One of the highlights of the Liverpool & District Cross-Country Championships on Saturday at Trenton, was the convincing victory of Bob Johnston in the senior race.
Running in a good class field which included the holder for the past three years in English international J. F. Green, he went into the lead after the first mile and was never headed. Johnston ran steadily to build up a lead of 60 yards which he held until the last lap when this gap was closed by a determined run by Gates of Liverpool Pembroke, pursued by Green. Johnston maintained his effort and finished a comfortable winner by about 20 yards.
His win was a surprise to many, as Green has been quite outstanding in Merseyside senior circles during the past three years but Johnston took his opportunity brilliantly in the early stages of the race and never really looked like being caught.
This is the fourth District title won by Johnston who was youth champion in 1947 and junior champion in 1950 and 1951, and now in his first year as a senior runner, he has proved beyond doubt that he is one of the brightest prospects on Merseyside.
This is only the second time in 46 years that a Wallasey runner has won the senior title, John Edwards, present day captain, being successful in 1946.
John McFarland was not his usual convincing self owing to a cold, but ran well to finish sixteenth whilst Alan Clarke continued to show improvement to finish 22nd.
In the Junior race, John Lynch ran strongly, closely followed throughout by Eric Maddock, the team just failing to gain a place.
In the boy's race the absence of Dave Woods owing to late arrival affected the team result, but the spirited running of Mills, Tunstall and Anderson showed that this team have distinct possibilities.
RESULTS
Senior, 7 miles. Wallasey 4th with 139 points. 1st R. Johnston (37 mins. 47 secs.), 16 J. H. McFarland, 22 A. Clarke, 29 D. W. Dickinson, 31 E. C. Foster, 40 A. Dickinson.
Juniors, 5 miles. Wallasey placed 4th with 70 points, 10, J. Lynch (30 mins. 44 secs.); 13, E. Maddock; 21, W. J. Johnston; 26, K Ledward.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 02/02/1952
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