Last Saturday Wallasey A.C. wound-up the cross-country season with the Club Championship - a race over a nine miles course - confined to first-claim members only of the club.
A revised fixture list had resulted in a postponement of this important race until the final day of the season, and this no doubt accounts for the very poor turn-out of only ten competitors. With the " track" season almost upon us, many members considered it inadvisable to compete in such a strenuous race.
However, the two chief candidates for the honour, J. Edwards, the holder, and W. P. Davey, the Liverpool & District Junior Champion, were among the starters, thus ensuring an interesting encounter.
The runners went away to a good start at 3-55 p.m., N. I. Marples and R. Leach taking the lead with Young, Edwards and Davey bunched close behind.
The first two miles to Bidston via the marshes were remarkable for the slow pace of the leaders, no one attempting to break away and the turn on to the Upton footpath found the field still well together. Hereabouts, J. Edwards took the lead and with a burst of speed soon opened up a gap of some 200 yards between himself and J. Cunningham, who at this stage was running 2nd with Davey and Marples in close attendance.
The turn at Upton village found the field well strung out. By now Edwards, with the race well in hand, was rapidly increasing his lead and Cunningham in the 2nd place held a clear 300 yards on Marples and Leach, who were engaged in a ding-dong struggle for 3rd position.
These positions were held to the end of the race, Edwards "clocking" 56 mins. 13 secs, for the 9¼ miles course with Cunningham 2nd in 1 min. 15 secs, slower, while Leach had the better of the duel with Marples for 3rd place.
The sealed handicap prizes (handicap times deducted from actual times after the race) were won by N. I. Marples and R. Young, 4th and 5th respectively, both having an allowance of 4 minutes from the scratch man, J. Edwards.
W. P. Davey, who suffered the misfortune of an attack of cramp in the early stages of the race, could do no better than 6th with the treasurer, J. Davis, 7th and W. Lumb 8th.
After the race Mr. W. S. Brookes, senior vice-president of the club presented the winner with the Peers Challenge Trophy to be held for the ensuing year, and made other awards to the runners up and handicap winners.
There will be a lull in the club's activities for the next few weeks, but by early May officials are hopeful of having arrangements for the coming track season well in hand and members will be notified accordingly.
Particulars re membership of the club may be had from hon. secretary, Mr. R. G. Hyde, 14 Cromer-drive, Wallasey.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 10/04/1937
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