| On several occasions over the last few
years, when the incumbent President has presented the trophy to the
winner of the Club '5', he has commented that the Cup, first competed
for in 1880, is probably one of the oldest in the country, or even the
world.
As Trophies Secretary, I have spent a considerable
amount of time cleaning the Club's silverware, including the '5' Cup
and, it was whilst on one of these polishing sessions that I decided to
establish if there was any basis of fact behind these comments.
After a few enquiries made through Athletics
Weekly I was put in touch with Wilfred Morgan, the archivist of
Birchfield Harriers, who is an authority on athletics trophies.
From a series of letters and articles that he has
sent to me it can be established that our trophy is certainly one of the
oldest in the country.
The first National Cross Country was held in 1876
and the first USA Cross Country Championship was held in 1890; none of
the European countries started their athletics organisations before the
mid-1880s. There are Track and Field trophies that go back earlier than
1880. The ones belonging to the AAA once in fact belonged to the old
Amateur Athletic Club and were given to the AAA in 1880; they are:-
| 400m |
Kenelm Thomas Digby |
1868 |
| 5000m |
Earl of Jersey |
1868 |
| 11OH |
Viscount Southwell |
1870 |
| 100m |
Prince Hassan |
1871 |
| 10,000 Walk |
J G Chambers |
1871 |
| 1500 |
Lawes-Wittewronge |
c1873 |
| HJ |
Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny |
1875 |
| 800 |
PM Thornton |
c1876 |
| Steeplechase |
James & W Waddell |
c1880 |
Wilfred adds a rider to the effect that
although London AC (1863) is the oldest existing club, in their early
years and for most of their recent years, they have been exclusively
Track and Field, and their early trophies were not perpetual but awarded
to people who won them three times in succession. In a later letter,
Wilfred went on to say that he hated disappointing us but Thames Hare
and Hounds have two trophies which pre-date our '5' Trophy and are also
for cross-country; they were evidently bought in 1874.
I have made enquiries of the Thames Hare and
Hounds Secretary and he informs me that Wilfred is correct in his
information and in fact the two trophies - the "Short", which
was purchased on the 20th May 1874 and the "Long", purchased
on the 29th July 1874, were both stolen some 15 years ago. They have
been replaced and are competed for annually, the "Short" over
five miles and the "Long" seven and a half miles.
Wilfred has contacts at both Oxford and Cambridge
Universities. Although CUAC Mile Championship Trophy was presented in
1864 and is still taken out of the safe once a year, Oxford do not have
anything older than that. He added: "You may have noticed that the
area south of the Thames is rich in history, with Thames, Blackheath and
SLH. But you have to bear in mind that there were 'clubs and clubs' in
the early years and Thames was closed to anyone who was not a 'gentleman
amateur' for a long time.
London AC was much the same, a closed club for
many years, like schools and universities, not open clubs such as
Blackheath and Birchfield. That's got nothing to do with trophies but I
thought I'd get it off my chest.
I've been casting my mind to other sports but I
think athletics has some of the oldest trophies in existence. I know the
FA cup is the third one; the first was given to an official of the FA
for services rendered and the second was stolen from a shop in
Birmingham and was replaced with a new one in 1895.
The one for the Open golf championship goes back
to the early 1870s. I don't think cricket or rugby has anything of any
great age, maybe horse-racing has, I don't know."
So when our President next presents the '5' trophy
and remarks that it may well be the oldest in the country, he may not be
far off the mark.
B.S.
|
The
Blackheath Harriers
Cross-Country Challenge Cup
Past Winners
Dates from Nov 13 1880 to 21st Oct 1972
are engraved on the cup and dates from the 20th Oct 1973 to the
present are engraved on the plinth. (All
dates shown above are as engraved).
