The Liverpool & District Cross-Country Union held its annual championships at Broadgreen last Saturday. The Youth's (under 18) race over three miles attracted an entry of nine teams and was easily won by Liverpool Pembroke, who in addition to supplying the individual winner, H. McCartney, also placed the second, fourth and seventh men.
Wallasey Athletic Club finished fifth in the team placings and J. A. Pritchard ran well to finish eighth.
Wallasey Athletic Club's president, Mr. A. G. Nicholson, who is also president of the Liverpool & District C.C.U., and six vice-presidents saw Wallasey win the Junior (under 21) Championship over six miles by the narrow margin of two points from Liverpool Pembroke, after a very close and exciting race. The Wallasey team of six runners was well placed just after the start, but when one lap, three miles, had been completed it was found that N. Marples had not been able to retain the lead he held early in the race and had fallen back considerably. D. Grisdale was the leading runner for Wallasey at this stage and he was lying seventh with G. Andrew not far behind and Marples, looking a little distressed, was 11th, P. Watson being 13th. The other two counting men, Rimmer and Clough, were running together around the 30th position. The leading runner was W. H. Marsh, of Pembroke, the brilliant 18-years-old youth who recently won the Northern individual title, and he was unquestionably setting a very fast pace. However, the Wallasey runners stayed the six miles very well, particularly Marples, as he wad obviously unwell, and it is a tribute to his pluck that despite his severe handicap he did not lose one place during the last lap. D. Grisdale ran better than in the recent championships and with 9th position led the team to victory. G. K. Andrew was 10th, N. Marples 11th and P. Watson 12th, packing which unquestionably won the race for Wallasey. J. M. Rimmer and A. J. Clough both ran extremely well to finish 29th and 30th respectively.
W. P. Davey, Liverpool & District Junior Champion two years ago, was forced to adopt the role of spectator, but there can be no doubt that if he had been competing he would have been in the first three positions of this race.
The Senior Championship, which was run over three laps (nine miles) saw another runaway victory for Liverpool Pembroke, who finished their counting six in the first dozen positions. J. E. Johnstone (Pembroke) took the individual title from his club-mate, N. Jones, the international runner.
The Wallasey team did not come up to expectations, despite being prominent in the early stages, and finished fifth in the team placings. K. A. Westmore and J. Edwards were lying together in 13th and 14th positions after one lap, but shortly afterwards Edwards lost his racing partner when Westmore was forced to retire with shoe trouble. Although Edwards was lying 10th at six miles he visibly tired in the last lap and finished 14th. C. F. Peers finished 27th, the second man home for Wallasey, and J. Arkless, E. A. Sawyer and J. Cunningham finished 30th, 31st, and 32nd respectively. F. K. Ledward ran well to finish 37th.
RESULTS.
Youths (3 miles):-1, Liverpool Pembroke, 14 pts.; 2, Wirral A.C., 40 pts. First man, H. McCartney, Liverpool Pembroke.
Juniors (6 miles):-1, Wallasey Athletic Club, 101 pts.; 2, Liverpool Pembroke, 103 pts.; 3, Liverpool University, 126 pts. First man, W. H. Marsh, Liverpool Pembroke.
Seniors (9 miles):-1, Liverpool Pembroke, 36 pts.; 2, Liverpool Harriers, 83 pts,: 3, Wirral A.C., 102 pts. First man, J. E. Johnstone, Liverpool Pembroke.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 11/03/1939
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