156: The Second English Astley Belt Race – 1879

By Davy Crockett



During April 1879, the same month that the new American Championship Belt race was held in New York City, the second English Astley Belt race, for the “Championship of England,” was put on April 21-26, 1879, at the Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, England. While the Americans were putting up mediocre times and distances, still focusing mostly on walking during their six-day races, the Brits would run fast in this race and break 13 ultra-distance world records, proving that they were now the best in the sport. It truly was a mind-blowing race for the time.

Sir John Astley

In October 1878, Sir John Dugdale Astley (1828-1894), a member of Parliament, created an “English Astley Belt,” or “Championship Belt of England” six-day race series, which had to be competed for in England. It had bothered him that his original “Astley Belt” series had gone to America for its second and third races, so he created an English Astley Belt series. The First English Astley Belt was won by William “Corkey” Gentleman, a vendor of cat food, with a world record 521 miles (see part one, chapter 17).

For the second edition of the race in this series, four entrants put up the required £100, including the defending belt holder, William “Corkey” Gentleman (1833-), of Bethnal Green, England. Others were, “Henry “Blower” Brown (1843-1900) of Fulham, England, George Hazael (1845-1911), of London, England, and Edward Payson Weston (1839-1929), the pioneer American six-day pedestrian, who had been in England since 1875. The best six-day finishes to date for each of the entrants were: Corkey – 521, Brown – 506, Hazael – 403, and Weston – 510.

In England, just as in America, critics against six-day races were becoming vocal. In Nottingham, it was written, “We are to have another of those ‘wobbling’ contests, of which so many have been inflicted upon us lately. The cure of this disease rests with the public is they abstain from paying the entrance money and stay away from these useless six days’ ‘wobbles.’”  At least eighteen six-day races had been held in England so far, during the past three years.

The Start

Agricultural Hall

The number of people who came out to witness the early morning start of the English Astley Belt Six-Day Race in the Agricultural Hall was impressive. “One would had almost thought that the public interest in this sport would have by this time been on the wane, if not entirely exhausted, but judging from the number of persons who witnessed the start, it does not seem to have abated in the least.”

The race would be scheduled for less than 144 hours (six days), 141.5 hours. A little before 1 a.m., on April 21, 1879, the four runners were led to the starting line. Astley gave them some words of caution about fair play. Weston, always the showman, started in “a dark blue cloak with black trunks and scarlet stockings.” He looked bigger and more muscular than anyone could remember. As soon as Astley signaled, the three Englishmen sprinted away, while Weston casually walked, removing his cloak on the second lap to reveal his famous white frilled shirt. The track was measured to be eight laps to a mile.

Runner Spotlight – George Hazael

George Hazael (1845-1911), of London, England, was an experienced champion ten-mile walker who had been competing since 1870. He was also a true runner and ran the mile in 4:20:15. In 1877, he broke the 20-mile world record with 1:57:27. He started competing at the ultra-long distances in 1877, winning a 30-mile race in London. His first six-day race was in February 1878, at Pomona Gardens, Manchester, England, where he won with 239 miles.

In March 1878, Hazel competed in the First Astley Belt Race but quit early with only 50 miles. In April 1878, he broke the 100-mile world record in Agricultural Hall, in London, England, with a time of 17:03:06. He also held the 100-mile walking world record with 18:08:20. In July 1878,