Liverpool & District Cross-Country Union Championships take place next Saturday at the Bebington Show Grounds.
The junior race, which will be taken first, will commence at about 3 o'clock and the senior at 3 45 p.m. All the best runners in the district will compete, as all the clubs have entered teams, and the racing is certain to be very keen. The junior will be over a course of about five miles, and is always the case in this class of contest, the result is extremely open, as so very little is actually known of the true form of any of the runners. However, as it has been my custom to go into 'prospects' for a great number of years now, I will not shirk the task.
Dealing with the clubs first, there is not the slightest doubt that Wirral A.C., the holders, have again got together a wonderfully strong team and they will require a tremendous amount of beating; but Boundary are a strong combination, with Knotty Ash and Wallasey very likely candidates. If the Boundary men run even respectably they should just about beat Wirral by reason of superior packing powers, but the struggle will be a good one, and neither team can afford to make the slightest mistakes of they will find themselves relegated to the 'ruck,' as there is not the slightest doubt that the class will be very level, with one or two notable exceptions.
For individual honours, if all goes well, there should only be one man in it, A. Olley, the Knotty Ash runner, who will also be remembered as a racing cyclist. He has run in remarkable fashion on one or two occasions, and if he can only reproduce his form for the big occasion, he should win with plenty to spare. One or two of the Wirral men are reported to be moving extremely well, while A. Middleton, Boundary, should also figure prominently. For the senior race, which will be over a course of about nine miles, there will be a great deal of excitement, as in the case of a win for Wirral A.C. the holders, the magnificent Liverpool Parliamentary Cup becomes their own property. Needless to say they have left absolutely no stone unturned to gain this triumph, and their men will go to the post knowing that they have had everything possible in the way of both preparation and forethought.
Their solitary serious rivals are Wallasey Harriers who, as runners-up last year did a splendid performance. Unfortunately, the club have not been by any means well served by their runners this year, as both A.G. Roberts and E. Plant (the latter of whom was fourth last year) are by no means fit; in fact, it is very doubtful if Roberts will run, as his avocation absolutely precludes him from any idea of training. The race for third place is quite open, as, apart from the two clubs already mentioned, the rest are extremely level. For the individual honour Sep Francom, the holder, should again win readily if he is in anything like form; but after him there will be a rare struggle for places J.T. Rimmer is certain to run well, with T. Williams, T. C. Jones, H. Davies and S. W. Bird (Wirral); R. Young, C. J. Hewson, Peter Scott, and H. N. Terry (Wallasey), R. J. M'Caughey (North Liverpool Gymnasium Harriers) H. H. Herbert (Liverpool Boundary) A. M'Master, A. G. Scoins (Wallasey), G. A. Walker (West Cheshire Harriers), W. Sablick and Charlie Millington (Liverpool Pembroke) leading the rest of the field. The running should be worth going a long way to see and the struggle between Wirral A. C. and Wallasey Harriers in the senior alone, though the latter cannot hope to be at their best, should be sufficient guarantee of a gathering of spectators. The ground is situate about ten minutes' walk from Rock Ferry Railway Station, to which trains run about every six minutes. For those requiring a nearer station Bebington, on the Great Western Line, is only one minute's walk, but the trains are not so frequent or reliable. There should not be a single dull moment as a football match will be in progress during the races.
Sport last week-end was quite good, several of the clubs holding their club championships, so that there was some really splendid racing. Wallasey Harriers Club Championship was decided over eight miles of country, the race being particularly fine and the issue being in doubt right to the last moment, Bob Young eventually beating Peter Scott by a margin of about a dozen yards, with H. N. Terry quite well up third. These three had a tremendous tussle throughout, and it was only by sheer determination that Young won. He ran a remarkable race for a man he cannot by any stretch of imagination be called fit while Scott also ran splendidly, with his usual grit. He is to be commiserated with in finding the winner in such a storming mood. For Terry no praise is too high, as for this year's novice to run so close to such fine runners as the two first named means that he has a wonderful future to look forward to, and with care he should go far. Details of the first few:-
Actual time. Start. H'Cap time.
1. R. Young ................ 48 45 .. 0 30 .... 48 15
2. P. Scott ................ 48 47 .. 0 30 .... 48 17
3. H. N. Terry ............. 48 57 .. 1 45 .... 47 12
4. A. M'Master ............. 50 13 .. 1 30 .... 48 43
5. A. G. Scoins ............ 50 14 .. 1 30 .... 48 44
6. T. Hughes ............... 52 37 .. 3 30 .... 49 7
7. S. G. Edgar ............. 52 43 .. 3 45 .... 48 58
8. J. S. Parry ............. 53 49 .. 3 0 .... 50 49
A. M'Master won the sealed handicap and George Ridley the special prize for the runner doing the best performance over a given distance. North Liverpool Gymnasium Harriers held their ten miles cross-country championship. The race was splendidly supported and R.J. M'Caughey by winning for the fourth successive occasion, created a club record. His time was 62 min. 3 sec. D. Liddle, jun. ran well to finish in 62 min. 32 sec. J. A. Plant was third in 62 min. 32 sec., P. Spiers 63 mins 10 sec., fourth, H. Evans, 63 min. 13 secs., fifth. J. Warren and R. Thomas dead-heated in 64 min. 15 sec. for sixth. Liverpool Oddfellows Harriers entertained old friends Liverpool Pembroke Harriers to a free and easy run in the Mossley Hill and Allerton districts, being much enjoyed. In the sprint home W. Higham, J. Bailey, R. French, W. A. R. Marsh, H. Kelly, and A. W. Jones showed up most prominently. Wirral A.C. had twenty members out from Higher Tranmere over a seven miles' course. A cracking pace was kept up Sep Francom being first man home, followed by Tommy Jones.
Sefton Harriers had an ordinary training run from headquarters, no organised racing being indulged in. Several of the men showed distinct signs that they are very fit, and some good running was done J. T. Rimmer for the once had the role of spectator. It is pleasing to know the popular Jack Mills won the Northern inter-'varsity Feather-weight Boxing Championship on 6th inst. Knotty Ash Harriers had an ordinary run from headquarters over a stiff course of about seven miles. Owing to the high wind it was impossible to lay trail, but with the men all in racing trim they kept well together. R Hoos, who is one of this seasons finds, ran well, as did also S. H. M'Donald and H. G. Barnshaw. Wallasey Harriers Walking Section held a six miles handicap from headquarters a good muster turnng out. R. M'Donough the scratch man, walked wonderfully and won in 51 min. 23 sec., with W. D. Band (1 min.) second in 51 min. 23 sec., J. J. Ewer (1 min.) third in 54 min. 40 sec., J. Jones (4 ½ min.) 59 min. 30 sec., fourth, S. Edwards (4 ½ min.) 60 min., fifth, H. Fortey, 61 min., sixth, F. Kilvert, seventh and J. Scott eighth.
Ends
Source - Unknown - Saturday, 14/03/1914 by Enthusiast
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