The first club handicap of the season in connection with the above was held last Saturday from headquarters, Fairhaven Institute, Sea view-road, and proved to be an exceptionally successful event.
There was a total entry of 17, and though one or two of last season's runners were absent, including H. Hanmer, the club champion, yet the interest lacking in this direction was more than supplied by the encouraging number of new members. Trail was laid by G. H. Spence and V. Normanton over a course of five miles in the neighbourhood of Bidston marshes and Leasowe fields. Owing to the recent rather heavy falls of rain the surface of the country was exceedingly soft, which made going rather heavy in places, otherwise the course would have been fairly easy. Those who were out for the first time were, without any preliminary introduction, plunged straightway into the joys and pleasures of cross-country running, though some of the so-called pleasures were hard to recognise by some when they appeared in the form of a wide ditch or swollen stream. The results are as following, giving the accompanying times of the first six:- 1, S. Plastow, handicap time 32m. 55s., start 2m. 45s., actual time 35m. 40s.; 2, A. Graham, 32m. 58s., 3m. 0s., 35m. 58s.; 3, W. D. Band, 33m. 20s., 4m. 0s., 37m. 20s.; 4, C. H. Spence, 33m. 50s., 1m. 15s., 35m. 5s.; 5, H. S. Heald, 33m. 55s., 4m. 0s., 37m. 55s.; 6, E. S. Bale, 34m. 0s., 45s., 34m. 45s.
Undoubtedly the best performance was that of the winner, S. Plastow, who it will be seen did the fourth best time, A. G. Nicholson (who arrived in 7th) with 33m. 12s., being the best. It is all the more creditable as this is his first appearance in this form of sport. Another who has raised great expectancies is Graham, who although he has run before, has quite excelled all previous form.
Next Saturday, 16th inst., an interesting race will take place from headquarters between Captain's versus Sub-Captain's teams, and on the following Saturday the club will journey over to Rice-lane, Walton, to encounter Liverpool Boundary Harriers. Members will meet at Liverpool Town Hall at 2.30 p.m.
Prospective members please communicate with "the Hon. Secretary, R. Young, 23, Grasmere-drive, Liscard.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 16/11/1907
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