By Davy Crockett
The Astley Belt was the most sought-after trophy in ultrarunning or pedestrianism. This race series was recognized as the undisputed international six-day championship of the world. The international six-day race series was established in 1878 by Sir John Astley, a wealthy sportsman and member of the British parliament. Daniel O’Leary won the first two races and then lost the coveted belt to Charles Rowell of England at the Third Astley Belt held in Madison Square Garden during early 1879. Rowell received several challenges for the belt and, by rule, needed to defend the belt again in 1879 and eventually was scheduled in June.
Making challenges to the belt was costly, requiring a deposit of £100, which today would be the same as depositing nearly $20,000. So, you needed to be very wealthy or must have wealthy backers who wanted to see you enter so they could wager on you. The first ultrarunner to make a formal challenge was American, John Ennis, was one of the first to enter.
Runner Spotlight - John Ennis
John T. Ennis (1842-1929), was a carpenter from Chicago, Illinois. He was born in Richmond Harbor, Longford, Ireland, emigrated to America while young, and served in the Civil War for Illinois. He had been competing in walking since 1868. He beat O’Leary in a handicapped race, early in October 1875, walking 90-miles before O’Leary could reach 100-miles. Additionally, he excelled as an endurance ice-skater. In 1876, he skated for 150 miles in 18:43.
Ennis was a veteran of several six-day races, but he usually came up short due to stomach problems. Many in Chicago had turned against him. “Is it not about time that this man should end his nonsensical talk? He has made more failures than any known pedestrian in this country.” His pre-race bio included: “John Ennis of Chicago, a remarkable, but unlucky pedestrian, who on several occasions, with victory almost in his grasp, has been forced to leave the track through sickness.”
In 1878, Ennis finally started to taste success. He won a six-day race in Buffalo, New York, but only reached 347 miles. Then he finally had good success walking six days in September 1878, again at Buffalo. He won with 422 miles. The next month, he went to England and raced against Rowell and others in the First English Astley Belt Race where he finished 5th with 410 miles. He finished second in the Third Astley Belt race with 475 miles, winning a fortune of $11,038 ($340,000 value today). He was 5’8” and weight 156 pounds.
Before the Race
Ennis sailed for England on the steamer City of Berlin, on April 20, 1879, to get a full month of training in England before the race. He said, “I never felt better in my life than now.” During the voyage, he planned to walk up and down the decks to keep himself from getting rusty. He would train at the London Athletic Club at Lillie Bridge, Fulham. He said, “The whole of England is against me, I know, and I shall exert myself to perform the greatest feat in my life, and if possible, to bring the Astley Belt back to the United States.” His wife and three children sailed with him, and they arrived in London on May 5th.
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The race was postponed for two weeks until June 16th. The defending champion, Rowell, had to pull out of the race because of an abscess on his heel. During some of his final training, the heel was punctured by a peg or small stone that had to be extracted. “Unfortunately, the chief interest in the present competition is lost, owing to the fact of Rowell having at the last moment, broken down.” This was the first time that the Astley Belt holder would not compete to defend the belt.
There were four starters, John Ennis, of Chicago, Edward Payson Weston, of Connecticut (but had been in England for three and a half years), Richard “Dick” Harding, of Blackwall, London, and Henry “Blower” Brown, of Fulham, England, holder of the English Astley Belt,