Last Saturday members of Wallasey A.C. travelled to Warrington to compete in the H.S. Finney Trophy race. In addition to the senior race which was for teams of twelve runners with eight to score, there was also a boys' race and youth race.
The boys' race which was first was over a 2½ mile course. Race winner was J. Clinch, the brilliant Port Sunlight boy, in a time of 11 minutes 2 seconds. A. F. Howard of Wallasey ran extremely well to finish third with a time of 12 minutes. With regular training this boy should have a bright future in athletics and cross-country running. His namesake, J. M. Howard finished in 17th position.
In the youth race, over a distance of 3½ miles, Wallasey runners ran well but not as well as had been anticipated, Billy Morris ran strongly to finish in 9th place but John Young, whom it was thought would be well to the front, could only finish in 15th position just ahead of team-mate B. Cowen. Individual winner was Cunningham the Blackpool Harrier in 18 mins. 23 secs.
Wallasey, as holders of the senior trophy, were debarred by the race rules from entering any of last year's winning team and this year had to withdraw from the race as insufficient numbers had turned out to complete a team.
However, those members that did turn up were allowed to run in the race but not to count. Brian Woolford ran well in a good class field to finish ninth, Warriner of Liverpool Pembroke was the race winner with Wirral A.C. taking team honours from Liverpool Pembroke with 127 points to 133.
The final placing after working out the handicaps, have been decided in the Liverpool & District Cross-Country League. Liverpool Pembroke, the scratch team, were winners with 178 points to Sefton Harriers 198 points and Liverpool Harriers 204 points, Wallasey, last year's runners-up were well down the table in 8th place.
Today, a club run is to be held from the club headquarters commencing at 3 p.m. The club will welcome any boys who competed in the recent schoolboys' championships.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/12/1958 by R. J.
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