WOLVERTON EXPRESS
5 March 1926
PROSPECTS FOR NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
Appearances favour a record entry for the National Cross Country Championship at Wolverton on Saturday, March 13, and a record attendance too, for the innovation of a popular sixpenny gate for such an event has struck the popular fancy, writes Mr C Otway, the hon. secretary.
A great feature this year is the open character of the contest for individual honours. Corporal W M Cotterell, of the Royal Corps of Signals, has held premier honours for two years, which should really have been three, for his defeat by C E Blewitt at Beaconsfield in 1923 was due rather to inexperience than lack of ability. But during the last year the Signals have been shifted from Maresfield in Sussex, once the home of a German Prince, to Catterick on the Yorkshire Moors, and Cotterell, a Berkshire man, does not seem to like it. Hitherto unbeaten in minor contests, he has gone down three time this season, twice to a young soldier, Lance Corporal W Webb, of the R E Chatham. The Sappers are sending a team to Wolverton, and their champion will put up a great show, for he has the heart of a lion.
However, general opinion looks elsewhere for the actual winner. J E Webster, the Birchfield crack, won the International Cross-Country Race last year like a real champion, and the AAA ten miles championship and two miles steeplechase as well. Then there is the Kent champion, S G E Allnutt, unbeaten this year and, in fact, not extended.
Local people will recollect the National in 1898, at Horton, when the best runner Northampton has yet produced, Sid Robinson, won a great race. There is a local who may follow his example, and who many think, would have done but for, let us say, a roving disposition. A Wolverton youngster, he went up to London last year and was entered for the Metropolitan Railway team, in last Saturday’s London Business House Race, but did not compete. It turned out he had returned to the L M & S fold, though whether in London or elsewhere was not stated. Fit and well he could give any of the cracks a race, and may yet do so. Then there is Ernie Harper, beaten by Cotterell in seven successive races, but always there at the finish. If he should win every cross-country sportsman would wish to shake him by the hand.
There are others, and big races may reveal them. Anyhow, Wolverton looks like having a record “National” and as the course is the best for many years, affording a full view of competitors all the way, there ought to be a record crowd. We were going to add, if the day is fine, but cross-country men run in all weathers, so the least the followers of the sport can do is attend - wet or fine.
|
WOLVERTON EXPRESS
5 March 1926 (Second Item)
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
Records have been broken in practically all the Cross-Country Championships, and the National is no exception, for an entry of 31 teams has been received, one more than the original entry at Beaconsfield in 1923, while the number of individual entrants is also a record, reaching 44. So a very large field indeed will be seen out at Wolverton on Saturday week. In point of class, too, the entry is really remarkable. It would be difficult to name a cross-country runner with any claim to fame who is
missing. The whole of the district champions, North and South of the Thames, and other junior champions, are in the lists, also the leaders of the Inter-Varsity Board Championships, and the cracks of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
Wolverton AAC team: A Cace, E J Ditum, W Ditum, J G Griffiths, F J Guntrip, F Hands, C Sibthorpe, W Smith, E B Tolley, C West, E Whatton, F
Works. Res, G H Cross.
|
WOLVERTON EXPRESS
19 March 1926
By the results achieved, Wolverton can be said to have fully justified its selection as the venue of the National Cross-Country Championship this year. It can claim to have housed a record National and never before had so many spectators been seen at a cross-country race and as they all had a fine view, and apparently enjoyed themselves, the railway town has given a good leg-up to the sport. A notable feature of the gathering was that there was a preponderance of ladies present. It is estimated there were fully 3,000 (check) spectators which was much in excess to any previous national race and on the financial side it might also prove to be a record. This was also the forty-fifth National Cross-Country Championship and it was the first occasion it had taken place in North Bucks. A more exhilarating springtime day could not have been hoped for and this undoubtedly was much responsible for the large attendance. Excursionists swarmed into the town from all parts of the country, the L.M.S. Railway granting special travelling facilities and early in the afternoon the compact little town was thronged as it has seldom been in the course of its history. The majority of excursionists we learn came from London, Birmingham, and Coventry.
As excellent course of fairly stiff open hunting country, over fields in the occupations of Mr. E. Norman, Mr. L. E. Shirley, and the Wolverton Co-operative Society, was mapped out. Both start and finish took place from the front of Stacey Hill Farm - at the south end of Wolverton. Water jumps over the old Bradwell Brook were included. The course consisted of two small circuits followed by three long ones of roughly three miles, the runners being in sight of the starting point for the whole of the journey. The Wolverton AAC placed their services at the disposal of the National Union and did everything possible to ensure the success of the Championship from every point of view.
The facilities for dressing-room and tea-room accommodation could not have been better, the commodious Carriage Works dining hall having been placed at the disposal of the Championship Committee by the Works Superintendent, Major C L Mason, M. C.
The actual number of starters was not equal to the record set up at Beaconsfield - being 322 against 323 three years ago. This was brought about by the absence of three teams that had entered, reducing the number taking part to 28 teams and 44 individuals. Among the runners were such well known names as J E Webster (International), Cpl W M Cotterell, holder (a National champion), E Harper (Northern champion), A T Price (Midland champion), E Thomas (Welsh champion), and S G R Allnutt (Southern champion), the local clubs were Wolverton, Northampton, and Kettering.
A prompt start was made and the spectacle of such a large bunch of men clad in gaily coloured costumes, was pleasing and impressive. The race was a triumph for J E Webster, of Birchfield Harriers, who ran well. Webster and Harper, the little Hallamshire runner, raced home together, but in the last twenty five yards Webster forced himself in front and going absolutely all out passed the line three yards ahead and collapsed immediately. It was a great effort, the finish of a real champion. Harper helped his opponent up and trotted along as if there were another mile to two to be negotiated, but was quite unable to raise another yard of pace, just as he had failed so many times against Cotterell and others. In team placings, Birchfield who have won yearly since the war, stood out absolutely alone. Surrey AC, who were third, suffered as a result of rulings. C G Constable, actually a native of North Bucks, was struck out of the Surrey team.
After the race, the cup and medals were presented by Mrs C L Mason and the winners came in for a great reception, and deserved it. The order of finish of the first twelve was:
1 J E Webster, Birchfield Harriers, 58 mins 40 secs; 2 E Harper, Hallamshire Harriers, 58 mins 50secs; 3 A H Rodway,
Birchfield Harriers, 59 mins
Cross Country Home
|
