1953 Motspur Park, Surrey 24 Hour Track Race

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This race was organised by Timber Woodcock C144 (Surrey Walking Club) and sponsored by the “Sunday Dispatch” newspaper. This was the fourth post war track race, and although there were some good men in the field, no records were broken.

Of the 21 starters, 10 completed 100 miles with 4 going on for the full 24 hours.

The winner was Claude Hubert C156 (France) , who had aspirations of breaking the world record held by his fellow countryman, Henri Caron at 132 miles. He was unable to but achieved the fourth best distance in Britain – 125 miles 1591 yards, the 3 best being:

T. Hammond C10 – 131 miles 580 yards (1908), P. Reading C121 – 129 miles 749 yards (1946), and T. Payne C18 – 127 miles 542 yards (1909).

The race brought 4 new members into the hat-trick club, namely Ron Andrews C124, with 3 completions all on the track, Hew Neilson C145, Willy Watson C146 and Fred Plumb C151 all with 2 track and 1 road completions. The leader of the pack though was Tom Richardson C100 with 4 in the bag.

 

1953 Birmingham to London – Programme

1953 Birmingham to London – Results

1951 London to Brighton & Back

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For the first time this race was sponsored by the “Sunday Dispatch” newspaper who also publicised the race.

45 entered of whom 36 started. 25 competitors completed 100 miles, 20 of them continuing for the full distance of 104 miles. Out of the 25, four were existing Centurions. L.E. Lambert C133 was the only one to retire at the 100 mile mark.

One of the 36 competitors in this race was the 50km champion of France, Claude Hubert, who in finishing 4th became the 3rd overseas athlete to join the ranks of the Centurions.

The winner of the race was A.J. Stirling-Wakeley C143, in 18 hours 46 minutes, thus becoming a winner on both road and track (a feat that had only been achieved previously by Tom Hammond C10 in 1907 and 1908). His intention had been to break Billy Baker’s 1926 record, and although he started well he had a very bad patch just before the dawn, when Stan Horton had closed to within 2 minutes and actually had him in sight, however Jack Wakeley rallied and secured his victory. He won not only the Hammond Cup but also the Hammond-Neville trophy, as this was a Surrey Walking Club. He also became the first holder of a splendid 12 inch diameter silver punchbowl presented by the “Sunday Dispatch”.

Four hours after finishing and having a bath and short nap, Jack dressed in full evening dress and took his position as chief percussionist in the orchestra pit of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

1951 London to Brighton & Back