Showing 18 results
Authority record
Applegarth, William Reuben (1890-1958), Harrier and Olympian
- Person
- 11 May 1890-5 Dec 1958
Willie Applegarth made his debut in the AAA Championships in 1910 when, as a 20-year-old Post Office worker representing Polytechnic Harriers, he finished third in the 100 yards. Two years later he won the 200 yards and finished second in the 100 yards, and these performances won him a place in the 1912 Olympic team in both the individual sprints and the relay. Applegarth was eliminated in the semi-finals for the 100 metres in Stockholm, but after some great running the early stages of the 200 metres final he held on the take the bronze medal; then as lead-off man, he put Britain on their way to the gold medals in the relay. He maintained his brilliant form in post-Olympic meetings, setting a world best of 19.8 seconds for 200 yards and equaling the world 100 metres records of 10.6 seconds. He also claimed a new British record of 21.8 seconds for 200 yards and equaled the British 100 yards record of 9.8 seconds. In 1913 he twice equaled his British 100 yards record and set a world best of 14.6 seconds for 150 yards, but the highlight of the season came at the AAA Championships where he had become the first home athlete to take the sprint double. His winning time of 21.6 seconds in the 200 yards was yet another British record. 1914 was Applegarth’s last season as an amateur, and after equaling his own British records in both the 100 yards and 200 yards he won his second AAA double, with the finest performance of his career coming in the 200 yards as he set a world record of 21.2, which was to remain unbeaten for 18 years.
In November 1914, Applegarth turned profession and twice beat the Australian Jack Donaldson, the reigning “world champion.” He continued to run as a “pro” after the war but in 1922 he immigrated to America, where he took up an appointment as a soccer and track coach at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. During his early days in the US he played for Brooklyn in the American Soccer League and took part in a few exhibition races. On one notable occasion, at Fordham University, he beat Robert McAllister who was one of the leading American sprinters of the time. Willie Applegarth’s coaching appointment at Mercersburg was relatively short-lived and in 1925 he joined the General Electric Company as a welder. He remained with the company for 30 years until his retirement in 1955.
Served in the Royal Army Service Corps during WW1.
Wint, Arthur (1920-1992), athlete, Olympian and doctor
- Person
- 1920-1992
Arthur Wint was born in Jamaica in 1920 and was a successful athlete from a young age. In 1937 he was named Jamaica Boy Athlete of the Year and at the age of 18 he won gold in the 800m at the Central America Games in Panama. During World War Two, Wint joined the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and in 1942 he was sent to Britain for active combat as a pilot. It was during this time that he joined the Polytechnic Harriers athletics club.
In 1947 he left the RAF but remained in London studying medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Nevertheless, Wint still made time for athletics and remained a member of the Harriers. 1948 saw the first Olympic Games take place since 1936. Wint was selected for the Jamaican track team and competed in three different events. He won gold for the 400m, silver for the 800m and almost had success in the 4x400m relay but got cramp during the race. His gold medal was Jamaica’s first Olympic gold.
Wint also competed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki where he achieved success with a silver in the 800m once again. He was even more successful as part of the 4x400m relay team who broke the world record with their time of 3.03.9.
Upon graduating as a doctor in 1953, Wint retired from athletics and returned home to Jamaica where he was the only doctor in his parish. However, his ties with the UK remained. In 1954 he was awarded an MBE and from 1974-1978 he served as High Commissioner to Britain.
The ‘Gentle Giant’, as he was known, was inducted into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame in the USA in 1977 and the Jamaica Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Wint died in 1992.
Lines, Mary (1893-1978), athlete
- Person
- 1893-1978
Mary Lines was born in 1893 and attended the Regent Street Polytechnic as a student whilst working as a waitress. Whilst at the Polytechnic she became heavily involved in athletics, her strengths being running and long jump, and became one of the Polytechnic’s most successful athletes. Women gradually started taking part in the Olympic Games from 1900 but unlike men’s athletics, women were not able to compete in track and field events until 1928. Instead, Lines competed at the Women’s Olympiad. At the 1921 Monte Carlo Olympiad she achieved huge success with gold in the 60m, 250m, 4x75m relay, 4x175m relay and long jump. She also got silver in the 800m.
