Last Saturday the West Lancashire cross-country novice championship was held from the Makerfield enclosure, Newton-le-Willows.
Over 40 runners, representing 19 teams, contested the championships and Wallasey A.C. put up its best performance in this event in finishing fourth in the team placings. Leg injury to K. Baird, who was confidently expected to finish in the first 20, alone prevented the club ranking in the first three.
P. Keogan, Makerfield H., ran a well judged race to annex first place for the winning team. T. Roderick was second, and R. Rowley, also of Makerfield, third.
The extremely heavy going proved very irksome to the Wallasey contingent; on a faster course the individual performances would no doubt have been better. W. R. Richardson kept well up with the leading bunch all the way and in finishing fifth was the first Merseyside competitor home. N. Marples ran a fine second lap to finish 18th, a splendid performance in such a large field. J. Edwards (28th), the third Wallasey man to complete the course, continues his improved form and ran steadily throughout, a remark applying also to H. Jones (36th), who completed the Wallasey team.
Both L. Hughes and J. Davies found the pace too fast for them and their respective finishing positions of 61st and 65th were disappointing.
Order of finishing of the first 15 teams were as follows:-1, Makerfield H. (1, 3, 6, 7), 17 points; 2, Lancaster H. (9, 11, 13, 17), 50 points; 3, Lancaster Freehold H. (8, 19, 20, 24), 71 ; 4, Wallasey A.C. (5, 18, 28, 36), 87; 5. Liverpool H. (12, 25, 34, 43), 114; 6. Royal Engineers H. (2, 14, 40, 78), 134 ; 7, Sutton H. (22, 37, 38, 39). 136; 8, Boundary H. (15, 16, 45, 70), 146; 9. Lancaster Primrose H. (4, 41, 42, 65), 152; 10, Sefton H. (32, 35, 44, 59). 170; 11. North Liverpool Gym. H. (23, 46, 47, 56), 172; 12. Wirral A.C. (29, 55, 57, 58), 199; 13, Liverpool Scottish H. (30, 66, 68, 74), 138; 14, Warrington A.C., 272; 15, Pilkington Recs., 350.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 07/12/1935
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