The advantage of being able to make a fast getaway were clearly brought out at Radcliffe last Saturday, when the Northern Cross-Country Championships were held. In the senior race, of nine miles, over 200 runners faced the starter, a mass of athletes who were sent off without 'pens' or 'tapes'.
Wallasey Athletic Club were drawn on the outside and Edwards, the captain, was running in 65th place at the end of the first mile. Ultimately he pulled up and finished 18th. Individual Winner was M. Smith, a very stylish newcomer from Blaydon Harriers. Sale Harriers won the team title.
The youths' race attracted over 100 runners and here again the winner, D. Walker, of Sheffield, led right from the starting sprint to the finishing tape with the exception of a short period when the Bury Grammar School runner R. Butterworth took the lead. G. A. Walker, Wallasey's leading runner, finished 34th.
Both senior and youths' teams ran quite well considering most of the runners were taking part in their first big championship, and the prospects for the teams in the Liverpool & District Championships at Woolton, to-day, are quite bright. Runners and supporters meet on Liverpool Landing Stage at 2 p.m.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 02/03/1946
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