There was no surprise winner in Wallasey Athletic Club cross-country championships at Leasowe last Saturday.
In each class, youths, junior and senior, the winner had been first man home for the club in all the open championships, Liverpool & District, West Lancashire and Northern so consistency gained its true reward.
R. Johnston the new Liverpool & District youths' champion, outstripped all his 13 opponents in the youths' (under 18) event run over a 3¼ mile course. R. Loveridge hung on grimly to the half distance, but Johnston's remorseless pressure was too much for him. Johnston winning by nearly 300 yards with Loveridge 2nd, and G. A. Walker, winner two years ago, third. P. B. Mason was 4th, Johnston's brother, W. J. Johnston fifth and a new member, K. Ledward son of an old Wallasey runner, sixth.
The junior race lost a little Interest by the enforced absence of S. Truswell, but the main contestants were out and H. Thomson, D. Kelly - (last year's youth champion) and A. Simpson (junior capt.) had a great race for the championship. D. Kelly tried hard to get away and was leading when halfway round the seven miles course, but, Thomson could not be denied and came with a very strong run over the final two miles to win by about 200 yards. A. Simpson wound up a fine season's running by finishing third. H. Thomson becomes the first holder of the new Nicholson Cup for the junior cross-country championship, presented to Wallasey Athletic Club by the founder and president, Mr. A. G. Nicholson.
Twelve years have elapsed since John Edwards first won the senior Wallasey Championship at his fifth attempt, and since then he has established himself as the finest long distance runner Wallasey have ever produced. Last Saturday he was on the top of his form, more than one onlooker told they had never see him moving better, and the opposition, good though it was, never had a chance.
At the end of the 9½ miles course, Edwards was leading by about 500yards with D. Dickinson a worthy runner up and E. C. Foster, after a spirited duel with Dickinson, third. W. R. Bee, last year's runner-up, had an off day and finished fourth, J. S. Arkless and A. Dickinson were non runners, the former, unfortunately, arriving too late for the start, whilst Tony Dickinson was unfit.
RESULTS
Youths 3¼ miles (R. J. Edwards Cup) - 1, R. Johnston, 18 mins. 4 secs.; 2, H. Loveridge, 18 mins. 52 secs.; 3, G. A. Walker, 20 mins. 0 secs.
Junior 7 miles (Nicholson Cup) - 1, H. Thomson, 38 mins. 49 secs.; 2, D. Kelly, 34 mins. 23 secs.; 3, A. Simpson 35 mins. 7 secs.
Senior 9½ miles (Peers Cup) - 1, J. Edwards, 53 mins. 18 secs.; 2, D. Dickinson 54 mins. 50 secs.; 3, E. C. Foster, 56 mins. 26 secs.
This Saturday Wallasey Athletic Club junior team go to Sheffield to contest the National Junior Cross-Country Championships whilst Wallasey Grammar School visit the club headquarters.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 13/03/1948
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