On This Day, 18 August 1917

Birmingham Mail

Saturday 18 August 1917

CHARITY SPORTS

MILE FLAT WON BY A SPARKHILL MAN

About 5,000 persons attended the thirty-fifth annual charity sports in Birmingham at Aston this afternoon. The entries, 193, were an improvement on last year, and an interesting item in the programme was a procession of old-time cyclists on all kinds of weird machines, stretching back into the dark ages of the history of  the sport. Results:-

Half-mile Cycle Handicap-Heat winners: H. Eaton (Crescent), 100 yds; G Smith (Demon), 90; S. Bache (Crescent), 80; L. Breakwell (Crescent),82; T. Massey (Components), 85.

Final:- T. Massey, 1; G. Smith, 2; H. Eaton, 3; L. Breakwell, 4. Won easily; half a length between second and third. Time 1 min 16.35sec.

One Mile Flat Handicap:- L. Ward (Sparkhill), 147 yds., 1; C.B. Hopkinson (Birchfield), 168, 2; A. V. Deighton (Lozells), 185, 3; J. McKenna (Small Heath), 142, 4. Won by a yard, inches between second and third. Time, 4 min 28.15sec.

Four Length Scratch Team Race (confined to Boy Scouts)- 1st St. James’s Troop (6 points), 1; Ward End Troop (21 points), 2. Time, 3 min 18sec.

100 Yards Bonus’ Handicap-Heat winners: E. Hasselmeir (Thomson-Houston), 7 1/4 yds; Lieut G. J. Baker (Sparkhill), 9; E. J. Reynolds (Birchfield), 10 1/2yds, W. Adderley (unattached), 10 1/2; W. E. Bache (unattached), 10 1/4, L. Roberts (Lozells), 9 1/2, A. Bird (Birchfield), 8 3/4; J. C. Hudson (Small Heath), 11.

Final: Hasselmier 1, Roberts 2, Lieut. Baker 3, Bird 4. A foot covered the first four. Time 10 1/2sec.

William Cockbill (71), the veteran of Birmingham Walking Club, set out to do a mile in 10 minutes 45sec., and, walking at a steady, regular pace, accomplished the task in 10 min. 14.15sec.