ATHLETIC SPORTS
"Athletic sports" were a big attraction in Marlow in days past but just how big has largely been forgotten. 1,000 spectators made their way to Harleyford for the 1874 event! Yes, 1000, and that doesn't include the amateur competitors.
The events early patrons were the Clayton family hence the use of Harleyford as a venue. "A more attractive spot could not be imagined" said the Maidenhead Advertiser. Athletics were fashionable at the time. The town event first launched on a large scale in 1872 but the 1870's were full of other organisations promoting "athletic endeavour". For example a sporting contest was held for the boys of the choir of All Saints in 1874, with the specific aim of encouraging the sort of exercise that would promote good health and better singing as a result. And which exercises might these be? Short distance runs and pole vaulting amongst others. The Marlow Victoria F.C and Marlow FC were another two groups to hold a similar athletics meet for their many members in the 1870's, the latter watched by a large and "influential" crowd in 1874, when it was held in Long Meadow "near the bridge".
The Harleyford meeting had all kinds of running events - exclusively for men as were all the races at this point- including a steeplechase, as well as long jump, high jump, and pole vault. A last minute addition in 1874 was a half mile cycling race. The prizes were usually a cup for first place, and something decorative for the runner up. Let's just say that if your ancestor was a talented athlete they probably wouldn't have been short of toast racks! It sounds as though the entrants to the steeplechase in particular earned their prizes as the course was regarded as an especially stiff one involving water logged meadows and ploughed fields which left the competitors drenched and in "a terrible mess of mud". Some events were restricted to those living in Great Marlow, others were opened up to those in certain neighbouring towns such as Maidenhead.
In 1875 the main athletics meeting was switched from Harleyford to the meadow behind Marlow Place temporarily. It was hoped the proximity to the station would encourage a bumper number of visitors but it was back to Harleyford the next year. The 1878 event wasn't held for uncertain reasons but it was said that the Claytons were keen to revive the event in 1879. But the big event did not return until 1884 and on a slightly smaller scale with a new host location of Crown Meadow which at that time belonged to the Crown Hotel. (It's now known as Riley Recreation ground.) As the prizes given during the Harleyford years were numerous and required many subscribers to pay for them, perhaps a lack of sufficient willing sponsors was a reason for the lapse. There were after all many other rival events after subscriptions! The weather seems rarely to have been kind to this later version although the popularity of the races is shown by the number of rain soaked spectators that turned up anyway. The races continued to be held throughout the later 1880's and 1890's with some gaps. They were revived a third time after the First World War in yet another location - Star Meadow off Wycombe Road. They continued there in the 1920's. Plans to include an athletics track in the new home of Marlow FC also partly occupying Star Meadow (the Alfred Davis Memorial ground) came to nothing due to a lack of funds. This track and plans for tennis courts and a new grandstand at the football ground were initially just stood over to allow the building debt to be dealt with but were never successfully revived. The costs had spiralled due to a drought effecting the first turf laid and then severe rain perversely causing further problems afterwards.
Borlase school athletics meetings, started in 1881, also attracted bigger crowds than just proud parents at their beginning, although less so later. Juvenile sports, from football teams to swimming races were taken much more seriously by the wider community than now. In 1893 admission to the Borlase athletic games in Colonels Meadow cost 6d.
Some competitors taking part in 1872 include Gower, Turner, Heron, Treacher, Wren. And in 1875 - Hewett, Shaw.
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Researched by Kathryn.
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