Harry Green
Encyclopedia
Henry Harold "Harry" Green (15 July 1886 - 12 March 1934) was a British long-distance runner. He gained recognition by winning the London Poly
in 1911 and setting a world's best in the marathon on 12 May 1913 with a time of 2:38:16.2 in London
. Green was most active before World War I
.
Green competed for the Sutton Harriers and won a marathon in Surrey
on Boxing Day
1908.
At the inaugural Polytechnic Marathon
run in London
on 8 May 1909 he finished third, behind Henry Barrett
and Fred Lord, with a time of 2:49:00.8.
Although the 1910 Polytechnic Marathon was cancelled due to the death of King Edward
, Green was one of 49 who started the 1911 race that made its way from Windsor Castle
to Stamford Bridge
. Competing for the Surrey Athletic Club, Green trailed Michael Ryan until Putney
, 23 miles into the race. Taking the lead, he finished four minutes in front of Ryan with a time of 2:46:29.8. The New York Times described him as being in "fresh condition" at the end of the race.
Green was the favourite to win the 1912 Polytechnic Marathon, a race that also served as "England's tryouts for the Olympic games", but finished third behind James Corkery of Canada and Christian Gitsham
of South Africa
. He finished fourteenth at the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon
.
Green was a member of the Herne Hill Harriers
.
In May 1913 he broke the world marathon record at a track in Shepherds Bush, with a time of 2h, 38m, 16.2s recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations
. Green's record lasted until the next 'Poly'.
Green worked at Harrods
until he signed up as a private during World War I
. He was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal
and the French Medaille Militaire for his service in the Gallipoli Campaign. Commissioned on the battlefield, he left the army with the rank of Captain. After the war he ran a newsagents shop in Knights Hill, West Norwood and did not actively participate in major competitions. Green died of pneumonia
in 1934. He was cremated at West Norwood Cemetery
.
Polytechnic Marathon
The Polytechnic Marathon, often called the Poly, was a marathon held annually between 1909 and 1996, over various courses in or near London. It was the first marathon to be run regularly over the distance of 26 miles, 385 yards which is now the global standard...
in 1911 and setting a world's best in the marathon on 12 May 1913 with a time of 2:38:16.2 in 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...
. Green was most active before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Green competed for the Sutton Harriers and won a marathon in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1908.
At the inaugural Polytechnic Marathon
Polytechnic Marathon
The Polytechnic Marathon, often called the Poly, was a marathon held annually between 1909 and 1996, over various courses in or near London. It was the first marathon to be run regularly over the distance of 26 miles, 385 yards which is now the global standard...
run in 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...
on 8 May 1909 he finished third, behind Henry Barrett
Henry Barrett
Henry Frederick "Harry" Barrett was a British long-distance runner who on May 8, 1909 set a world's best in only his second marathon with a time of 2:42:31 at the Polytechnic Marathon...
and Fred Lord, with a time of 2:49:00.8.
Although the 1910 Polytechnic Marathon was cancelled due to the death of King Edward
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, Green was one of 49 who started the 1911 race that made its way from Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
to Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge could be* Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, a village in England** The Battle of Stamford Bridge* Stamford Bridge , in London** by metonymy, Chelsea F.C., football club based in the stadium...
. Competing for the Surrey Athletic Club, Green trailed Michael Ryan until Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, 23 miles into the race. Taking the lead, he finished four minutes in front of Ryan with a time of 2:46:29.8. The New York Times described him as being in "fresh condition" at the end of the race.
Green was the favourite to win the 1912 Polytechnic Marathon, a race that also served as "England's tryouts for the Olympic games", but finished third behind James Corkery of Canada and Christian Gitsham
Christian Gitsham
Christopher William Gitsham was a South African athlete, who mainly competed in the men's marathon....
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He finished fourteenth at the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's marathon
The men's marathon was a track and field athletics event held as part of the athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fifth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. The distance used was 40.2 kilometres, nearly 2...
.
Green was a member of the Herne Hill Harriers
Herne Hill Harriers
The Herne Hill Harriers is an amateur athletics sports club based at Tooting Bec Athletics Track in Tooting Bec, London. The club was originally founded in the Herne Hill district of London in 1889.. The club caters to all levels and ages of track, field, road running and cross country...
.
In May 1913 he broke the world marathon record at a track in Shepherds Bush, with a time of 2h, 38m, 16.2s recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
. Green's record lasted until the next 'Poly'.
Green worked at Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
until he signed up as a private during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
and the French Medaille Militaire for his service in the Gallipoli Campaign. Commissioned on the battlefield, he left the army with the rank of Captain. After the war he ran a newsagents shop in Knights Hill, West Norwood and did not actively participate in major competitions. Green died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in 1934. He was cremated at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
.