The Novice Championship, which had been postponed from the previous Saturday owing to the runners going off the trail, was re-run on Saturday last under more favourable conditions.
Seventeen runners faced the starter, and it was evident from the first that the race was going to be a keen one. The course was about six miles long, finishing with a mile of road from School-lane, along Breck-road, Cliff-road, and Marlowe-road, finishing at the corner of Wallasey-road. The first two to arrive were F. N. Barlow and H. M. Terry, who came on to the road neck and neck, when it was evident that there would be a very close finish. Two hundred yards from the tape Barlow, though apparently not quite as fresh as Terry, made a splendid effort, and Terry not being able to hold him, he won by 20 yards. He is to be congratulated on winning his first race over country in such a splendid way, and should go far, as he seems to have the necessary qualifications of a runner, which are five-tenths running ability and five-tenths good judgment and pluck. Terry, in finishing second, also stamped himself as a really good man, and if he had only used a little of the superfluous energy he had at the finish, over the country, the result might have been, different. The next two home were W. Raley and F. W. Simmons, who though running well were obviously not as fit as the leaders. T. Parry, in finishing fifth, did not seem to have pushed himself at all. He is a novice of great promise and will undoubtedly develop a lot. Our old friend, Eddie Collins, is to be congratulated in finishing sixth, considering the warm lot of novices in the club this year. The times of the first six were as follows:- 1, F. N. Barlow, 39 m 37 secs; 2, H. M. Terry, 39 m 41 secs; 3, W. Raley, 41m; 4, F. W. Simmons, 41 m 11 secs; 5, J. S. Parry, 42 m 2 secs; 6, E. Collins, 45 m 47 secs.
Three teams have been entered for the West Lancs. Novice Championship at Runcorn to-day. Meet under the clock in Lime-street Station at 2-30. There will also be a run from headquarters at 3-30.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 06/12/1913
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