Brilliant sunshine, ideal conditions underfoot and a close finish were the principal features of the Wallasey Athletic Club's annual cross-country championship held last Saturday over a course measuring 6¼ miles in length.
The number of competitors was the largest for several years and even the club secretary, R. G. Hyde, and the Northern Counties sprint champion, K. Glover, turned out to swell the entry list. Unfortunately, G. U. Band, last season's champion, was unable to be present to defend his title, but this fact robbed the contest of none of its interest for while recent form pointed to W. R. Richardson as the likely winner, it was well known that N. J. Neale would make great efforts to capture the honour.
Mr. W. S. Brookes, who has been a vice-president of the club since, its foundation, filled his customary office as judge and timekeeper and started the runners on their way at 3.45 p.m. The pace at the start was distinctly hot and for the first half-mile Glover led the field, but after this Neale and Richardson went to the front followed by W. G. Williams and P. Small, and for the next 4½ miles the first pair fought out a stirring battle for the premier position. A mile from the finish, however, Richardson was seen to have established a slight lead over his swift-footed rival, and, despite a fine finishing effort, Neale eventually had to be content with second place, a bare 33 seconds behind the winner. Both runners broke the existing record for the course. Williams was a comfortable third, 57 seconds ahead of Small. Result: -
Time.
min. sec.
1. W. Richardson 34 40
2. N. J. Neale 35 13
3. W. G. Williams 37 35
4. P. Small 38 32
5. J. R. Cousins 39 45
6. R. Young 40 53
The winner holds the Peers Challenge Cup for the ensuing twelve months.
The sealed handicap, run in conjunction with the championship race, resulted as follows: -
Time.
min. sec.
1. P. Small (4m. 15s.) 34 17
2. W. Williams (3m. 15s.) 34 20
3. W. Richardson (scr.) 34 40
4. N. J. Neale (30s.) 34 43
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 01/04/1933
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