.jpg) |
| ALF SHRUBB . . . so good they made him race against horses! |
Chelmsford has a rich running history of course. Back
in the day, not only did wee Sydney Wooderson smash the British mile record on
a field beside Roxwell Road, but the legendary Alf Shrubb regularly collected
records and trophies galore at the annual New Writtle Street athletics bash.
After I published a biography of Shrubb in 2004*, there
was a sniff of interest from film-makers about the story. Nothing came of that,
but now, nearly 11 years later, a second company has emerged wanting to make a documentary
about the forgotten hero of Edwardian sport. Fact Not Fiction Films, based in
Sussex, announced their Shrubb project a few days ago and I’m delighted to be assisting.
When researching Shrubb, I was fascinated to find his
breakthrough victory, the race that made the nation sit up and take notice of
him, came in 1900 here in Chelmsford.
The annual Essex athletics and cycling championships
at the New Writtle Street cricket ground was regarded at the time as the most
prestigious meeting in the UK. Up for grabs was the huge new 50 guinea Atalanta
Cup, which, along with a gold watch, went to the winner of the three-mile track
race.
Shrubb was still very much a beginner in 1900, having
only joined Horsham Blue Star club months earlier. He’d been ‘discovered’ while
galloping along a country lane in boots chasing the local fire wagon!
He didn’t really have a clue about his chances in
the big Chelmsford race, although somebody did tip him the wink that he’d be
helped by the unexpected absence of Sid Robinson, Olympic medallist and English
steeplechase champion.
Shrubb had never been to Essex before and was astonished
as he made his way across Chelmsford on foot from the station. These locals certainly
knew how to stage a day of sport. The station and streets were decorated with
flags of all nations and bunting, the railway arch in New Street bedecked by a
huge ‘welcome’ banner. Flowers and flags adorned the cricket ground and the grass
track was lined with Venetian masts, supportings lines of flags. A ‘grand
illuminated fairy fete’ was taking place in the Bishop of Colchester’s grounds
over the road, plus a fireworks display and ‘Baden Baden’ concert. The Countess
of Essex was there to present prizes. She arrived by train to be met by a
four-in-hand carriage which processed through Chelmsford with crowds cheering and
doffing their caps at this glamorous celebrity.
Spanish grandees Prince Leopold and Princess Marie
de Croy-Solre were at the ground too, guests of a local businessman. The
hullaballoo and atmosphere made Shrubb highly nervous, but he was desperate to
do well having never before travelled this far from home to run.
Despite his butterflies and knocking knees, he was
glad when the three-mile race finally got underway, taking off smartly and forging
a substantial early lead. He cut such a fast early pace that a world record on
grass looked possible. He steadied himself just past halfway, however, and won
at a canter, breasting the tape in 15 mins 05.6 secs, his nearest opponent – Wellin
of Essex Beagles – 150 yards adrift.
Being 1900, there were no female athletes in action,
and at the prize-giving the Countess of Essex announced: “As on the occasion of
the Olympian Games of old, what is called the superior sex is in force here today
and we women are here to admire you, and look on and stimulate you for fresh
exercises for other years. It is only at these gatherings at Chelmsford that we
see sport of this kind – which beats all other kinds in the country.”
Little Shrubb stepped up to accept the huge Atalanta
trophy, almost collapsing under its weight. He confessed later his first
thought was how on earth he’d get home with such a massive vessel. Somehow he made
it though, and on disembarking in Sussex, was greeted by a crowd of supporters
who’d heard news of his great victory at Chelmsford. He was carried shoulder
high like a returning hero, all the way to the pub which served as the Blue
Star club’s HQ. It proved to be a long and lively session!
*
To
check out Rob Hadgraft’s books on running legends of yesteryear, use this link:
http://amzn.to/1C2BjUK or visit www.robhadgraft.com
