Last Saturday this club held then country championship and sealed handicap from headquarters, Oarside Farm. Trail left at 3.50 p.m. and covered a course of nearly seven miles by way of Wallasey Marshes, Bidston Village, Leasowe Fields, Green-lane and Grove-road.
Twenty minutes later a start was effected, and almost immediately competition began to assert itself, the strife became keen, in accordance with which the pace grew exceedingly warm. After the first two miles had been covered W. S. Griffiths took the lead and retained his position until Sutton's Farm, Leasowe-road, was reached, at which place he was joined by D. Don, both leading H. Hanmer by 80 yards. In spite of the twenty minutes' start which had been given to the trail-layers, it became upon them as a great surprise to find at this point, that the leaders were only a matter of 100 yards or so behind. The result would have been disastrous had they been overtaken, but as it was, although the distance between them gradually diminished, they succeeded in arriving home first. Just before the Gold House was reached, H. Hanmer forged ahead, and was soon leading the field, with D. Don close on his heels. Appearances at this point led to the anticipation of a very close race for first place, but these positions remained the same throughout, Hanmer still further increasing his lead, and winning fairly easy by 50 yards. The following is the result with the times accomplished:-
H. Hanmer, 39m. 51s.; D. Don, 40m. 4s.; W. S. Griffiths, 40m. 23s.; J. J. Eivers, 41m 8s.; W. G. Lace, 41m. 45s.; H. J. Wilcox, 46m. 17s.; G. R. Low, 46m. 17s. The sealed handicap resulted in W. G. Lace being the winner, who ran very well off three minutes. Special attention is drawn to the fine performance of W. S. Griffiths, which comes as a great and pleasant surprise to everybody concerned. He has shown considerable improvement during the last few weeks, and his excellent show in this important event marks him as a very promising young runner. Next Saturday, the 9th instant, the return fixture with Homecroft Harriers will take place at Oarside Farm, on which occasion it will be a "run through."
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 09/02/1907
Ref 2882