In the National Cross-Country Championships held last Saturday on the racecourse at Warwick, the youth race was won by J. Parker of Westbury Harriers.
Ron Barlow (Wallasey) whom it was hoped would gain a place in this championship, got off to a bad start unfortunately and could only make fifteenth position. Ron could easily have been in the first three considering the fourth man home was Bill Bennet of Wirral A.C., and Bennet has yet to beat Ron. Second up for the Wallasey club was Tony Townsend, who finished 76th. He was followed by Tony Farrell 181st, Alan Scott 190th, Phil Townsend and Dave White. The Northern champions Liverpool Harriers won the team race with 126 points. Our neighbours, Wirral A.C. provided us with a pleasant surprise when they finished in second position, a remarkable performance although rather an erratic one as they only finished fifth in the Northern.
The junior race provided a great duel between the Northern champion, Alan Cocking, and S. R. Langridge of South London Harriers with Langridge just getting the verdict over Cocking by the margin of one second. Wallasey's counting four were Ian McIvor 122nd, John Ryan 181st Hugh Pritchard and Colin Harris.
The team race was won very convincingly by South London Harriers who had 42 points against the second club home, Manchester & District Lads' Club who had 156 points.
The Senior race was won this year by Ken Norris of Thames Valley Harriers. The team prize this year came North to Sheffield United Harriers, they had 172 points against Thames Valley Harrier's 250 points.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 10/03/1956 by SPIKE
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