Emsley Carr Mile
Encyclopedia
The Emsley Carr Mile is an annual invitational athletics running
event held in the United Kingdom
over one mile
for men. The race is now part of the London Grand Prix
, and was won in 2010 by the Kenya
n athlete Augustine Kiprono Choge.
, a former editor of the News of the World
. The event was created to encourage athletes to break the four-minute mile
. By the second time the race was run, Roger Bannister
had already broken the world record on 6 May 1954 at the annual athletics event between the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) and Oxford University at the Iffley Road Track
in Oxford
. Bannister never did run in the Emsley Carr Mile.
The winners of the race write their signatures in the pages of the Emsley Carr Trophy, a red Moroccan leather-bound book, now running into a second volume since 1980.
It contains a history of mile running since 1868 from around the world and also includes signatures of many of the world's leading milers, including Paavo Nurmi
, Sydney Wooderson
, John Landy
and Roger Bannister. The race has been won by ten Olympic champions, Kip Keino
, Steve Ovett
, Murray Halberg
, John Walker, Sebastian Coe, Saïd Aouita
, William Tanui
, Vénuste Niyongabo
, Haile Gebrselassie
and Hicham El Guerrouj
. It has also been won by seven athletes who have held the world record for the mile: Walker, Ovett, Coe, El Guerrouj, Filbert Bayi
, Derek Ibbotson
and Jim Ryun
.
Ken Wood, a former Sheffield athlete, won the Emsley Carr Mile a record four times. The fastest time recorded for the event stands at 3:45.96 by El Guerrouj in 2000. It is the ninth fastest time ever recorded, and the fastest time recorded on British soil.
In 1969 Sir William Carr decided not to continue sponsoring the race and the AAA took it over and continued until he died in 1977. Since 1977, Emsley Carr's grandson, William, has continued with the tradition and has kept the book up to date and has provided a glass piece, presented to the winner by a member of the Carr family.
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
event held in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
over one mile
Mile run
The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...
for men. The race is now part of the London Grand Prix
London Grand Prix
The Aviva London Grand Prix is an annual athletics event at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London, England.Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League...
, and was won in 2010 by the Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n athlete Augustine Kiprono Choge.
History
The race was inaugurated in 1953 by Sir William Carr in memory of his father Sir Emsley CarrEmsley Carr
Sir William Emsley Carr was a British newspaper editor, who edited the News of the World for more than fifty years.Carr was born and raised in the Hunslet district of Leeds...
, a former editor of the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
. The event was created to encourage athletes to break the four-minute mile
Four-minute mile
In the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...
. By the second time the race was run, Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE is an English former athlete best known for running the first recorded mile in less than 4 minutes...
had already broken the world record on 6 May 1954 at the annual athletics event between the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) and Oxford University at the Iffley Road Track
Roger Bannister running track
The Roger Bannister running track, also known as the Oxford University track, is a 400-metres athletics running track and stadium in Oxford, England. It was where Sir Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile on 6 May 1954, when it was known as the Iffley Road track...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. Bannister never did run in the Emsley Carr Mile.
The winners of the race write their signatures in the pages of the Emsley Carr Trophy, a red Moroccan leather-bound book, now running into a second volume since 1980.
It contains a history of mile running since 1868 from around the world and also includes signatures of many of the world's leading milers, including Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
, Sydney Wooderson
Sydney Wooderson
Sydney Charles Wooderson MBE , dubbed "The Mighty Atom", was an English athlete whose peak career was in the 1930s and 1940s. He was one of Britain’s greatest middle-distance runners and had an amazing sprint finish...
, John Landy
John Landy
John Michael Landy, AC, CVO, MBE is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run, and he held the world records for the 1500 metre run and the mile race...
and Roger Bannister. The race has been won by ten Olympic champions, Kip Keino
Kipchoge Keino
Kipchoge Keino , chairman of the Kenyan Olympic Committee , is a retired Kenyan track and field athlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist...
, Steve Ovett
Steve Ovett
Stephen Michael James "Steve" Ovett OBE , is a former middle distance runner from England. He was gold medalist in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, U.S.S.R., and set world records for 1500 metres and the mile run...
, Murray Halberg
Murray Halberg
Sir Murray Gordon Halberg, ONZ, MBE is a former New Zealand middle distance runner who won the gold medal in the 5000 metres event at the 1960 Olympics. He also won gold medals in the 3 miles events at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games...
, John Walker, Sebastian Coe, Saïd Aouita
Said Aouita
Saïd Aouita is a former Moroccan athlete, winner of 5000 meters at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 5000 meters at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, 3000 meters at the 1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships, and former world record holder at 1500m , 2000m , 3000m , and twice at 5000m [ and ]...
, William Tanui
William Tanui
William Kiptarus Tanui is a Kenyan former athlete, winner of 800 m at the 1992 Summer Olympics.Born in Terik Location of South Nandi District, William Tanui first came to notice relatively late in life, when he won the 1500 m at the Kenyan Commonwealth Games trials in 1989, but ran only sixth at...
, Vénuste Niyongabo
Vénuste Niyongabo
Vénuste Niyongabo is a middle distance runner from Burundi. In 1996, he became the first Olympic medalist from Burundi by winning the 5000 metres at the 1996 Summer Olympics...
, Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie
Haile Gebrselassie is an Ethiopian long-distance track and road running athlete. He won two Olympic gold medals over 10,000 metres and four World Championship titles in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon...
and Hicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj "King of the Mile" is a Moroccan former middle distance runner...
. It has also been won by seven athletes who have held the world record for the mile: Walker, Ovett, Coe, El Guerrouj, Filbert Bayi
Filbert Bayi
Filbert Bayi is a former Tanzanian middle-distance runner of the 1970s who set the world records for 1500 metres in 1974 and the mile in 1975...
