With the close of March the cross-country running season came to an end.
It has been a highly successful one, and it is now more than ever
evident that the pastime is highly popular with young athletes, more
particularly as a means of training for outdoor summer pastimes.
Unfortunately, several of the old courses have had to be abandoned or
altered owing to the spread of population and the consequent overgrowth
of our larger cities. Yet we have still left to us a greater part of the
old national course at Roehampton, and it was over a portion of this
that the inter-university race, the first important contest of the
season, was decided. With their traditional courtesy, the Thames Hare
and Hounds, the pioneers of cross-country running, placed their
headquarters at the disposal of the competitors, and their members also
superintended the arrangements. The Light Blues were in great form and
won very easily, A. H. Pearson, of Westminster and Queen’s, being first
man home, and establishing a record of 41 mins. 11 secs. for the course.
To the credit of A. R. Churchill, of Cambridge, stood the previous best,
he having won last season in 42 mins. 17 secs. Churchill was not in
residence, and did not run this season, but the Light Blues were
strongly represented.
Marked improvement was shown by the Thames Hare and Hounds, whose
running against the Universities was very meritorious, and whose
membership has considerably increased. The old club stands aloof from
all cross-country competitions, and now only takes part in friendly
inter-club runs. It strives to maintain the true amateur spirit, and in
doing so sets a worthy example to the younger clubs. Close by its
headquarters are those of the Ranelagh Harriers who, like many of the
older clubs, does not now hold open competitions, but yet always sends a
team to take part in the Southern Counties Cross-country Championship.
That of this season was held on new ground. Lingfield and Wembley Park
have been favourite spots for the contest, but Imber Court, Thames
Ditton, was this year selected. It is admirably suited for the purpose,
for there is plenty of open country all round, and inside is a spacious
half-mile track. As none of the competitors had run over the course
before, it served as an admirable test of comparative ability. The entry
was a best on record, no fewer than twenty-four clubs having been
entered. A. Aldridge, of the Highgate Harriers, who was first man home
in 1905, did not take part, while Alfred Shrubb was, of course,
disqualified by his removal outside the pale of amateurism. Highgate
Harriers again proved successful, and also had the honour of getting
first man home, this being G. Pearce, whose fine running made him
somewhat of a favourite for the National Championship at Haydock Park a
few weeks later. In the North, the district championship was again won
by the Crewe Harriers, but the Sutton Harriers, who finished second, had
first man home. The Birchfield Harriers secured the Midland District
Championship, and the Northampton Alpine Harriers supplied first man in
G. W. Dunkley, who also won the previous year.
The meeting of Straw and Pearce in the National Championship proved most
exciting, and Straw only won by five seconds, after a great race. In the
last few yards Straw was almost done up, and had Pearce made his spurt a
little earlier, the London runner might have won. Straw, however,
struggled on to the finish, and by his victory, and the close placing of
his fellow-members, scored a win for the Sutton Harriers. Highgate
Harriers, who had held this important championship since 1902, were
without the services of A. Aldridge, and were placed second. In this
race 163 competitors, representing seventeen clubs, took part. The
record number is 164 in 1895, when S. Cottrell, of the Thames Valley
Harriers, was first man home, and the Birchfield Harriers proved the
winning club. After the race a team was selected to represent England in
the annual international cross-country race at Newport, the following
Saturday. Straw and Pearce were naturally among the chosen team, and
they again made a magnificent struggle for victory. On this occasion,
however, Straw won more easily, the difference in time being thirteen
seconds. England won the championship, which she has held since its
institution in 1903, when, at Hamilton Park, Glasgow, she beat Ireland,
the second team, by 53 points. This year she defeated Ireland by 62
points, the last-mentioned country being 20 points in front of Scotland,
and 42 ahead of Wales. Among the individual runners who distinguished
themselves, beside Pearce and Straw, were J. J. Daly, of the Galway
Harriers, who came in fourth to Straw, and S. Stevenson, of the
Clydesdale, who was tenth. T. Hughes, of the Newport Harriers, was first
home for Wales.