Richmond Racecourse on Saturday 10/03/1951 (Senior Men)
The 64th National Cross Country Championship took place at Richmond Racecourse in Yorkshire. A special train left King's Cross in London to bring the southern contingent to the race returning the runners back to the London station at midnight. The North were predicted to dominate proceedings with Frank Aaron a strong favourite for the individual title, the doctor aiming for his third consecutive victory which would be a record for the county of Yorkshire. Aaron already had the Yorkshire, Northern and Inter-Counties title to his name. Geoff Saunders from Bolton United Harriers was expected to be his nearest rival. Such was Aaron's dominance so far this season that most runners were expected to get a good view of his heels. Sutton Harriers were fancied for team honours after winning the county and Northern titles and were also going for a hat-trick of National wins.
4 miles into the race
Snow had been forecast for the race, however conditions on the day were fine. At the start of the race disaster almost befell Sutton Harriers as Jack Chidlow bent down to tie his shoelace when the gun went off for the start of the race, his team mates had to scramble pass him in the pen and Chidlow saw the other runners get a hundred yards start on him.
Dr. Frank Aaron was in the pack for most of the first lap, he then rapidly opened up a 30 yard gap. At six miles the lead had stretched to 150 yards with E. Bannon (Shettleston Harries) second and W. Boak (Elswick Harriers), G. B. Saunders, E. L. Hardy (Derby and County AC), A. A. Robertson (Reading AC), R. Williams (Winton Harriers), A. Chorlton (Doncaster PWAC) and H. A. Olney (Thames Valley Harriers) following.
Aaron appeared to be flagging and the strong finishing Boak was reducing his lead, but the pathologist from Halifax held on for the win by 50 yards covering the 9¼ mile course in 54min. 34 secs., Boak was second with Geoff Saunders third and Bannon fourth. Williams overcame Hardy 100 yards from the line for fifth.
Dr. Frank Aaron on his way to victory
In the team race, at the end of the first lap Sutton had four in the first 25 and in the lap in the country after leaving the racecourse, strengthened to have 5 in 26. Sutton finished with Mick Maleedy (18th), Joe Harrison (19th), Tom Fillingham (22nd), Bill McMinnis (36th) Fred McMinnis (37th) and Jack Chidlow making a great recovery for 51st. Shettleston Harriers finished 49 points adrift in second and bronze went to Rotherham Harriers.