1884 AAA Championships

[1][4] During the winter of 1883 the ground within the stadium had been levelled and the track relaid at 502 yards 2 feet so that it was three and a half laps to one mile.

Five American athletes were visiting England at the time but only one of them, William Meek (West Side AC, New York), competed in the championship, winning the 7 miles walk.

[2] The other four Americans were guests of South London Harriers and postponed their first appearance in England to a meet where the gate receipts could benefit their hosts.

[8][9] Public interest in the competitions centred on the meeting of Walter George and William Snook, both of Moseley Harriers.

[10] The only man capable of challenging him was Snook, who, on the Monday before the championship, had beaten George over 1,500 yards at the Birchfield Harriers Sports in a time that equalled his own British record.

They stayed like this until there was slightly more than one lap to go when George shot into the lead and Snook went after him leaving Darlington some way behind.

Snook slowed almost to a walk and was almost caught on the line by Darlington while George charged ahead and won by ninety yards.

[6] Seven men started the 7 miles walk, with Harry Whyatt (Notts Forest FC), the defending champion, quickly assuming the lead.

[13] William Meek (West Side AC, New York) took second place and these two gradually moved away from the rest of the field with an eleven second lead after the first mile, by which point two men had retired.

At 400 yards past 3 miles Whyatt again stopped, and restarted, two or three times, then finally retired, leaving J. Jervis (Liverpool H.) the only other man in the race.

Meek's style received many complements from the spectators and he was applauded for a fine win in fast time.

Owen Harte was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, based in Dublin and the Wexford Harbour Boat Club.