The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest running race. The race started in 1878 and except for four years during World War II, it has been contested every Easter Monday in Stawell, Victoria.
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| Easter Monday, 9th April 1928 - Stawell Gardens Ready for the races - Stella Biggin & my grandmother, Eva Pilgrim |
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| Easter Monday 1928 - Stawell Gift My grandmother, Eva Pilgrim, is seated in the second row with the plaits and box brownie. |
I will concentrate on 1928, when my grandmother attended the Stawell Gift. The first prize in 1928 was £250 compared with $40,000 in 2012. In 1928, there was a record attendance with gate takings considered a great success at £209/3/3.
The Daily News paper in 1928 reported the race as the "World's Greatest Event". It was won by Lynch Cooper, who ran the 120 metres in 11.9375 seconds. In 2012 the winning time was 12.228 seconds.
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| The Daily News Wednesday 18th April 1928 Source; www.nla.gov.au |
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| The Mercury Friday 13th April 1928 Source: www.nla.gov.au |
It was interesting to read in the article below that Lynch Cooper had "insured his legs against injury for £1000" which was considered "unique in the history of running."
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| The Daily News Wednesday 18th April 1928 Source: www.nla.gov.au |
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It is the first time that I see that a runner in 1928 is faster than his colleague in 2012! Lynch must have been one heck of a runner.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
That was exactly my thought Peter and why I included the fact:)
DeleteAt first I thought your mother was going to participate and I was surprised that she would run so dressed up! Glad I got that wrong.
ReplyDeleteHa Ha Ha. Gran could certainly get some pace up when she was walking and played competitive sport until she was in her 50's but I can't imagine her in a running race :)
DeleteI take it that this is a handicap race with runners starting at different points. 120metres seems a strange distance to run.
ReplyDeleteLike Kirstin I thought your mother was going to run.
Mmmm, maybe I should have written this differently so people didn't think Gran was running.
DeleteI think I read somewhere that it was originally based on the distance between two pubs and even when converted to metric, the distance has been kept the same.
I've updated now so there can be no confusion :)
DeleteI join the long line of readers thinking your grandmother was in the race. But it looks like she had a good seat for an exciting race. I think Betty Grable had her legs insured too, but not for running.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up Betty Grable and what a beauty she was! Her legs were certainly alot better than Lynch's and were insured for $1,000,000 not $1,000!
DeleteHow incredible to have family photos at a historical event and be able to put the newspaper clippings with it too!! I love the ladies' fashions too. Great post Sharon!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine a 17 year old with long plaits and ribbons today? NO WAY! lol
DeleteLove the photos of your grandmother and her friends! Their outfits and hats are so cute. It's cool to have a photo of that old box brownie camera too.
ReplyDeleteYou are right there Jana. It is even more special to me as I now own the box brownie with the original box and instructions too. Gran certainly looked after it.
DeleteMany of the photos that you see in my posts were taken by my grandmother with this box brownie.
Wow! How exciting for you to own the box brownie! I think it would be great if you posted a photo of the camera with the origninal box and instructions sometime. That would be really fun to see.
DeleteThat's a good idea. I could probably have worked it into this weeks post but will have to wait until the time is right. Maybe SS will have a camera in a future prompt :)
DeleteYour grandmother was a lovely young lady. I like her braids! How wonderful to have the photos of her attending this historic race. Having the news articles to coincide with the photos makes it even more special.
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky in Australia that the National Library of Australia (Trove) is scanning the newspapers from around the country for free searching and viewing by all. So if I am looking for a particular event(or person)then it is easy to search and find it :)
DeleteI have spent hours finding out information about family members and their home towns.
To me the photos of your grandmother with her long plaits and her treasured Box Brownie, are far more interesting than the sporting event she's attending. However, it's wonderful to marry that event up with the actual news item.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I am glad that I was able to get the opportunity to show the photos. I did find it interesting looking through the newspapers finding information about the day. I even enjoy looking through the advertisements :)
DeleteThat race sounds unique. I wonder whether there are any similar races.
ReplyDeleteI just did a google search for interest. In the first 3 pages, besides the Stawell Gift, the only short footraces were in Rome and Greece many years ago.
DeleteSharon, your blog is so neat. The picture of your Grandma in her braids and camera is so cute. I enjoyed the whole article.
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
Thanks Kathy. She was a shy country girl who became a strong determined lady :)
DeleteMr Cooper's time was faster than now? Was he ever tested for drugs?!?
ReplyDelete;D~
Love your grandma's pics!!
:)~
HUGZ
Lol. Did they even have drugs back then?
DeleteI Love How Your Grandmother looked!
ReplyDeleteHa! I am sat here wondering if,at my age,I have anything left worth insuring!!!
Ha Ha Ha. My legs have never been worth insuring!
DeleteThanks for dropping by Tony :)