1946 White City
This event, held on 14th-15th June 1946, was staged at the White City Track, the scene of the famous 1908 and 1909 track races which were so instrumental in the formation of the Centurions. It was also the first 24 hour race to be held in London in the 37 years since those two great events.
It rained heavily throughout the race and a large part of the track was waterlogged. Of the 26 who started, 4 would complete 100 miles and retire, one of them being Jonnie Henderson, the winner of the last qualifying event in 1937, he was 34 minutes behind the leader at the 100 mile mark. 4 others were to continue for the full 24 hours, the winner being Percy Reading of the Polytechnic Club. He set new figures for 19 hours, 110 miles and 20 hours.
Tom Richardson’s 100 mile time from 1936 and Tom Hammond’s 24 hour distance from 1908 were undisturbed. And so the Centurions gained 7 new members.