| Date | 3 August 2012 |
|---|---|
| Source | Slough Observer |
| Reference | VP-0033 |
| Volume | Views of the Past |
| Collection | Views of the Past |
Transcript
Our marathon of heritage
Email Elias with feedback and your memories on observernews@berksmedia.co.uk
SUNDAY will see the 2012 London Olympic women’s marathon, with the men’s race on Sunday August 12.
The races will start in The Mall, in London. The 1908 Olympic marathon however, started nearer home, on the lawns of the East Terrace of Windsor Castle.
It was during the event in 1908 that the length of the marathon was established – increasing from 25 miles to 26 miles and 385 yards – to enable the Royal children to watch the race, which finished next to the Royal Box at the White City Stadium.
Turning the dream of holding the Olympic Games in England to reality was down to William Henry Grenfell – Lord Desborough of Taplow Court – who used his social connections with the Royal Family to bring the Games to London.
Lord Desborough was a former Olympian fencer and won a silver medal in the 1896 Athens Games. He was elected president of the 1908 Games.
The 1908 Olympic marathon was held July 24. The race was started by the Princess of Wales (later Queen Mary), who was accompanied by other members of the Royal Family including the young princes John, three, and George, five. The runners took their places with Lord Desborough standing in his car behind them with the starting pistol in his hand.
The Princess of Wales started the race by pressing a button on a table in front of her which communicated that Lord Desborough was to start the race. He fired his starting gun at precisely 2.33 pm.
The race course took the runners down Castle Hill to Thames Street and across the bridge into Eton. The only known marker for the marathon is in Eton High Street.
The race was not without controversy though – Canadian Indian Tom Longboat was in the lead most of the way – but after drinking a bottle of champagne he was overtaken by the Italian Dorando Pietri.
Disaster struck when Dorando turned the wrong way into the stadium. He managed to turn around and fell over and was helped by umpires, one of whom was Arthur Conan Doyle creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Dorando was disqualified and the race was won by American Johnny Hayes. Let us hope the 2012 Olympic marathons are controversy free.
Above, the Royal Family at the 1908 Olympic Marathon on the East Terrace of Windsor Castle. Left, Tom Longboat (no.74) and Dorando Pietri (no. 19) running down Lower Thames Street to Windsor Bridge. PHOTO: ROYAL WINDSOR WEBSITE
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