A much higher percentage of the entry than usual started in the Warrington A.C. road races last week and Chris Vose the old-time international cross-country runner in whose honour the events were being held must have been well pleased with the compliments paid to him by so many of the clubs against which he himself raced half a century ago.
Ron Hill of Bolton, winner of , this year's Liverpool Marathon was first home in the senior seven miles race, in 33 mins. 7 secs. For 4½ miles, David Spencer, of Barrow, led a small, compact group of Hill, B. Woolford, of Wallasey A.C., and R. Shelley, of North Staffs Harriers.
Then Shelley had a turn at the lead, but from 5½ miles onwards it was a battle between Hill and Woolford, with the former showing superiority in the final drive to the finish.
Six seconds separated the first two and then came Shelley in 33 mins. 38 secs., R, Barlow (Wallasey A.C.) 34 mins. 13 secs., Spencer, also 34 mins. 13 secs., with A. E. Morten (Macclesfield) in sixth place.
Wallasey A.C., who also placed K. Mather in seventh place, scored 13 points to win the team race easily from Barrow A.C., 32 points (5, 11, 16), with Leigh Harriers third. Then came Hallamshire and Pembroke, and the promoting club, Warrington A.C., completed the first six , teams. There were 95 finishers.
Co-ordination went awry at the start of the youths' race, and Chris Vose, who was acting as starter, received the signal to send them on their journey before the timekeepers were prepared. Consequently, no times were taken.
This had no bad effect, however, and an excellent race was won by A. Booth, of Longwood H., who, in beating Eric Haslam of Leigh H., reversed their relative positions in the Northern cross-country championship last season. The winner on that occasion, A. Evans, of Hallamshire, could only finish fourth this time.
Hallamshire H., the Northern cross-country team champions, won the team race with 28 points, Longwood being second, and Derby third.
Ends
Source - Unknown - Saturday, 23/09/1961
Ref 2993