Athletics of To-Day 1929

120 Athletics of To-day Lazaro, of Portugal, died from the exhaustion of the con– test. The credit for the development of British Marathon men, who are now very nearly as good as any the rest of the world can produce, belongs entirely to the enterprise of the Poly– technic Harriers and the generosity of the proprietors of Sporting Life, who in I909 presented a five hundred guinea challenge trophy for an annual race from Windsor Castle to Stamford Bridge Ground, London. In that race many of the world's great Marathon men have competed, and it has also brought honour to all that has been and is best of our British talent. The first name inscribed upon the trophy is that of H. F. Barrett, Polytechnic Harriers. He recorded 2 hours 42 mins. 3I secs., and was followed home by Fred Lord, Wibsey Park A.C., who learned a hard lesson in the previous year, and H. Green, of the Harrodian A. . In the following year Green won and in I9I2 was again third. Special mention is made of Green, because in the next year he reached world– beating form, and at Stamford Bridge on May I2th, I9I3, smashed up every record from twenty-one miles in 2 hours 2 mins. 42 secs. to twenty-six miles in 2 hours 36 mins. 52f secs. Above ten miles the distances recognised officially for world's records go up in units of five miles, and it is interesting to note that all are held by British runners as follows: Fifteen miles, I hour 20 mins. 4i secs., F. Appleby, 2I /7 jo2. Twenty miles, I hour SI mins. 54 secs., G. rossland, 2219 /94· Twenty-five miles, 2 hours 29 mins. 29! secs., H. Green, I2 /5 /I3. The one hour record of II miles I,636 yards was made by Paavo Nurmi, Finland, at Berlin, on October 7th, I928, but the two hours record of 20 miles 952 yards has stood to the credit of Green since that memorable day in May, I9I3. Sp aking in general, international Marathon records are of little comparative value, on account of variation in courses, environm nt, atmospheric and climatic conditions, prevailing at different times and in differ nt countries. The fastest time