This is another in the occasional series by Anne Cochrane telling the story of the Victorian phenomenon of Athletics Festivals which were crucial in keeping Lowerhouse and most other local cricket clubs afloat from the 1870s to the early 1900s. Each year’s episode stands alone whilst also forming part of a chronological series see here.
The newspapers said this was the 10th annual Lowerhouse CC sports day, in fact it was only 9 years old, but there had been two in the grim year of 1878. 1880 had been moderately profitable again, so they took heart, and carried on.
The Athletic News and Cyclists’ Journal described the Athletics Meeting at Lowerhouse as a well established fixture, “at a capital little ground” and also provided the well respected referee, Mr. J.H. Bowker. Indeed the Lowerhouse meeting had a reputation for being a well organised, honest event, with good prizes, and good flat turf. This was important, not just for the runners but also for the bicyclists perched high up on their precarious machines.
Having attracted a good crowd, the club ensured they were entertained, fed and watered. Usually a local publican got a special licence to erect a drinks tent, the club catered for food, and a local band played during the day and into the evening for dancing. On 10th September, 1881, the weather, whilst not very pleasant, was fine, and a crowd estimated at three to four thousand turned up.
This year’s event benefited from the patronage (sponsorship) of several distinguished gentlemen, such as local MPs and, of course, the owners of Drew’s Calico Print Works, and John Dugdale & Bros. cotton mill, the two major Lowerhouse employers. Only Lt. Col. J. T. Dugdale was said to have actually attended, possibly accompanied by Hindle Rawcliffe, also a patron, who, like his father before him and his son after him, was the Dugdales’ manager and lived at no. 7 Victoria Terrace until he moved to sunny Southport.
Image from Lowerhouse and the Dugdales by Brian Hall courtesy Burnley Civic Trust.
According to the Express, Lowerhouse’s 20 years’ existence and prosperity (?!) were largely due to the generosity of James Tertius Dugdale, who not only allowed them free use of the ground, but “until a very short time ago, contributed handsomely to its funds”. He did indeed help the club when it applied to him in time of real need, usually with loans which had to be repaid, and seems to have been a well liked employer.
The athletics programme lacked the variety of past years. One new event, a football dribbling race, which the Express said “attracted very little favour, and should best be discarded” was won by players from Padiham FC. Otherwise there were just five flat races over various distances, three for amateurs and two for professionals, and two bicycle races although, as there were a lot of qualifying heats, the action would be pretty non-stop with potentially plenty of opportunities for illicit betting.
There were no events for juveniles and the local press reported that 13 year old, J. V. Cunliffe, delighted the crowd by getting through his heat of the 100 yards mens’ race, (the Athletic News said he didn’t). Cunliffe became a successful professional runner, and yet another local winner of the Sheffield Handicap.
Something very odd happened in the half mile amateur race. The runner up, Brown (of Giggleswick), complained that, when he was 20 yards from the tape and running neck and neck with Hardman, (of Middleton), Hardman tried to pull him back and then fell down himself, near the finish. The Athletic News warned “This sort of conduct should be pulled up for … (who knows) where it will lead.” They couldn’t understand why Hardman fell down, as the ground was flat and he could not have been tired. John Hardman was a regular and very successful competitor at this type of meeting, but had done something similar just over a year earlier, when, competing in a Mile handicap, he had jostled another runner out of the race in a clear attempt to ensure victory for the favourite.
As always, most interest centred on the two professional races, the 100 yards and especially the 2 miles, which was unquestionably the star event of the day. Lowerhouse had been “fortunate in entries they had secured” such as “W. Cummings of Paisley, the 1 to 10 mile champion, William Holgate of Burnley, the Sheffield handicap winner, W. Duddle of Preston,” and J.H. Ernst, of Burnley, “late of America.” Ernst (or Ernest), was one of three American runners said to have recently arrived in England, who were all supposed to run, the other two didn’t show and Ernst didn’t make the 100 yards final. Many of the runners in the 100 yards were in fact local men. One of them, Billy Holgate, the 1880 Sheffield Handicap Champion (see our 1880 report), won his heat “cleverly” by throwing himself “several yards ahead of the others at the tape”. In the final, despite “the big start he had to give” Holgate was still expected to win, but only came in fourth. The Athletic News revealed that he would have won if he hadn’t “been put back” several times for false starts. Billy might well have been up to no good, but the Athletic News did say the starter was incompetent.
6 professionals started the 2 mile race, and the handicaps show that this was to be a match up between the two star men, whilst the other four were to be also rans: W. Cummings, of Paisley, scratch, W. Duddle, Preston, 35 yards, J. Bridge, Burnley, 280 yards, G. Almond, Darwen, 230 yards, J. Byrne, Blackburn, 190 yards, and J. Sanderson, Whitworth, 175 yards. However, Duddle, who “appeared to be out of condition”, and two others, retired after a few laps leaving Cummings with two to beat. Cummings gained ground every lap and first overtook Sanderson, “who although over 50 years of age is a capital runner”. He then “amused the crowd by running neck and neck” for two laps with the second placed man, before putting on a spurt to win easily. (In his day, the “elderly man”, Treacle Sanderson, had been just as big a star as Cummings).
After a successful racing career in Scotland, William Cummings moved to Preston, worked as a joiner, married the sister-in-law of his trainer and became a champion distance runner. In 1886 he featured in a very popular series of “World Champions” cigarette cards by Allen & Ginter.
(image from Wikimedia)
At the end of the day
“The sports were very much enjoyed and this pleasure was much enhanced by the performance of the 84th (Padiham) Lancashire Rifle Volunteers Band, which played during the afternoon and in the evening for dancing”.
1881 AGM and balance sheet
The accounts for 1881 show there had only been about £3 cash in hand from 1880. At the AGM in October, held at the Junction Hotel, Rosegrove, the Secretary reported that “chiefly due to a fine day for the Athletic Sports”, the club’s finances were now in a very satisfactory state, unlike the First Eleven. The Athletics made a profit of nearly £37, and, after expenses, there was a considerable closing balance of £22.17.7. After the meeting “the room was thrown open for singing and dancing, which was entered into with gusto by nearly everyone present” making it one of the best meetings the club had ever known.
ac Dec. 2024
Prize Money, Winners and runners up 1881 (amateur, unless otherwise stated)
100 yards handicap: £4 W. Raynor, Manchester, £1.10 W. Carver, Blackley FC
100 yards handicap, professionals:£4 J. Peel, Crawshawbooth, £1.10 J. Rogerson, Burnley
1 mile bicycle race Burnley Cycle Club only: Gold medal L. Calverley, Silver medal A. Crossley
Half mile handicap: £4 R. Harrison, Horwich, £1.10 F. Brown, Giggleswick
440 yards Football Race: £1.10 E. Hitchon, Padiham, 10 shillings T. Robinson, Padiham; Athletic News said it was a dead heat between T. Ellis and T. Robinson and they split the money, Ellis and Hitchon played for Padiham FC.
2 mile bicycle race: £4 H. Turner, Castleton, £1.10 A.H. Knight, Pendleton
440 yards handicap: £3 T. Ward, Salford, £1 J. Hardman, Middleton
2 mile handicap for professionals: £5 W. Cummings, Paisley/Preston, £2.10 G. Almond, Darwen
Sources
British Newspaper Archive, Athletics News 26 May 1880, 14 and 17 September 1881, Burnley Express, Burnley Gazette, 17 September 1881, 29 October, 1881 and club archive.