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Bicentennial Edition, Wednesday, October 5, 1994 Supplement of The Canadian Statesman Wills Fastest Ian from limnite Site Sforabb Could Ew@i Outran losses One of tlie greatest champions of the 20th century is the line used to describe the world's best distance runner, the late Alfie Shrubb of Bowmanvillc. The tribute came during Alfic's prime from 1901-1906, but it could justifiably have been used at any point during his career which spanned over a 32 year period. In his prime, he established 12 amateur world records in distances ranging from 1.5 miles to 10 miles. As a middle distance runner, he held the British Isles record from 1901- 02 for the mile with a clocking of four minutes and 18 seconds. Bom on December 12, 1879, Alfie Alfie moved his family to Bowman ville in 1928. In the beginning, he worked at the Synatt Publishing Company in Toronto. He then took over the Cream of Barley milling operation operation in 1945 after James L. Mord-, en passed away. The two had met during Alfie's travels as a runner. His athletic career began by accident accident as a youngster living in England. England. He was making his way home from work when a fire wagon sped past. Following close behind were members of the local athletic club known as the Horsham Blue Star Harriers. He joined the running group, and much to everyone's amazement, beat the fire wagon and the runners to the fire. One of his greatest achievements came in 1904 when he set the world distance record, covering a distance of 11 miles, 1,137 yards in a one hour time limit. It was a record that wasn't broken until 1951. In 1906, Alfie, all of five foot six inches tall, and weighing a mere 118 pounds, turned professional. He dominated races ranging in lengths of two to 15 miles, and in many instances, instances, was given a handicap of up to eight minutes. He once competed in a 15 mile race in Buffalo, N.Y. against Billy Sheering of Hamilton, who happened happened to be the gold medal winner in the marathon at the 1906 Olympic Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. "M %'Kuri Beauty Shop 1969 -- 1994 25 years 'Kiit %KnrCfm beenproviding the best in hair services for 25 years. The professionals at c Kut %'Kiirl keep up to date with the latest hairstyles and still maintain some of the tried and true haircare techniques. We have à large selection of lHaireare and Cosmetic products, Paul 9ditchell, 9datw(j plus (foldzvell products, to name a fera. We care about you and your hair. We consider new customers our friends we haven't met yet. Vo serve you: (Darolyn, Wendy, Sherry and Vanya h n 71 KING ST. E., BOWMANVILLE 623-5019 m ©| After finishing the race with a six lap lead, Alfie bolted to the dressing room and emerged with a camera to lake a picture of his opponent finishing finishing the race. In one of his more unusual races, he defeated two horses in a 10 mile race. The horses ran the race as a relay, relay, with each one running five miles, while Alfie ran the full 10. Some of his most famous races pitted him in head-to-head competitions competitions against Indian marathon runner runner Tom Longboat in distances between between 1-26 miles. Alfie beat Longboat 10 of the 12 times they faced each other. One of those losses came in a 26 mile marathon race in 1926 at Madison Madison Square Gardens in New York. After taking a commanding lead at the 22 mile mark, Alfie was forced to retire from the race as the smoke- filled arena made him feel nauseated. nauseated. The last time the two raced against each other was at the CNE in 1931. At the time, Alfie was 51 years old; while Longboat was 48. During his career, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean 23 times, and raced in several countries including France, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. There was also a period of eight years from 1920-28 where he passed his vast knowledge on to other runners runners as a coach. His Oxford University University teams enjoyed enormous success. success. A contemporary writer once wrote: "No matter how hard may be the contest in which Shrubb has taken taken part, he never seems short of wind. Indeed, for Shrubb to get out "'HE*" r>! Mb/" J à in gig The late Alfie Shrubb was regarded as one of the greatest middle distance runners of the 20th century. His athletic career spanned a period of 32 years, and in that time he set 12 amateur world records in distances ranging from 1.5 miles to 10 miles. He moved his family to Bowmanville in 1928, and worked at the Cream of Barley milling operation. of breath seems practically impossible." impossible." His legend of athletic achievement achievement followed him long after his running career was over. In 1962, at the age of 82, he was asked to go to Boston to see two well respected heart specialists. Although there was nothing wrong with him