of the Wallasey Athletic Club would be forced to admit that, during the past week or two the club has not been favoured with the best of luck.
A fortnight ago the stern efforts made by W. G. Ambrose and H. C. Binns in the West Lancashire Novice Championship were brought to nought by the absence from the team of H. Jones, coupled with the illness during the race of W. G. Richardson, who had been confidently expected to make a bold bid for the individual honours. And last Saturday in the inter-club fixture with Wirral A.C. and Boundary Harriers, at Prenton, misfortune once more took its toll and deprived the club of even the honour of finishing a complete team.
The race was over a course measuring eight miles in length and for the most part the 'trail' can only be described as thin. The field of 40 runners got away at 3.40 p.m., at which time the light was already beginning to fail, and at half-distance most of the visiting athletes were keeping to the course with the greatest difficulty, and the Wallasey men, in particular, who had never seen the course before, were depending on the Wirral men for guidance to the finish. There is no room for doubt that Wirral A.C. would have won the race under any circumstances, but the battle for second place between Boundary and Wallasey had a very open appearance, and it is, therefore, unfortunate that many members of these clubs were led off the course by blindly following some members of the Wirral Club who, it afterwards transpired, were not taking part in the race but had turned out for training purposes only, and, when darkness fell took the shortest course back to headquarters. As a consequence four of Wallasey's best men found themselves back in the dressing-room before the race was over, and as this quartet included H. Jones and G. M. Band, their club's chance of gaining second place perished on the spot. Only four Wallaseyans actually passed the official judges and while Boundary were fortunate enough to get the required six men past the post, the result of the race can hardly be taken as correctly representing the true strength of the clubs taking part. W. Geddes and H. Prendergest got hopelessly lost, in company with three Boundary men, and the first mentioned got within measurable distance of Heswall before striking the correct trail for home!
However, Mr. Charles Ledsome, the popular president of the Wirral A.C., made some amends to the officials of the visiting clubs at a cheerful little gathering which took place shortly after the finish of the race, and which served the useful purpose of disposing of any misunderstanding which might have arisen.
To-day, the Wallasey A.C. will hold their annual Christmas Handicap; a unique race in which every finisher gets a prize, and all members should make every effort to support this seasonable gathering, which will start at 3.15 p.m. from the headquarters in Leasowe Road.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 23/12/1933
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