The forthcoming cross-country championships and summer track season will bring into action all contenders for honours in the Olympic Games to be held in this country in 1948.
A few of the pre-war champions are again showing good form but our main chance lies, as ever, in the 23-26 age group, who, of course, were to young for competitive athletics in 1939. Many athletes who have, been demobilised from the Services are now finding their form and the next few months should see many championships being won by much younger men than last year. Only one man comes readily to mind who ran at the last Olympics in Berlin in 1936 and is almost certain to compete again next year and he is J. T. Holden, of Sefton Harriers, winner of the National Cross-Country Championship last year and chief British hope in the Olympic Marathon next year when he will be 43 years of age.
Locally, much interest has been shown in the election of the Liverpool & District Committee of the Northern Counties Athletic Association, the body which holds entirely the authority for promoting and controlling the sport of athletics on Merseyside. Twenty places are allocated to the 31 affiliated clubs and Wallasey Athletic Club were fortunate enough to gain a seat when J. Edwards was elected from 36 nominations. Edwards' extensive experience on both the active and executive sides of athletics should prove his electors' faith in him. Mr. A. G. Nicholson, President of Wallasey Athletic Club, as past president of the Northern Counties Athletic Association, is an ex-officio member of the Liverpool Committee.
Edwards, who is Liverpool & District Cross-Country Champion, had the curious experience of hearing himself nominated as Secretary of the Liverpool & District Cross-Country Union at a meeting last Friday evening, and R. F. Hubbard, the efficient hon. Secretary of Wallasey Athletic Club, was also nominated as hon. Treasurer of the Union. Both asked for the nominations to be withdrawn on the grounds that their continued active interest in athletics would seriously interfere with executive duties, and this was agreed to.
When the West Lancashire Championships take place on February 8th, Wallasey Athletic Club will travel to the St. Helens venue by private coach, and those intending to travel therein should communicate with the Hon. Sec., Wallasey Athletic Club, R. F. Hubbard, 39 Beech Road, Birkenhead, 'phone, Birkenhead 3550.
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Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 25/01/1947
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