|
|
|
|
Min |
Sec |
| NOV
13 |
1880 |
C CATTLIN |
33 |
5½ |
| APRIL
23 |
1881 |
G M NEHAN |
27 |
59 |
| JAN
14 |
1882 |
C M NEHAN |
29 |
9½ |
| MAR
11 |
1882 |
W G GEORGE |
28 |
25 |
| NOV
11 |
1882 |
C CATTLIN |
29 |
15 |
| MAR
28 |
1883 |
W G GEORGE |
28 |
0 |
| JAN
5 |
1884 |
C CATTLIN |
W |
0 |
| MAR
22 |
1884 |
W G GEORGE |
27 |
|
| NOV
22 |
1884 |
M HILL |
30 |
48 |
| MAR
14 |
1885 |
C CATTLIN |
29 |
6 |
| JAN |
1886 |
C CATTLIN |
31 |
20 |
| MAR
27 |
1886 |
H C PRITCHARD |
30 |
10 |
| DEC
4th |
1886 |
J B NASH |
32 |
5 |
| MAR
26th |
1887 |
J F PONSFORD |
29 |
46 |
| DEC
3rd |
1887 |
J F PONSFORD |
W |
0 |
| MAR
10th |
1888 |
J F PONSFORD |
30 |
13 |
| DEC
1st |
1888 |
H C SCARD |
30 |
0 |
| MAR
28th |
1889 |
H C SCARD |
28 |
52 |
| NOV
30th |
1889 |
A R COOPER |
30 |
5 |
| MAR
22nd |
1890 |
H C SCARD |
30 |
10 |
| NOV
29th |
1890 |
G M HARRIS |
31 |
10 |
| MAR
27th |
1891 |
G M HARRIS |
29 |
20 |
| NOV
28th |
1891 |
C M HARRIS |
29 |
23 |
| MAR
19th |
1892 |
G M HARRIS |
W |
0 |
| DEC
10th |
1892 |
H C SCARD |
29 |
50 |
| DEC
23rd |
1893 |
G N HARRIS |
30 |
8 |
| MAR
11th |
1893 |
G M HARRIS |
29 |
11 |
| MAR
10th |
1894 |
G M HARRIS |
30 |
6 |
| DEC
1st |
1894 |
G M HARRIS |
W |
0 |
| MAR
16th |
1895 |
G M HARRIS |
30 |
35 |
| DEC
7th |
1895 |
G M HARRIS |
30 |
45 |
| MAR
14th |
1896 |
G M HARRIS |
31 |
0 |
| MAR
13th |
1897 |
W G SUFFIELD |
34 |
10 |
| DEC
5th |
1897 |
W G SUFFIELD |
33 |
4 |
| NOV
5th |
1898 |
E RATCLIFF |
32 |
35 |
| NOV
4th |
1899 |
E RATCLIFF |
33 |
41 |
| NOV
3rd |
1900 |
E RATCLIFF |
33 |
22 |
| JAN
4th |
1902 |
T C DAVIS |
33 |
7 |
| NOV
15th |
1902 |
J E FISHER |
33 |
7 |
| JAN
9th |
1904 |
T C DAVIS |
33 |
28 |
| DEC
17th |
1904 |
T C DAVIS |
33 |
37 |
| DEC
16th |
1905 |
M P S WHITE |
33 |
|
|
8th
DEC |
1906 |
A C FRECKER |
31 |
20 |
| 14th
DEC |
1907 |
H E J SOUTHWELL |
34 |
23 |
| 12th
DEC |
1908 |
H F J SOUTHWELL |
36 |
29 |
| 18th
DEC |
1909 |
H E J SOUTHWELL |
32 |
52 |
| 29th
OCT |
1910 |
C H BAXTER |
32 |
20 |
|
2nd
DEC |
1911 |
C A GLAESER |
31 |
38 |
| 26th
OCT |
1912 |
B H LYMBFRY |
32 |
42 |
| 25th
OCT |
1913 |
B H LYMBERY |
32 |
19 |
| 25th
OCT |
1919 |
B H LYMBERY |
30 |
11 |
| 23rd
OCT |
1920 |
A C EDWARDS |
30 |
24 |
| 29th
OCT |
1921 |
C H W O'BRIEN |
30 |
50 |
| 21st
OCT |
1922 |
E J CASTELLO |
40 |
18 |
| 20th
OCT |
1923 |
S H CLAYDON |
35 |
56 |
| 25th
OCT |
1924 |
S H CLAYDON |
33 |
21 |
| 24th
OCT |
1925 |
R D BELL |
32 |
11 |
| 30th
OCT |
1926 |
R D BELL |
32 |
26 |
| 29th
OCT |
1927 |
R D BELL |
28 |
14 |
| 20th
OCT |
1928 |
A C V ALLEN |
29 |
7 |
| 19th
OCT |
1929 |
N I BURT |
28 |
21 |
| 18th
OCT |
1930 |
H SMITH |
28 |
33 |
| 17th
OCT |
1931 |
J W M NORMAN |
31 |
59 |
| 22nd
OCT |
1932 |
L T BROCKWAY |
30 |
11 |
| 21st
OCT |
1933 |
H S SMITH |
28 |
38 |
| 27th
OCT |
1934 |
L T BROCKWAY |
26 |
31 |
| 19th
OCT |
1935 |
H S SMITH |
28 |
27 |
| 24th
OCT |
1936 |
C H WILKINSON |
27 |
25 |
| 16th
OCT |
1937 |
H S SMITH |
28 |
22 |
| 15th
OCT |
1938 |
C H WILKINSON |
28 |
43 |
| 20th
OCT |
1945 |
H NUNNS |
28 |
50 |
| 19th
OCT |
1946 |
R R CHOAT |
27 |
49 |
| 25th
OCT |
