The only surprise of the Northern Cross-Country Championships, held at Gosforth Park, Newcastle, on Saturday, was the state of the going, which was firm and dry.
Although conditions were vastly different from those in which the divisional races were held a fortnight earlier, form was confirmed to a remarkable degree. Dr. Frank Aaron made no mistake about winning the senior title for the third successive year. The English Champion took an early lead and at the finish was 15 seconds ahead of G. B. Saunders (Bolton). Sutton were never in danger of losing their team title. Rotherham had four men well up. But as expected their last two counters added heavily to their score. The Yorkshire Junior champion J. E. Nicholes (Sheffield), had the bad luck to be knocked over at the start and lost a lot or ground, but battled his way into fourth place. In any case he would not have bustled up the winner. W. Hesketh (Manchester A.C.) who is surely a potential international. Sheffield United carried off the youths title in accordance with anticipations, and P. Hedley hunted home the smart Salford youth, W. I. Williams. There was promise for the future in the display or A. S. Jackson, a Roundhay School boy running for Leeds St. Marks, who finished fourth in a very good field. Details:- Senior (9 miles).- 1, Dr. F. E. Aaron (Leeds St. Marks), 46m. 33s. 2, G. B. Saunders (Bolton), 46.48; 3, R. Williams (Winton), 46.57; 4, W. Boak (Elswick), 47.00; 5, A. Chorlton (Doncaster), 47.15; 6, P. G. Wood (Rotherham), 47.34. Teams - 1, Sutton (4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15), 63; 2, Rotherham (3, 7, 9, 11, 53, 92), 177; 3, Bolton (2, 10, 28, 45, 63, 68), 216. Junior (6 miles).- 1, W. Hesketh (Manchester A.C.), 32.09. 2, J. Price (Cheshire Regt), 33.16; 3, J. Wild (East Cheshire), 33.22; 4, J. E. Nicholes (Sheffield United), 33.29; 5, P. Hollywood (Saltwell), 33.40; 6, R. Johnston (Wallasey), 33.45. Teams - 1, Cheshire Regt (1, 10, 18, 21, 22, 26), 98; 2, East Cheshire (2, 16, 27, 31, 41, 42), 159; 3, Royal Signals (3, 19, 29, 33, 38, 57), 181. Youths (3 miles).- 1, W. L. Williams (Salford), 15.11. 2, P. Hedley (Sheffield United), 15.32; 3, T. Anderson (N. Shields), 15.41; 4, A. S. Jackson (Leeds St. Marks), 15.45; 5, D. Sykes (Longwood), 15.53; 6, M. Rainford (Preston), 15.57. Teams - 1, Sheffield United (2, 8, 14, 15), 39; 2, Liverpool 88; 3, Salford 101. Boys (2 miles).- 1, F. J. H. Scott (Stockton), 9.38. 2, E. Pratt (Stockport), 9.41; 3, A. Ford (Middlesbrough), 9.46; Teams - 1, Sutton, 34; 2, Manchester and District L. C. 55; 3, Gateshead, 83.
Ends
Source - Manchester Courier - Monday, 26/02/1912
Ref 2118