physically, the specialists specialists wanted to examine him to see how his heart had reacted to all of the athletic activity he had endured endured over the years. On April 23, 1964, Alfie Shrubb passed away at the age of 84. In his honor in January of 1990, the Broadbridge Heath Sports Centre, Centre, in his hometown of England, unveiled unveiled a larger-than-life painting along with a plaque praising his contributions to the sport. He was also honored by the Bowmanville Museum Fund Run in 1993. A photo of Alfie showing him surrounded by an array of trophies and medallions adorned the front of the t-shirts that were printed especially especially for the event. Terrsbrae u i-h'v © Pet foods and supplies @ Professional dog grooming © Aquariums and aquarium supplies © Bird cages © Small animal cages © Dog crates © Cat carriers © Goldfish, tropical fish and other pets Terribrae Pet Centre 73 King St. W. Bowmanville © 623-1752 V/5/1 isliijiM'i Baiaial Briery From Page 6 their team, had stolen the Eckfords game ball, and refused to repay the previous favour of the Orono players who had treated Bowmanville Bowmanville to dinner on a visit to their village. village. At least the Eckfords won 43-27. By 1876, the best senior baseball in Ontario had divided into two levels. levels. The top level teams from London, London, Guelph, Kingston, Hamilton and Toronto played in the new Canadian Canadian league, while the others continued continued to play in an informal circuit of arranged matches. Unlike cricket which had failed to attract widespread widespread public support, baseball was by now rooted in the idle tossing of a ball between fathers and sons, attendance attendance at community games, and its simple play at school and workplace workplace picnics and holiday gatherings. gatherings. In mid August, the premier Canadian Canadian team, the London Tecumsehs, visited Bowmanville's Drill Shed grounds. Their visit was a kind of last hurrah for Bowmanville's struggle struggle to compete in bat and ball games with larger centres. The Tecumsehs, with two future National League stars Fred Goldsmith and Joe Hor- nung, won the hard fought game and stayed afterwards for a strawberry social and sing-a-long. Such comradery and fratemalism would also soon disappear from the %-$L tw game. The 1877 season brought Bowmanville Bowmanville to the forefront of Ontario baseball competition. London and Guelph had joined the American based International Association and the field was now open for teams competing for the Ontario championship, championship, which local papers persisted in calling the Canadian title, though no other provinces were represented. represented. The team's pitcher was Jim Schofield who worked in the Dominion Dominion Organ Factory on Temperance Temperance Street and was locally renowned renowned as one of the early curveballers. At season end, the New York Clipper noted that Bowmanville Bowmanville had finished third in the Canadian championship. In 1878, the Royal Oaks were now a commercial enterprise. Under the management of Jim Schofield, season tickets were sold and new players welcomed. By the 1880's, baseball teams in Bowmanville represented the furniture furniture factory, the organ factory, the merchants on the north side of King Street, millers, clerks, and shoemakers. shoemakers. Bsseball in its many forms of t- ball, softball, hardball, and slo pitch is played today by those ranging from young children of four or five years of age to men and women. Cricket on the other hand, has completely completely disappeared. How Old Bo You Think We Are? The building pre-dates Confederation. We were known as the "Big 20". In the late 1800's you could buy wallpaper and musical instruments from us. The Bell Telephone office was upstairs. We sent telegraphs for people and made steamship reservations. In the 1920's and 30's, we were well known for our books and stationery, and we started our wool department. In the Second World War years, we supplied flocks of pet canaries, as well as gallons of ink and reams of . writing paper to the war prisoners stationed here. In the 1950's and 60's, we were mobbed every September by area students, buying leather zipper binders with their names engraved on them for free, as well as all their textbooks and school supplies. In the 1970's, we added the Upstairs Shop and began to import goods from the British Isles. From the 198,0's up to the present, we have expanded our Kids Department, added a complete Dollhouse and Miniature Department, and have continued to alter our product lines to suit your changing needs. We're pretty old. We've been serving this community well since 1881. It's what we like to do. Come in and sec us soon. Rickaby's Limited 27 King Street West Bowmanvillc, Ontario L1C 1R2 Telephone (905) 623-5556 I A ■H ItWi ' " V,. ••• ' SiK mteevmt I © ►9 f:JP ►9 Cïf -(h zn ( (tv St,