Bromford Bridge Racecourse, West Bromwich on Saturday 12/03/1949 (Senior Men)
FRANK AARON WINS INDIVIDUAL TITLE
SUTTON HARRIERS TAKE NATIONAL TEAM HONOURS
The 62nd National Cross-Country Championships took place over a 10-mile course at Bromford Bridge Racecourse in Birmingham and the Northern region came away with both titles after a superb day's racing was witnessed by a large crowd. The record entry for the race included 53 teams and 60 individuals for the senior event. 450 runners who had to change in the stables lined up for the start at 14:30 and the crowd could see the runners all the way round from the stands.
Sutton Harriers had won the Northern title and were amongst the favourites for the National team title. One mile into the race Sutton Harriers had six counters in the first fifty. At three miles their lead looked unassailable and so it proved to be with Mick Maleedy leading them home in seventh place for a 121 point victory over Reading AC. Leeds Harehills Harriers battled gamely for third place.
The leaders soon after the start
Frank Aaron (Leeds St. Marks) was strongly fancied to win the National title after winning the Yorkshire and Northern in fine style with H. A. Olney (Thames Valley Harriers) also tipped for contention at the front.
Aaron and Olney with a lap to go
As it turned out it was a thrilling race between these two. Dr. Frank Aaron has established a lead of 40 yards before falling allowing H. A. Olney to close up. After this incident the pair ran shoulder to shoulder and the southern contingent were confident that Olney's finishing speed would give him the win. However, the fitness and grit and determination of Aaron saw him coming down the hill towards the finish to record a fine win. The Leeds doctor looking remarkbly fresh when the breasted the tape. Olney was second with Len Eyre (Leeds Harehills Harriers) third and R. Gosney (Southampton AAC) fourth.