Lines repeated this success at the 1922 Paris Olympiad bringing home gold in the long jump, 300m, and 4x110 yard relay (setting a new world record of 51.4 seconds), and a silver in the 60m. That same year she competed in the first Women’s Amateur Athletic Association Championships in London and became British Champion in the 100 yards, 440 yards, hurdling and long jump.
At the 1924 London Olympiad she won a further three gold medals, this time including the 120 yard hurdles. She then retired from athletics. Mary Lines died in 1978.
Nicol, Lt Col George (1886-1967), OBE, Harrier and Olympian
- Person
- 28 Dec 1886 – 28 Jan 1967
Joined the Poly in 1905 as a Polytechnic Harrier
Coached by Sam Mussabini
Vice President of the Harriers for 47 years.
Competed in the 4x400m relay at the 1908 Olympic Games in London and in the 4x400m relay at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. He won Bronze at Stockholm.
Part of the Polytechnic Harriers medley relay team who set a world record (3:29.8) at Glasgow in 1914. He was also a member of the Polytechnic team that set a UK 4×400y relay record in 1908.
Won the Amateur Athletics Association title for three successive years (1912-1914).
Awarded an OBE for work as a civil servant in the Post Office.
Coached by Sam Mussabini
Vice President of the Harriers for 47 years.
Competed in the 4x400m relay at the 1908 Olympic Games in London and in the 4x400m relay at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. He won Bronze at Stockholm.
Part of the Polytechnic Harriers medley relay team who set a world record (3:29.8) at Glasgow in 1914. He was also a member of the Polytechnic team that set a UK 4×400y relay record in 1908.
Won the Amateur Athletics Association title for three successive years (1912-1914).
Awarded an OBE for work as a civil servant in the Post Office.
London, John E (1905-1966), Harrier and Olympian
- Person
- 13 Jan 1905- 2 May 1966
Sprinter of the highest class, possessed of great natural ability which enabled him to take second place in the 100m in the 1928 Olympics. He was awarded the Studd Trophy that year. In a fairly short career he won the Club 100 and high jump and also the Kinnaird 100 several times.
Later he appeared in Noel Coward's original cast of "Calvacade" as pianist but although living within almost shouting distance of the Poly he had lost contact until turning up two years ago at a reunion, when he appeared pathetically pleased to be remembered. A man of great charm, shy and diffident, he would have been welcome at all times among us.
Also took bronze in the 4x 100m relay race at the 1928 Games and won silver in the 100m in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
Although born in British Guiana he came to England as a small boy.
Mann, Percy Edward (1888-1974), Harrier and Olympian
- Person
- 12 Sep 1888-23 Sep 1974
Born in Eltham, London. Died in Warrington.
In 1912 Percy Mann placed third in the AAA 880y and was the winner at the Kinnaird meeting and the Olympic Trials. He was at his best at the Stockholm Olympics and, after winning the fastest of the 800m heats in 1:56.0, matched this time in the semi-finals but was eliminated. He was also a finalist at the AAAs in 1911 and 1914. Curiously he won the Surrey 880y in 1910 and 1911 and the Kent 880y in 1911 and 1913. His successes were achieved despite the fact that he was only able to train late at night after a full working day in the footwear trade.
Bailey, Emmanuel McDonald (1920-2013), Harrier and Olympian
- Person
- 8 Dec 1920-04 Dec 2013
Born in Hardbargain, Williamsville, Trinidad and Tobago.
The demands of the Second World War along with the quest for international competition saw McDonald Bailey leave for England in 1944 as a member of the Royal Air Force. Almost directly he made his presence felt - he ran at the Royal Air Force athletic championships of 1945 and triumphed in both the 100-yard and 220-yard events to crown himself champion.
