Athletics of To-Day 1929

The Long Distances 129 early eighties were destined to stand for the best part of thirty years. But early in I9I3 E. W. Lloyd of the Herne Hill Harriers went into serious training for the purpose of breaking them, and at Stamford Bridge on May rzth produced a new set of figures ranging from 4I miles in 4 hours 58 mins. 9 secs. to so miles in 6 hours I3 mins. 58 secs. No long distance runner of such a calibre as these two men was ever heard of until rumours began to emanate from Natal of an amazing South African farmer named Arthur Newton, who may be seen in Picture No. 5, Plate r2. As a lad at Bedford chool, Newton had been wont to think nothing of an afternoon spin of rs or 20 miles, but to the best of my belief he never entered his name for a singl athletic contest, or at– tempted any record-br aking feats, until he was nearing forty years of age. But, wh n he did start, the long stan?-ing records came tumbling down like leaves in autumn. I met him first in the offices of the News of the World, Joe Binks of that paper being responsible for arranging all ewton's extraordinary runs in England. I found ewton a tall, sparely built man, who looked rather weary and worn, and it was hard to believe that he had alr ady during July, r923, run so mil son rough outh African roads in 5 hours 53 mins. 5 secs. What puzzled m still more was why South Africa had not enter d him to represent the Dominion in the Marathon Race at the lympic Games. Arthur ewton's records from so miles on rough South African roads in r923, when he was thirty-nine years of age, to roo mile on th ath-London road in r928, when he was approaching forty-five years of ag , ar giv n h re: Records in South Africa on Rough, Hilly Roads. I923- 50 miles, 5 hours 53 mins. 5 secs. I925- 54 miles r,ro2 yards (Maritzburg to Durban), 6 hours I4 mins. 30 secs. En route- 30 miles, 40 , so , 3 hours r8 mins. o secs. 4 hours 30 mins. 20 secs.} new 5 hours 44 mins. 50 s cs. records. K