, Derek Ibbotson
Derek Ibbotson
George Derek Ibbotson MBE was an English runner who excelled in athletics in the 1950s. His most famous achievement was setting a new world record in the mile in 1957....
and Jim Ryun
Jim Ryun
James Ronald Ryun is an American former track athlete and politician, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the 2nd District in Kansas. In the 2006 election, Ryun was defeated by Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda...
.
Ken Wood, a former Sheffield athlete, won the Emsley Carr Mile a record four times. The fastest time recorded for the event stands at 3:45.96 by El Guerrouj in 2000. It is the ninth fastest time ever recorded, and the fastest time recorded on British soil.
In 1969 Sir William Carr decided not to continue sponsoring the race and the AAA took it over and continued until he died in 1977. Since 1977, Emsley Carr's grandson, William, has continued with the tradition and has kept the book up to date and has provided a glass piece, presented to the winner by a member of the Carr family.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 4:06.80 | White City Stadium White City Stadium White City Stadium was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics, often seen as the precursor to the modern seater stadium and noted for hosting the finish of the first modern distance marathon. It also hosted speedway and a match at the 1966 World Cup, before the stadium was... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
|
| 1954 | 4:04.80 | ||
| 1955 | 4:05.40 | ||
| 1956 | 3:59.40 | ||
| 1957 | 4:02.00 | ||
| 1958 | 4:06.50 | ||
| 1959 | 4:03.10 | ||
| 1960 | 4:00.30 | ||
| 1961 | 4:08.40 | ||
| 1962 | 3:56.52 | ||
| 1963 | 4:06.50 | ||
| 1964 | 3:56.04 | ||
| 1965 | 4:04.11 | ||
| 1966 | 3:53.42 | ||
| 1967 | 3:56.02 | ||
| 1968 | 3:58.56 | ||
| 1969 | 3:57.80 | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace National Sports Centre The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was... , London |
|
| 1970 | 3:57.40 | Meadowbank Stadium Meadowbank Stadium Meadowbank Stadium is a multi-purpose sports facility located at Meadowbank, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It hosted the Commonwealth Games of 1970 and 1986.-Layout:... , Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... |
|
| 1971 | 4:00.40 | ||
| 1972 | 3:55.30 | Crystal Palace, London | |
| 1973 | 4:01.81 | ||
| 1974 | 3:57.44 | ||
| 1975 | 3:55.50 | ||
| 1976 | 3:57.06 | ||
| 1977 | 3:57.67 | ||
| 1978 | 3:55.83 | ||
| 1979 | 3:56.58 | Gateshead Stadium Gateshead International Stadium Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, Gateshead Senators American Football and Gateshead FC. It has also held a... , Gateshead Gateshead Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside... |
|
| 1980 | 4:00.60 | Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh | |
| 1981 | 3:55.80 | Cwmbran Stadium Cwmbran Stadium Cwmbran Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium and state of the art sports complex in Cwmbran Wales. The stadium holds 10,500 people and the main outdoor arena consists of an international standard athletics track and field surrounding a grass football pitch... , Cwmbran Cwmbran Cwmbrân is a new town in Wales. Today forming part of the county borough of Torfaen and lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbrân was established in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Cwmbrân means Crow... |
|
| 1982 | 3:57.84 | Crystal Palace, London | |
| 1983 | 4:03.37 | Alexander Stadium Alexander Stadium Alexander Stadium is an international athletics stadium located within Perry Park in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England, at . It has staged the Amateur Athletics Association Championships, and was the venue of the 1998 Disability World Athletics Championships... , Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
|
| 1984 | 3:55.71 | Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead | |
| 1985 | 4:01.70 | Morfa Stadium Morfa Stadium Morfa Stadium was an athletics stadium in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. It has now been demolished and the land is occupied by the Morfa Retail Park and the Liberty Stadium, home of the city's football and rugby teams, which opened in 2005.... , Swansea Swansea Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands... |
|
| 1986 | 3:57.03 | ||
| 1987 | 3:58.75 | Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead | |
| 1988 | 4:07.07 | Crystal Palace, London | |
| 1989 | 3:51.97 | Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead |
| Year | Winner | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3:55.51 | Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead | |
| 1991 | 3:52.10 | Don Valley Stadium Don Valley Stadium The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by... , Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... |
|
| 1992 | 3:58.76 | ||
| 1993 | 3:57.06 | Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth Portsmouth Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island... |
|
| 1994 | 3:58.72 | Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead | |
| 1995 | 3:49.80 | Crystal Palace, London | |
| 1996 | 3:54.57 | Don Valley Stadium Don Valley Stadium The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by... , Sheffield |
|
| 1997 | 3:53.28 | ||
| 1998 | 3:51.74 | ||
| 1999 | 3:52.39 | Gateshead Stadium, Gateshead | |
| 2000 | 3:45.96 | Crystal Palace, London | |
| 2001 | 3:49.41 | ||
| 2002 | 3:50.86 | ||
| 2003 | 3:48.17 | ||
| 2004 | 3:49.84 | ||
| 2005 | 3:52.50 | Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield | |
| 2006 | 4:10.02 | Alexander Stadium Alexander Stadium Alexander Stadium is an international athletics stadium located within Perry Park in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England, at . It has staged the Amateur Athletics Association Championships, and was the venue of the 1998 Disability World Athletics Championships... , Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... |
|
| 2007 | 3:54.24 | Stretford Stadium, Manchester | |
| 2008 | 3:54.68 | Crystal Palace, London | |
| 2009 | 3:52.71 | ||
| 2010 | 3:50.14 | ||
| 2011 | 3:51.21 |
See also
- Mile run world record progression
- Middle distance track eventMiddle distance track eventMiddle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
- Four-minute mileFour-minute mileIn the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...