With the championship period approaching most clubs are now running over 9-10 miles cross-country courses and Liverpool Harriers, who entertained Sutton Harriers and Wallasey Athletic Club at Woolton last Saturday.
In their enthusiastic preparation for the championships produced a course which, for length and difficulty, surpassed anything the majority of the runners had previously tackled, a distance of more than ten miles being covered.
Unfortunately trail laying over the single lap course proved inadequate, resulting in many of the runners going off the course and getting lost, in some cases until after darkness had fallen, a most deplorable state of affairs.
Liverpool Harriers won by a narrow margin from Sutton Harriers with Wallasey A.C. third, first man home being the brilliant Sutton 'guest' runner, P. J. Harrison, holder of many championships and records, second to finish was Liverpool's pre-war champion, T. J. O'Mahoney, now in fine form again with his club mate, E. Rodgers, running, a good last mile to gain third place. Fourth and fifth were T. Fillingham and F. McMinnis, both of Sutton Harriers and both chosen to represent the Northern Cross-Country Association versus English Universities at Sheffield. J. Edwards, the Wallasey captain, and champion was a close up sixth after losing about 200 yards through taking a wrong turn, a set-back which unquestionably cost at least two places and spoiled Edwards' best effort of the season. L. J. Burns, Liverpool University and Christie Champion, was seventh, and A. E. Tyrer, Sutton's farmous international, finished 11th, seriously handicapped by an inflamed tendon.
The Wallasey runners stuck gamely to their arduous task, A. Dickinson and D. Dickinson doing particularly well. These two brothers have made great improvement in their first season and should show up well in the championship. A. Dickinson was 14th and D. Dickinson 16th with R. Richardson giving another fine performance in 17th place. G. K. Williams was 19th and R. F. Hubbard, completed the team six with 21st position. The winner's time was 57 mins. 57 secs.
In the youths' race Liverpool Harriers had the first three men home, led by J. Kirby, Wallasey's R. Johnston was fourth and the team second of three.
To-day Wallasey A.C. have a training run at Leasowe Road, when a full turn-out of youths, juniors and seniors is anticipated.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 18/01/1947
Ref 1661