1947 |
H N NUNNS |
27 |
1 |
| 27th
OCT |
1948 |
A J BRENT |
27 |
41 |
| 22nd
OCT |
1949 |
C F MONSHALL |
27 |
56 |
| 21st
OCT |
1950 |
R A MORLEY |
29 |
13 |
| 20th
OCT |
1951 |
R A MORLEY |
27 |
16 |
| 18th
OCT |
1952 |
R A MORLEY |
28 |
16 |
| 17th
OCT |
1953 |
L F FLETCHER |
31 |
35 |
| 16th
OCT |
1954 |
A J BRENT |
28 |
35 |
| 15th
OCT |
1955 |
L F FLETCHER |
27 |
55 |
| 20th
OCT |
1956 |
L F FLETCHER |
28 |
19 |
| 9th
NOV |
1957 |
A J WEEKS-PEARSON |
26 |
38 |
| 8th
NOV |
1958 |
L F FLETCHER |
28 |
15 |
| 17th
OCT |
1959 |
J B HERRING |
27 |
26 |
| 15th
OCT |
1960 |
J B HERRING |
27 |
34 |
| 21st
OCT |
1961 |
J B HERRING |
27 |
18 |
| 20th
OCT |
1962 |
B W HEAVER |
27 |
37 |
| 19th
OCT |
1963 |
J B HERRING |
26 |
49 |
| 31st
OCT |
1964 |
B W HEAVER |
26 |
48 |
| 23rd
OCT |
1965 |
J B HERRING |
26 |
34 |
| 5th
NOV |
1966 |
B W HEAVER |
24 |
30 |
| 21st
OCT |
1967 |
J R BALDWIN |
24 |
21 |
| 12th
OCT |
1968 |
J R BALDWIN |
24 |
13 |
| 18th
OCT |
1969 |
R RICHARDSON |
24 |
4 |
| 17th
OCT |
1970 |
R RICHARDSON |
26 |
20 |
| 16th
OCT |
1971 |
R RICHARDSON |
25 |
47 |
| 21st
OCT |
1972 |
R RICHARDSON |
27 |
20 |
| 20th
OCT |
1973 |
R RICHARDSON |
28 |
27 |
| 19th
OCT |
1974 |
P HAMILTON |
29 |
9 |
| 18th
OCT |
1975 |
P HAMILTON |
28 |
26 |
| 16th
OCT |
1976 |
R J COLES |
27 |
46 |
| 15th
OCT |
1977 |
S J KNOWLES |
28 |
2 |
| 21st
OCT |
1978 |
R J COLES |
27 |
9 |
| 20th
OCT |
1979 |
C R HAINES |
30 |
6 |
| 11th
OCT |
1980 |
R J COLES |
29 |
53 |
| 17th
OCT |
1981 |
R J COLES |
30 |
15 |
| 16th
OCT |
1982 |
W FOSTER |
29 |
10 |
| 15th
OCT |
1983 |
R J COLES |
23 |
32 |
| 20th
OCT |
1984 |
W O'DONNELL |
28 |
7 |
| 19th
OCT |
1985 |
R J COLES |
27 |
12 |
| 15th
NOV |
1986 |
T M NASH |
28 |
43 |
| 17th
OCT |
1987 |
M A COLPUS |
23 |
44 |
| 15th
OCT |
1988 |
M J TRINCA |
25 |
48 |
| 21st
OCT |
1989 |
R J COLES |
31 |
54 |
| 20th
OCT |
1990 |
N I L WATLING |
31 |
23 |
| 19th
OCT |
1991 |
D W TAYLOR |
29 |
53 |
| 17th
OCT |
1992 |
D J HEATH |
28 |
46 |
| 16th
OCT |
1993 |
M I L WATLING |
27 |
5 |
| 15th
OCT |
1994 |
M I L WATLING |
26 |
29 |
| 14th
OCT |
1995 |
M I L WATLING |
27 |
38 |
| 19th
OCT |
1996 |
M R STEINLE |
27 |
15 |
| 11th
OCT |
1997 |
M I L WATLING |
28 |
43 |
| 10th
OCT |
1998 |
M R STEINLE |
28 |
22 |
| 23rd
OCT |
1999 |
R D SMITH |
29 |
1 |
| 14th
OCT |
2000 |
A J DRAPER |
28 |
50 |
| 13th
OCT |
2001 |
R D SMITH |
27 |
49 |
| 12th
OCT |
2002 |
R D SMITH |
29 |
01 |
|
11th Oct |
2003 |
A RAYNER
|
27 |
58 |
|
16th Oct |
2004 |
J Thorpe |
30 |
56 |
|
15th Oct |
2005 |
J Atkinson |
29 |
25 |
|
14th Oct |
2006 |
J Atkinson |
28 |
37 |
|
13th Oct |
2007 |
J Atkinson |
28 |
07 |
|
11th Oct |
2008 |
A Gibbins |
28 |
54 |
|
10th Oct |
2009 |
A Bruce-Littlewood |
28 |
15 |
|
2nd Oct |
2010 |
A Bruce-Littlewood |
28 |
24 |
|
1ST Oct |
2011 |
D Mckinlay |
30 |
49 |
|
29 SEP |
2012 |
A GIBBINS |
29 |
29 |
|
29 SEP |
2013 |
G EVANS |
30 |
47 |
|
19 OCT |
2014 |
A GIBBINS |
30 |
16 |
|
18 OCT |
2015 |
F PARKINSON |
29 |
13 |
|
23 OCT |
2016 |
J BARBER |
28 |
31 |
|
22 OCT |
2017 |
C ANDREWS |
30 |
20 |
|
21 OCT |
2018 |
|
|
|
|
