Enthusiasm for cross-country joys appears to have taken a new lease of life. The "tried" runner and the novice both appear to relish the pleasures of prickly hedges, wire, ditches, etc., and grumble not if they are slightly torn on their return.
Of course, the old runners would have us believe that the farmers are much more considerate to cross-country men of to-day, and that it would be impossible to find the difficult courses that they used to traverse Well, well, we will leave them to their " stories of the past "; it is all they have left, and it is more than probable that the boys of to-day will endeavour to persuade others in the future that their runs were so "very trying." There is one good point about cross-country running, and that is, that the old runner never dies, be only favours us with his presence and the benefits he can give from ripe experience, and so our sport improves as time goes on.
ANOTHER RECORD GONE.
The Liverpool & District Cross-Country Union held their opening run from the Blue Anchor, Aintree. the headquarters of North Liverpool Gym. Harriers. It speaks well for the keenness of local athletes that for the second week in succession on the muster was a record. Sefton Harriers again topped the poll with 36, followed by Liverpool Harriers and Pembroke Harriers with 34 and 33 respectively. There were actually 197 runners started off under the guidance of Sub-Captain A. N. Fenner, of the North Liverpool Gym. Harriers. A good course, well supplied with obstacles, a comfortable pace, and a good leader made for an excellent run. The usual splitting of the pack took place at a pre-arranged spot, the novices covering about five miles, the seniors going an additional one. Billy Sablick, gunman, started both of the "mile-breaks." It was a notable feature to see the great number of novices who took part in this opening run, and it is hoped that we find among them some capable of bringing local cross-country right up to the top.
NOVICE MILE BREAK.
Newton, of Pembroke Harriers was a good winner of this mile, and is to be congratulated on winning at his first attempt at this distance. He was followed in by Clee, of Wallasey Harriers, Owen of Holt Secondary School, being third.
The first six were as follows:- Newton, Pembroke Harriers; Clee, Wallasey Harriers; Owen, Holt Secondary School; Jones, Sefton Harriers; Morris, Sefton Harriers; O'Prey, Boundary Harriers.
SENIOR MILE
Dick Henderson of North Liverpool Gym Harriers, completed a splendid double, as following his win last week he successfully landed this mile also. I doubt if it would have been possible to have found a more popular victor. Proffitt, of Sefton Harriers, pushed Henderson hard all the way, and finished second just in front of Dodd, of Wirral, who was third. Dodd put in some exceptionally hard running near the finish, passing two or three men practically "on the tape."
The first six were - Henderson (North Liverpool Gym Harriers), Proffitt (Sefton Harriers), Dodd (Wirral Harriers), Cornett (Sefton Harriers), Weston (Sefton Harriers), and Porter (Wirral Harriers).
The president of the union, Mr. A. G. Nicholson, presented the prizes to the successful runners, and also thanked the "Hosts," North Liverpool Gymnasium Harriers, for the very excellent arrangements they had made to stage this Monstre Meet. It was good to see many of the old faces in the crowd Charlie Ledson, Bob Smethurst, J. T. Rimmer, W. Brooks, to mention just a few.
Before leaving "district affairs," I have been asked by the secretary of the union, to remind all club secretaries, that its expression of their clubs wishes with regard to handicaps during the season should be sent to him as early as possible in order that the necessary arrangements may be made.
Ends
Source - Liverpool Echo - Saturday, 20/10/1928
Ref 2366