The Liverpool & District Cross-Country Union brought the cross-country season to a close last Saturday by staging its annual marathon road relay race over the marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards, at Sefton Park.
Nine teams of eight runners representing the finest clubs and runners on Merseyside were entered and each runner had to cover slightly over 3¼ miles to make up the full distance.
Wallasey Athletic Club had entered two teams and both ran prominently. At the end of the third relay, the Wallasey teams were both in the first four positions but the somewhat weaker second team fell back a little after this.
K. A. Westmore, the former Liverpool University champion, ran the first relay for Wallasey and, as last year, he produced a fine effort to finish third close behind T. O'Mahoney, of Liverpool Harriers, and N. Jones, of Pembroke, the international runner, the latter two fighting it out all the way to record 1st, 2nd, and fastest times respectively of the afternoon. J. Edwards, still troubled with the wrenched foot which prevented him from defending the Wallasey cross-country championship a fortnight previously, took over the second relay and ran a magnificent race to put Wallasey in a very good position. With no one to run against, Edwards recorded 3rd fastest time of the afternoon and is the fourth fastest individual ever recorded over the course, as well as establishing a new record for the fastest lap ever run outside the opening lap. W. H. Marsh, Pembroke's wonderful young runner who has won the triple titles, West Lancashire, Northern and Liverpool & District this season, took Pembroke's colours into the lead on the second relay and Edwards' effort, which was only six seconds slower than the international runner N. Jones, put Wallasey into second place, a mere 16 seconds behind the leaders.
F. K. Ledward took the third relay and held on well to second place and on this relay E. A. Sawyer put the second team into fourth position after some good running by J. L. Davis and C. R. Hewson. J. S. Arkless ran remarkably well on the fourth relay but W. R. Richardson came across a consistently good performer in J. C. Monier, of Liverpool Harriers, on the fifth relay and was forced to lose a place which, however, was picked up again in the sixth relay by D. Grisdale who ran a well-judged race. P. Watson ran the penultimate relay for Wallasey and although F. Stone, of Liverpool Harriers caught him fairly early in the lap he hold on and finished stride for stride with his opponent, quite the most stirring finish of the day.
N. Marples, Wallasey's new cross-country champion, took over the last relay on level terms with E. Jones, of Liverpool Harriers, a very experienced runner, and general opinion was that Marples would have no difficulty in beating his man, but Jones' experience and the fact that Marples was not up to his usual form spoiled Wallasey's chances of second place, Marples said, that Jones ran so fast that he was unable to keep pace with him but it is more likely that Marples has had enough racing for this season and is in need of a well earned rest.
Meanwhile, Pembroke had won in 2 hours 20 mins. 457 secs. Wallasey were fast over a minute behind the leaders at the end of the sixth relay, but Pembroke's first two runners, Johnstone, the Liverpool & District Champion, and Nolan gained a lot of time over the last two Wallasey runners. Liverpool Harriers were second in 2 hours 24 mins. 14 secs., and Wallasey Athletic Club third in 2 hours 25 mins. 6 secs. The Wallasey second team after a good start faded out a little, although J. Williams and C. F. Peers both run well over the last two relays. Wallasey A. C. lap times herewith (First team only).
Lap. Name. mins. secs.
1-K. A. Westmore 17 6
2-J. Edwards 16 54
3-F. K. Ledward 18 44
4-J. S. Arkless 18 11
5-W. R. Richardson 18 45
6-D. Grisdale 18 32
7-P. Watson 18 9
8-N. Marples 18 45
International Cross-Country Championship.
France won the International Cross-Country Championship held over nine miles near Cardiff last Saturday. They secured five of the first seven positions, although J. T. Holden, who recently retained the National Championship, was first man home. He was an easy winner and led most of the distance. At 32 years of age he proves he is still the best cross-country runner in Europe despite his 10 years in first-class athletics. The English team finished second, and C. A. J. Emery, the Calday Grammar School master, justified his selection by finishing 19th.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 08/04/1939
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