And it was from here that his amazing consistency began. He dominated those championships for four consecutive years, winning both sprints on each occasion. He was unbeaten champion when he left the Royal Air Force in 1948.
After winning the sprint 'double' at the British Amateur Athletic championships of 1946 MacDonald Bailey went on to do the same thing for six consecutive years. During this period he was returning times close to the world record: in the range of 9.6 to 9.8 for the 100-yards event, when the world record was 9.4 seconds. He was also recording 21.1 to 21.5 seconds for the 220 yards event, again not far from the world mark.
In 1947, Bailey returned consistently fast times for the 100 yards, and on one occasion he did a world-record 9.4 seconds, deemed to be wind-assisted. In 1947, he also clocked 10.3 seconds for the 100 metres - one-tenth of a second outside of the then world record. His time for the 200 metres was 21.2 seconds.
The British people were clamouring for Bailey to represent Britain in the Olympic Games of 1948, scheduled for London. The pressure on him to run for Britain was nearly as great as Trinidad's indecision on the selection of a team. In the end Bailey had to choose running for Britain or risk sitting out the Olympics.
While 1947 was a magnificent year for MacDonald Bailey, in 1948 he was plagued by injuries. Indeed, he had to fight tenaciously to reach the final of the 100-metres event, in which he finished sixth and last. Soon after the Olympics he returned to full fitness. British athletics then saw the Bailey of old, not only winning every race, but literally running away from the field to take the tape.
His biggest achievement in 1949 was in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he recorded times like 9.5 seconds for the 100 yards event and 10.2 for the 100 metres event. (The time of 10.2 for the 100 metres was the world record for the distance, but his performance was not recognised because the organisers had omitted to install a wind gauge on the track).
He competed for Great Britain in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland, where he won the bronze medal.
He jointly held the 100m world record at 10.2 seconds between 1951 and 1956 and won the sprint double seven times at the AAA Championships.
In 1953 he joined Rugby League side Leigh, but only played one game for them.
Long, Bert C (1887-1966), Harrier
- Person
- 1877-1966
Bert Long joined the Polytechnic Harriers in 1905 and was a senior Vice President of the Club. His running career spanned more than 20 years as he was still taking out cross-country "packs" up to the late 1920s. He won the Club 10 miles Championship in 1906 and on five later occasions, the last being in 1922, 16 years at championship level, a unique record. In 1909 he was 3rd in the AAA 10 miles track Championship and 3 years earlier he had been 4th in the National Cross Country Championships. At the close of his active career he became Cross Country Hon. Secretary and continued in this office until the outbreak of war. He then took over as Hon General Secretary and kept the Club alive throughout the war. In all these years he served on the Southern Counties AAA and on the General Committee of the AAA, eventually being made a Life Vice President of the AAA.
His influence on many generation of young Poly Harriers was wholly admirable and unforgettable, as the writer, among so many recalls with gratitude. He became a grade 1 Timekeeper and acted in that capacity at the Wembley Olympics of 1948 and at the Commonwealth Games at Cardiff. Both he and Mrs Long, who pre-deceased him by a few months, gave the Poly and the Harriers in particular, a lifetime of service for which they will always be remembered and honoured.
Cushing, Thomas James (1899-1958), Harrier, Olympian and greyhound racing judge
- Person
- 21 Sep 1899-Apr 1958
Member of Polytechnic Harriers and of the 1924 British Olympic team. ice-President of the Polytechnic Harriers. Involved in greyhound racing since the Southend Stadium opened in 1933 when he became an assistant to Arthur Hall. He was appointed as a judge at Southend in 1937. When the stadium was closed in September 1940, he transferred to Wimbledon stadium where he was Publicity Manager, Judge and Steward.
His sudden death came as a shock to friends who had thought he was making a good recovery from his stroke of the previous week. Tom Cushing endeared himself to everyone with whom he came in contact not only because of his keen interest in all the work he undertook but because he had the human friendly approach and the desire to help other.
Results 1 to 10 of 18