An Athletics Compendium

A 109-115 Pedestrianism Pedestrianism 109 Particulars ofthe late Mr F. Powell'sjourney on foot, from London to York, and bagcakin in the year 1772. London: J. Fowler, 1793. 1 folio sheet BL: 11621.1.11(2) This appears tobe one of the earliestrecords of a pedestrian performanceF.or a wager of 20 pounds (or possibly guineas) Powell had to completethe round journey of about 400 miles (this document gives 594 miles, whereas the biographical sketch gives 402 miles) inside six days. Setting out from Hicks's Hall in London about 20 minutes past midnight on 29 November, Powellarrived back at his starting point at 6.30 pm on the following Saturday. The account contains some delightful details: 'At York, he delivered a letter to Mr Clarke, a watchmaker, and then went to theGolden Anchor, where he took a little refreshment,then went to bed for about an hour andhalaf; after which, at phalsft five, he set out hoins return....' The report ends wiathn epitaph on Foster Powell who died on 15 April 1793. 110 Pedestrianism, or, An account ofptehrfeormances of celebrated pedestriansduring the last andpresent century: with a fulnl arrative of Captain Barclayp'sublic and private matches anadn essay on training/ Walter Thorn. Aberdeen: Brown and Frost, 1813. 286p BL: 1040.d .23 This is almost certainly the first book on competitive athletics tboe written in English. Prompted by the feats of CaptaiBnarclay, the great pedestrian of the early l&OOs, ictontains a faucllcount of his feaatnsd training methods, which were to influence athletics training for over a century. At an early age Barclay Allardice showed athletics promise by'walking 6 miles in an hour for 100 guineas on the CroydonPoad in 1(306'. The feat which gained him greatest fame was the walking of a thousand miles in 1,000 hours on Newmarket Heath in 16'09. This was more of a sleep-denying performance than aatnhletic one, as a calculation will reveal. The wager for the feat was, appropriately, 1,000 guineas. The book also contains 'ranking-lists' of eighteenth century and early nineteenth century performances, which ind ate that there was considerable athletic activity at this time. 111 A brief vindicadon ofthe legality ofthe late proceedings against George Wilson, thBelackheath pedestrian/ John Laurens Bicknell. London: W. Clarke, 1815. 47p BL: 515.e.l0(6) In this discussion of tlehgeal implications of Wilson's experiences, Bicknell reviews previous cases concerning pedestrians and examines the law's attitude fototracing over the centuries. 112 Pedestrianism: a correct anmdinute journal of the time occupied byMr J.Stokes, of Bristol, during his walk of fifty miles per day fortwenty successive days at Saltford, Somerset / J. aGn.d T. H.; to which pisrefixed, a brief memoir of Mr Stokes. Bristol: 1815. Authors areJosephGilbert andThomas Howell BL: T.1090(15) 113 An account of WmP. earson the Lancashirepedestrian's running match against timoen Newcastle Town Moor, on Monday, Jul1y, 1822, when he ran 50 mileisn 7 hours 50 min. / William PearsonN.ewcastle: Marshall, 1822. 1 sheet BL:L.R.38 .C. 18(23) Pearson, describedas 'about the midsidzle of light weight, only about 22 years of age', started his attempt at 1 pm in favourable weather over a measured half-mile stretch of the North Turnpike Poad. He wore 'a pair onfankeen pantaloons, a striped shirt, and haandkerchief round his head'. He started with 'a pair of light carpet shoes', but discarded these after about m21iles, and ran the remainingdistance barefoot. Pearson 'rabnout 400yards farthetrhan the limit prescribed to shew that he had done tahsek completely and without difficulty'. A delightfully detailed description hoisf refreshment during the run is given, as wellas agraphic accountof his running action. Reference is also made tohis performance a month earlier in running from Newcastle to Durham and back. 114 The bookof days: a miscellanyof popular antiquities, in connection with the calenda/r edited by R. Chambers. London: Chambers, 1863-1864. 2 vols. BL: 9010.h.9 Volume I includes anaccount otfhe runningfootmen who were the pioneers of tehrea of pedestrianism, and of Captain Barclay's career, whViloelume 11 includes a section on 'remarkable wagers' which describes various pedestrian feats, 115 Sportascrapiana: cricket ansdhooting, pedestrian, equestrian, rifle and pistol doings, lhioun ting and deer stalking by celebrated sportsmen whiitthherto unpublished anecdotes of the nineteenth century, from George IV to the Sweep / edited by Caw ( . A. W.). London: Simpkin, Marshall, 1867. 301p; illus Author is C.A. Wheeler; alsoknown as Tacts inAthletics' BL: 7905.bb.37 Contains much original material on pedestrianism. Chapter 10 is on 'Training, starting and timi g "spirt" runners'. Thereis an illustration of a spiked running shoe (p213). 'The action of a good "spirt" runner is generally perceptible by his running from the thigh,or say the hip, rather thanfrom the knee. In illustration of the [ 1 2 ]