Thomas Horspool
Encyclopedia
Thomas Horspool was a British
runner who set several world records in the mile
soon after relatively precise running tracks and accurate timing devices came into use in the mid-19th century.
Born in Liverpool
, but living in Basford
, Horspool was a glove-knitter by trade. He won the 1853 mile championship in Sheffield
, won it again in 1854 with a time of 4:29, and defeated main rival John Saville twice in 1856.
Their most famous race took place on 28 September 1857 at the Copenhagen Grounds in Manchester
. There, Horspool defeated Saville by four yards and equaled the mile world record of 4:28 set by Charles Westhall in 1852.
Tommy Hayes, himself once a champion runner and now proprietor of the Copenhagen Grounds, declared Horspool "English champion," at a time when no governing body existed to establish titles or championships. Horspool returned to the track in 1858 where, on 12 July, he lived up to his title by defeating Manchester professional Job Smith by 10 yards in a new world record of 4:23. His time was called "an unsurpassed display of celerity."
Horspool retired as undefeated champion soon afterwards and became a publican
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
runner who set several world records in the mile
World record progression for the mile run
The world record in the mile run is the best mark set by a male or female runner in the middle-distance track and field event. The IAAF is the official body which oversees the records. Hicham El Guerrouj is the current men's record holder with his time of 3:43.13 minutes, while Svetlana Masterkova...
soon after relatively precise running tracks and accurate timing devices came into use in the mid-19th century.
Born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, but living in Basford
Basford, Nottingham
Basford is a suburb in northern Nottingham. Basford parish was absorbed into Nottingham in 1877. It gave its name to the Basford Rural District which existed from 1894 to 1974....
, Horspool was a glove-knitter by trade. He won the 1853 mile championship in 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...
, won it again in 1854 with a time of 4:29, and defeated main rival John Saville twice in 1856.
Their most famous race took place on 28 September 1857 at the Copenhagen Grounds in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. There, Horspool defeated Saville by four yards and equaled the mile world record of 4:28 set by Charles Westhall in 1852.
Tommy Hayes, himself once a champion runner and now proprietor of the Copenhagen Grounds, declared Horspool "English champion," at a time when no governing body existed to establish titles or championships. Horspool returned to the track in 1858 where, on 12 July, he lived up to his title by defeating Manchester professional Job Smith by 10 yards in a new world record of 4:23. His time was called "an unsurpassed display of celerity."
Horspool retired as undefeated champion soon afterwards and became a publican
Publican
In antiquity, publicans were public contractors, in which role they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects...
.