Northern runners were in the ascendancy at Apsley, Herts., when the National Cross-Country Championship was run over a ten miles course there last Saturday, breaking a long run of supremacy by Southern and Midland runners.
Individual winner in this race with over four hundred starters was A. A. Robertson, of Reading A.C., who won easily. Second man was last year's Northern winner, Matt Smith, of Blaydon Harriers, and third, Norman Jones, of Liverpool Pembroke Harriers, second in the Northern this year and a former Liverpool & District champion.
With seven of the senior team 10 resting after their strenuous efforts in recent championships, Wallasey A.C. were decisively beaten by Wallasey Grammar School over the formers' course at Leasowe last Saturday.
School fielded a very strong team which has a wonderful chance of regaining the Northern Public Schools Cross-Country Championships at Manchester tomorrow, which they won in 1940. Their placings were with eight in each team counting, 2nd, G. A. Walker, W.A.C. youths' champion last year; 3rd, R. Loveridge; 4th, J, Sanderson; 4th, J. Mullineux ; 8th, W. Goodwin ; 9th, H. Fairbrother ; 10th, J. L. Rennie, and 11th, J. Webster, a total of 53 points, W. A. C. placings: 1st, John Edwards; 5th, R. Johnston; 7th, C. R. Hewson; 13th, J. M. Rimmer; 14th, D. Wright; 15th, R. F. Hubbard; 16th, W. Shelton; 18th, M. Ward; total 89 points.
Welcome returns after long absences due to sickness and injury, were made by J. M. Rimmer, J. A. Richardson and R. Richardson. The School unquestionably have a very fine trio in Walker, Loveridge and Sanderson, and the former should have a good chance of the individual title at Manchester tomorrow. John Edwards ran out a fairly easy winner over the 3¼ miles course, and the most improved performance of the day was registered by C. R. Hewson, who finished 7th.
Tomorrow, Wallasey Athletic Club have an ordinary run from the Leasowe Road quarters, commencing 3-15 p.m.
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Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 15/03/1947
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