Merseyside fielded particularly strong opposition in the Cheshire County cross-country championships at Winnington Park, Northwich, on Saturday and, as expected produced the seven miles senior champion in Martin Cranny, of Wirral A.C.
This club also won the team titles in the senior and youth events and gained second place in the boys' two-mile race. In the absence of last year's champion, Colin Broom (East Cheshire Harriers) attention was mainly focused on the ability of John Wright (Wallasey A.C.). For three laps of the main event he and club mate Brian Woolford jostled merrily in front until Cranny put in a late terrific burst to win by twelve seconds from Woolford, who was closely followed by D. Biddle (Wirral A.C.). Wright finished fourth.
Winnington Park's much fancied runner, Ray Phipps, the nineteen-year-old ex-Northern Counties' youth champion did well to finish sixth.
RESULTS
Senior seven mile. - Individual placing: 1, M. Cranny (Wirral A.C.) 41 mins. 39 secs.; 2, B. Woolford (Wallasey A.C.) 41mins. 46secs.; 3, D. Biddle (Wirral A.C.) 41 mins. 53secs.
Team placings: 1, Wirral A.C. (1, 3, 6, 12, 14, 16) 52 points; 2, Wallasey A.C. (2, 4, 9, 10, 15, 33) 73 points; 3. Sale H. (22, 23, 24, 32, 37, 42) 180 points.
Boys' two mile. - 1, P. Glazier (Sale H.) 10mins. 15secs.; 2, G Rowley (Sale H.) 10mins 20secs.; 3, J. S. Higgins (Moseley Hall G.S.) 10mins. 25secs.
Team placings: 1, Sale (1,2,5,8) 16 points: 2, Wirral G.S. (4, 6, 18, 20) 48 points; 3, Stockport School (7, 9, 16, 33) 65 points.
Youths' three miles. - 1, W. H.White (Manchester A.C.) 17mins. 33 secs.; 2, I. C. Broomfield (Warrington A.C.) 17mins. 46sec.; 3, D. Rimmer (Wirral A.C.) 17mins. 52secs.
Team placings: 1, Wirral A.C. (3, 5, 8, 9) 25 points: 2, Sale H. (4, 10, 12, 13) 39 points; 3. St. Anselm's College, Birkenhead (7, 15, 28, 30) 80 points.
Ends
Source - Daily Post - Monday, 08/01/1962
Ref 3005