The Liverpool & District Mob League, which was supported so enthusiastically by runners in the season's earlier fixtures, suffered from a bout of colds and Christmas shopping fever for the final run at Wirral's headquarters on Saturday last, where only 64 seniors finished the eight miles course.
A number of clubs failed to close in a counting six and some of the athletes who made the running at Woolton and Wallasey were missing from their teams on this heavy Prenton course.
Whatever the cause of the poor turn-out, it seems clear that there are runners and clubs who do not give the league priority, and with this in mind it might be a good thing in future to complete the fixtures before November is out.
The winner was Brian Woolford, of Wallasey, who put in some good work to win by three-quarters of a minute, but his club, who were winners of the previous fixture, did not complete a team.
He was followed home by J. McAllister, of Wirral A.C., a former cyclist, who has done some good running over the country this season. Then came L. Carroll (Wirral) but running for the University - 3, J. Delooze (Warrington) 4, Steve Rogers (Sefton), who now has a teaching post nearer home in North Wales, 5, and young John Clinch (Port Sunlight) 6th.
Liverpool University, who have been fielding a team this season made up of runners from clubs who are studying at the University, have won the League, although it must be admitted with the aid of a very generous handicap allowance of 450 points. Their scratch score is 490, handicap score 40.
Liverpool Harriers are second, having scored 444 points, handicap allowance 160, handicap score 284. Port Sunlight A.C. finish a creditable 3rd with a full score of 827, handicap mark 500. final score 327. Wirral A.C., having the low mark of 100 score 457 points, leaving them fourth place with 327. Pembroke competed from actual scratch and finished fifth, with 396 points. Liverpool Boundary Harriers are sixth with 754 points ,and Sefton Harriers seventh with 860.
Ends
Source - Liverpool Echo - Sunday, 17/12/1961 by J. C. Rice
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