5 A person who engages in persistent attacks on others 7
I've seen the clue about athletics, but still stuck
17 Sounds like an abbreviated Midlands County within both Yorkshire and Cumberland 6
I've seen the clue about cricket - but still stuck
52 The ferry crossing from here to Fleetwood takes less than 10 minutes 5 3-2-3
Have found the ferry destination (think similar to Ken Dodd's location), but thats only the 5,3 bit
37 Sounds like it is irregular, not the front or back 8
40 An informal term for a small person and a waterhole 9
26 Pitch, Vivien 10
22 Walk unsteadily, a point and a garden tool 10
56 Tamas Linder, computer engineer changed 11
I have an answer for this - an anagram of the first 2 words, except its only 10 letters and doesn't have the S in it
52 - I agree with you, adding the "on-sea" to fill the clue still doesn't include a bird. It's the only 10-minute ferry from Fleetwood, so it must be correct.
5 you want to look at what some athletic clubs last name are
17 is abrev for the county of Robin Hood but with a slight first letter change the two clues given were very good clues