Club Race Reports Season 1948-1949
Liverpool & District XC Union
Championships - West Derby - 29/01/1949 - Senior Men
At West Derby last Saturday afternoon Denis Kelly, of Wallasey Athletic Club, ran a brilliant race to win the Liverpool & District Junior Cross-Country Championship by 100 yards in 37 mins. 35 secs. after hard running over six miles of mixed park, land and plough.
Taking the lead after the first mile, Kelly was never seriously challenged and the broken terrain, which upset many runners did not worry him. Another fine performance was given by Peter Evans in this race, his first appearance for the club: after running second to Kelly throughout he finished in third place. Support from Thompson (14th) and Simpson (16th) ran the Wallasey team into second place, the superior packing of the Pembroke team denying them victory.
In the senior race over nine miles, Wallasey Athletic Club ran into fourth place after a tussle with Liverpool Harriers. Wirral A.C. won easily, with Pembroke second. Wallasey's captain, John Arkless (11th in 57 mins. 45 secs.) won the medal for the first man home in an unplaced team. Other Wallasey runners' positions were; Tony Dickinson, 18th; Foster, 21st; and McCaig, 33rd.
Cross Country Championships
National - Bromford Bridge, West Bromwich - 12/03/1949 - Junior Men
In the English cross-country championships at Bromford Bridge, Birmingham, last Saturday the individual winners of each of the three races were well-known Northern runners. (Youths - J. Price, East Cheshire; Junior Lieut. G. B. Saunders, Bolton; and Senior - Dr. Aaron (Leeds), and the Junior team winners (Sheffield United) and the senior team winners (Sutton Harriers) are both famous Northern clubs.
Last year's winner, Sidney Wooderson finished 52nd and Holden, the Olympic Marathon runner, finished 41st.
In the youths' race, Liverpool Harriers gained 2nd place which promised well for their future performances. Wallasey Athletic Club competed in the junior race and finished 30th out of 41. Individual positions were - H. Thompson 111th, D. Kelly 127th, R. Johnston 145th, A. Simpson 182nd and E. Bollard 241st.
Christmas Handicap
Christmas Handicap - Leasowe - 18/12/1948 - Seniors
Once again skilful, handicapping was rewarded when 23 runners in Wallasey Athletic Club's traditional Christmas
Handicap last Saturday afternoon finished in quick succession. The timekeeper and the recorder were kept on their toes by the close finishing, but managed to distinguish the following result:-
1.Ray Scammell (off 1 mins. 15 secs.). 2.Alan Clarke (off 1 min.) 3.-Peter Mason, (off 1 mins. 45 secs.) The fastest times over the four miles course, which was run in cold, foggy, weather, accurately reflect current form: 1, Denis Dickinson (23 mins. 49 secs.); 2, John Edwards, (24 mins. 6 secs.); 3, Harold Thompson (24 mins. 15 secs.)
