The West Lancashire Cross-Country Association's novice team race was decided on Saturday from the headquarters of the St. Helens Recs Harriers in Denton's Green, St. Helens.
The conditions of the race were that runners must not have won a prize of any description in open events at sports under A.A.A. laws; six men to run for each team, the first four to count, the club with the smallest points aggregate to be the winners. A gold medal was provided for the first man home, with two sets of silver medals for the team race. Trail was laid over a course of about 5½ miles, more than half of which was on the roads. Twenty-one teams competed and 117 runners faced the starter.
T. N. Etheridge, of Wallasey Harriers, went to the front at the commencement, and running in splendid style throughout won a great race by about ten yards from M. Richards (of Widnes) who runs for the Warrington A.C.
The first four to finish were as follows:-1, T. N. Etheridge, Wallasey H. & A.C., 35min. 35secs.; 2, M. Richards, Warrington A.C., 35min. 38secs.; 3. R. Wiseman, St. Helens Recs., 35min. 48secs.; 4. J. Ford, Warrington A.C. 35min. 51secs.
The team race was won by Sutton Harriers after a keen struggle with Wirral A.C. and Warrington A.C., the team placings being as follows:-
1. Sutton H. & A.C. 35
2. Wirral A.C. 43
3. Warrington A.C. 57
4. Sefton H. & A.C. 78
5. St. Helens Recs. 91
6. Makerfield H. & A.C. 115
7. Runcorn Tally Ho 126
8. Liverpool Pembroke 141
9. Liverpool Boundary 165
10. St. Helens Sacred Heart 172
11. Makerfield H. "B" Team 185
12. North Liverpool Gym. 204
13. Knotty Ash H. 241
14. Wallasey H. & A.C. 263
15. Warrington A.C. "B" Team 291
16. Sutton H. "B" Team 294
17. Viaduct Institute (Earlestown) 370
Four clubs failed to finish complete teams.
Ends
Source - Runcorn Guardian - Friday, 19/12/1919
Ref 2352