Club Race Reports Season 1913-1914
Liverpool & District XC Union
Championships - Bebington Showground - 21/03/1914 - Senior Men
The pessimist is to be found everywhere, but I believe that this year a large proportion of these gentlemen have busied themselves writing on cross-country topics.
I have seen it stated time and time again that cross-country running is no longer the popular sport it used to be, that clubs are disappearing that once were landmarks in the athletic world and son on ad nauseum.
That this is anything but the case in Liverpool was proved at the local championship held last Saturday at Bebington Showgrounds, where there was a record entry of 8 junior and 8 senior teams, all from clubs within a radius of 6 miles of the Liverpool Town Hall.
The course was in splendid condition the day was ideal and the racing provided enough thrills and surprises to satisfy the most jaded follower of the sport.
The junior event was decided first. The prophets had been busy, and as usual given a number of forecasts, but what is more unusual in Novice races, they were mainly correct. Olley, of Knotty Ash Harriers, was held to be unbeatable for individual honours and Boundary Harriers for the premier team position. As the pack of 80 runners dashed past the grand stand the first time Olley was leading. Four laps (1¾ miles per lap) was the allotted distance, and when they appeared the second time, Olly was still in front, evidently taking things easily. Close behind were some half-dozen others, of whom Cotteral (Wirral) and Thompson (Boundary) were the freshest. For team honours Boundary Harriers were easily first, though it was evident that there was going to be keen competition for the next two positions, Wallasey, Wirral and Knotty Ash being all in the picture. At three laps things were getting more settled, Olley was forcing the pace, and was getting well away from the field. Boundary were still in an impregnable position, but Wallasey had fallen back somewhat leaving Wirral and Knotty Ash fighting keenly for 2nd and 3rd places. On entering the ground the last time it was soon seen that Olly was far ahead of the second man, in fact he breasted the tape a full quarter of a mile in front, winning his first championship in a manner which stamps him as a novice from whom more will be heard in the future. He has a beautifully easy action, though he carries his body and arms in an awkward manner; this, however, will no doubt disappear.
Of the local teams Wallasey finished 4th, S. Edgar gaining the medal for the first man of an unplaced team, which also came to Wallasey last year. Liscard A.C. failed to finish a team.
The Senior race of 9½ miles provided a big surprise. For first position there were only two clubs with any chance - Wirral A.C., the holders, and Wallasey H. and A.C., last year's runners-up, who were beaten by 8 points. What made the race keener was the fact that Wirral, who had already two wins to their credit, only wanted another to win outright the beautiful silver cup, which is competed for annually. Though it was admitted that Wirral were a tough nut to crack, those in the know fancied their rivals. On entering the ground at the end of the first lap, Sep Francom (Wirral) was a conspicuous figure in his Olympic singlet at the head of the field, closely followed by Howson, Young and Scott, of Wallasey, with Jones (Wirral) and J. T. Rimmer (Sefton) well up. Here the team honours were going to Wallasey, though Wirral was very little behind. At the end of the next lap the difference was greater. Francom had got a good lead and eventually won by about 250 yards. Howson and Young were running together in the next two positions, with Scott and McMaster fourth and fifth. Two laps later the position of the leaders were still the same, but Terry and Scoins (Wallasey) were gradually pegging their opponents down and getting up to their club-mates in front. The fourth lap was also noticeable for the fine running of Plant, who pulled up from 20th to 5th place, and also for the falling away of that fine old veteran J. T. Rimmer.
When the bell went there was no doubt as to which club had won, Wallasey having actually seven men before Wirral's second, but it was evidence that a fierce struggle was going on for the privilege of filling the last three places in the winning team, as Scott, Terry, McMaster, and Scoins, with McCaughy, of W. Liverpool Gym., were all together. After a great finish down the straight they passed the post in that order, McCaughy just beating Scoins. In finishing their team 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, the winners put up a performance which has never been equalled before in any cross-country championship. Only 1min. 3secs. separated the first from the last.
Pembroke ran well to get third place, West Cheshire having hard lines in being beaten by 2 points.
