The President, Mr. A. G. Nicholson, and four Vice-Presidents were present when Wallasey Athletic Club held their Christmas Handicap last Saturday. The race, which attracted 22 starters, was run over a 4½ mile course, including most of Leasowe Road and a good stretch of shore. J. Kelly, with an allowance of 4.00, was first away followed at intervals by other runners, the last man to start being the actual scratch man, J. Edwards. E. A. Sawyer lost a few valuable seconds at the start through not being completely changed when the starter (Mr. W. S. Brookes) called his name. Although there were two retirements before half-way, it was obvious, that the big allowance men were not making the best of their advantage, their pace being considerably slower than in the corresponding race last year. Many runners made the mistake, a very usual one in handicaps, of merely trying to overtake the man in front, thus running in a series of very tiring spurts, instead of aiming at running steadily throughout. Edwards ran in hurricane fashion off the scratch mark and succeeded in beating the handicapper and those in front of him, winning in a time which smashed the course record by no less than 100 seconds. No handicapper could have anticipated an effort of this description. The conditions, apart from the intense cold, were favourable for fast times, although the embankments were covered with a layer of treacherous ice. Grisdale, who was 2nd, registered 3rd fastest time and Sawyer, despite his lost seconds, ran well into 3rd place. The 2nd to 14th men finished inside one minute. Rimmer and Barker with big allowances were only caught in the last half mile, and R. Yeoman, who is still in the Youth's section, worthily obtained 4th position on a day when most of the back-markers touched their best form. Noel Marples had the satisfaction of returning 2nd fastest time, thus confirming his position as the Club's 2nd runner. Result.-1, J. Edwards; 2nd, D. Grisdale ; 3, E. A. Sawyer ; 4th, R. Yeoman ; 5th, J. Whittingham ; 6th, N. I. Marples. Mr. R. J. Edwards presented the prizes to all competitors after the race and some brisk speeches followed.