As expected, Wallasey A.C. had no difficulty in defeating North Liverpool Gymnasium Harriers in the inter-club race last Saturday.
Though the team was not at full strength, Marples, Westmore and Peers being notable absentees, there was a large muster of home runners and members were particularly pleased to, see Rawlinson, ex-Wallasey Grammar School champion, turning out with the club for the first time. If he can run regularly he will be a welcome addition to the strength of the senior team.
There is little to be said about Saturday's race which was run from the club's Leasowe Road headquarters over a short 5½ mile course. Wallasey were far too strong for the visiting team which is undoubtedly the weakest to represent North Liverpool for several years. From the first a bunch of Wallasey runners went into the lead. They were never challenged, even remotely, and the only racing they got was among themselves for the individual places. Over the Bidston Marshes, W. Davey led the way but he could not quite stick the pace and up Station Road he was passed by J. Edwards and K. Andrew. From this point the positions remained substantially unchanged. On the last mile down Leasowe Road, Andrew, who had once more run a very fine race, almost came up with Edwards but he could not produce anything to equal the finishing sprint of the club champion and the latter won comfortably by about 30 yards in the excellent time of 34 minutes.
Meanwhile, Davey had again managed to get entangled with a stray piece of barbed wire on the course, thus maintaining his record of a scar for every race in which he runs. Despite this however, he came up very well to finish a good third with D. Grisedale and J. Arkless close behind. Wallasey had now got all its counters home and still none of the visitors had put in an appearance. For their first man they had to wait for F. Howard who could do no better than eighth. After him, R. Bennion was second for Liverpool (10th) but then came a long string of Wallasey runners, and though only five were counting in the race, the visitors' points total was finally pushed up to 84, giving the home club a decisive victory by a margin of 69.
Result:-
Wallasey A.C. - 1, J. Edwards; 2. K. Andrew; 3, W. Davey; 4, D. Grisedale; 5, J. Arkless; totals 15 points; 6, W. Richardson; 7, F. Ledward; 9, J. Richardson.
North Liverpool Gym - 8, F. Howard; 10, R. Bennion; 21, G. Henderson; 22, T. Mackin; 23, A. Daly; total, 84 points.
To-day, Wallasey are entering a strong team in the Waterloo Road Race which starts from the Waterloo Town Hall at 3.15.
This event is one of the biggest running meetings in the district and attracts entries from prominent runners throughout the North of England. It will be interesting to see how the Wallasey men fare in such distinguished company. If they come up to form they should be among the first of the district teams home with Westmore, Edwards and Marples not so far behind in the individual race. For those who are not going to Waterloo, the club's' Leasowe Road headquarters will be open for a training run commencing at 3.30.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 19/11/1938
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