With a very depleted team Wallasey Athletic Club fulfilled the fixture with Liverpool H. & A.C. at Gateacre last Saturday. Only Edwards of the Club's best team six was available and indeed he was feeling the effects of recent indisposition.
Liverpool had their novice championship down to be run in conjunction with the match and a short two-lap course was arranged. In a rather slow start Wallasey obtained a slight advantage with W. R. Richardson, captain, and F. Ledward well placed, but after about a mile had been covered E. Jones, the new Liverpool captain, went to the front and greatly increased the pace. The Wallasey runners dropped back a little and Edwards found himself hemmed in by Liverpool's canary and blue colours. Under such disheartening circumstances Edwards has always proved a great fighter, and with no team-mates to back him up the Wallasey champion proceeded to fight the race out with the Liverpool runners. The trail-layers had done their task well, although owing to some misunderstanding, had laid a course of close on four miles which meant that the total distance was about 7½ miles. However, the course chosen included grassland, plough (quite a lot), road, muddy lanes and woods and the interest which the varied going offered rather offset the long distancE. Jones kept up a strong pace and even beat his own team-men off, this move suiting Edwards, who gradually worked into second placE. Jones had the unusual experience of having his running vest torn completely from him whilst negotiating barbed wire but this failed to disturb the sturdy Liverpool captain, who continued, to win a fine race. Edwards steadily suppressed those behind him and recorded yet another second place in inter-club contests.
Of the Wallasey runners, Ledward ran well throughout, although tired through working overnight and he was particularly unfortunate in losing two places close to the finish owing to lack of markers. Richardson, too, found some of his old form and would certainly have finished well up if he had not had the bad luck to get a thorn in his foot in the early part of the race, and he was very plucky to carry on. Grisdale again showed improvement finishing immediately in front of Parry, who is running very consistently. Whittingham ran extremely well over a longer distance than he has ever attempted before and looks like becoming quite a useful runner.
Full result :-
Wallasey A.C. - J. Edwards, 2 ; F. K. Ledward, 9 ; D. Grisdale, 10; C. Parry, 11 ; W. R. Richardson, 13 ; John Williams, 15, Total 60 points.
Liverpool H. & A.C. - E. Jones, 1 ; F. Lewis, 3 ; F. Stone 4 ; J. C. Monier, 5 ; T. Owens, 6 ; S. Bailey,7 ; Total 26 points.
F. O'Mahoney won the Liverpool Club's novice championship.
The run from Leasowe Road was well supported, a fast course being selected. R. Yeoman finished first with Broster close behind, 3rd being A. Pritchard, the last-named showing improved form.
To-day there will be a Club run for all from the pavilion in Leasowe Road. Prospective members should apply to Mr. R. G. Hyde, 14, Cromer Drive, Wallasey, Hon. Secretary, or at the Festival Pavilion on Saturday afternoons.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/11/1937
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