Shendish Park, Apsley on Saturday 08/03/1947 10 Miles (Senior Men)
The winter of 1946-1947 was harsh and the country experienced several cold spells and large snowdrifts which blocked roads and railways. With this in mind clubs were advised to travel early to ensure their participation in the race, this advice went unheeded as one third of the entered clubs failed to reach the start line on time.
Leaders soon after the start
The sixtieth race took place over 10 miles in Shendish Park in 19th-century mill village of Apsley in the county of Hertfordshire. 300 runners braved the conditions and battled against the snow, frost, sludge and hills.
G. E. Monshall and Sydney Wooderson
A. A. 'Bertie' Robertson of Reading AC had a commanding lead at the end of the first lap with Matt Smith (Blaydon Harriers) his nearest challenger with N. Jones (Liverpool Pembroke) in third. H. Olney (TVH) and A. Chivers (Reading AC) were also well placed. There was little change in the placings in the remainder of the 2½ mile laps. Robertson went on to win by over a minute.
A. A. Robertson winning the senior championship
The team title was open until the third lap when Sutton Harriers took control and ran out winners by 24 points, Belgrave Harriers finished second with Reading AC third. The southern teams led after the first two laps but slipped back after Sutton's surge. The Northern champions Sutton Harriers travelled down overnight and grabbed a few hours' sleep in the Shendish Park changing rooms, a magnificent victory for the club.