The older one grows the harder it becomes to capture the " bucket and spade " happiness of our youth, the days of our limited but contented outlook upon things in general, and life in particular. Days when a Bank Holiday was a wonderful experience of childish enjoyment, when from sheer physical fatigue day merged into night and oblivion. Such a day when nothing but stark, teasing hunger interfered with the joys that were ours.
Those were the golden shore days ever to be remembered. Then came the roller skate days, the cigarette card days, bicycle and school days, etc., etc., and then - the struggle for existence, when Bank Holidays became something of a nuisance and an expense.
Although I am not a bit fond of being squashed in a holiday crowd of any kind, whether it be on a fashionable promenade, at a football match, or a prize fight, the herding instinct within me very often reveals itself on festive and other similar occasions. To me the sight of thousands of tiny toddlers joyously digging, paddling, and seriously playing to their little hearts' content on the sea shore, is a delightful day-dream.
It is the sport of childhood to kick, frolic, tumble, and toss about. Their growing needs demand such free, open-air exercise. And so on to the games of youth and manhood, the games and sports of much sterner stuff. Life was ever thus.
Cycling club week-end holiday tours are increasingly popular, and many of the local clubs are spending their Easter holidays awheel. As usual, North Wales is being visited by several parties, Bettys forming a happy rendezvous.
Speaking of cycling tours reminds me that the N.C.U. guide and handbook for 1930 is now on sale, and can be obtained from Centre secretaries, or direct from headquarters, 11 Great James - street, Bedford Row, London, W.C.1.
The book is a veritable mine of useful information, compiled with great care and arranged with good judgment us a handy reference book and tourists' directory.
Since the Wirral Harriers completely covered themselves with cross-country glory, the vanquished teams have never slept a wink, wondering how it all happened. To win three team championships in one fell swoop has given their sporty rivals something to think about until next year's trials.
It may possibly interest the present worthy Wirralites to know that "Uno-Hoo" held a very lofty position in the club during the first year of it existence, when the late Frank Latham was hon. secretary, and did so much to put the club on its feet. Poor Frank, how delighted he would have been to-day had he lived. On, Wirral, on!
Only the other day I was moodily gazing over some old-time Press cuttings, one of which referred to the West Cheshire Harriers. At that time that big local surprise packet, Herbert E. Davis, the Bedfordshire cross-country champion, had just joined the club, and J. B. Wilkie, the half-miler, was showing English championship form, having won the half-mile, off 45 yards, in 1min. 54 1-5 secs., at Huddersfield. This was in the year 1895, when the late Jack Lee was a prince of club secretaries.
The day that Davis won the Liverpool & District Cross-Country Championship at Parkgate was a great day for West Cheshire. And the "stranger" made no mistake about winning either. He simply romped home. The pity was, we saw very little of him after that. We still had Jason Tennant, Jimmy Hosker, Billy Mercer, etc.
And the great water jump, manufactured annually by our old friend, Tommy Cleave, who lived on the spot, never lacked a plentiful supply of water when the championships came round. The jumps on the Parkgate course were miniature Grand National jumps; They were very, very trying, believe me, after the second time round.
Those "Black Horse," Higher Tranmere, days were topping times, and the six-pointed blue star was a badge to be proud of. The West Cheshire Harriers yearly fixture booklet was one of the neatest and best got-up "club cards" I used to receive as a young Pressman.
At this time of year harriers change into athletes, or track runners. All harriers don't become track runners, nor do all track runners become harriers, but the change-over is pretty general. Most long distance runners indulge in both. The sports season has opened already, the Liverpool-Sefton-Pembroke joint meeting at the Liverpool Police A. S.'s ground yesterday (Good Friday) being the first local gathering.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 19/04/1930 by UNO-HOO
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