Arthur Markham (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Matthew Markham was an English cyclist who won the first formal cycle race held in Britain
, known locally as the Welsh Harp, in north-west London on Whitsun
Monday, 1 June 1868. Markham received a silver cup from the licensee of the Old Welsh Harp Hotel, William Perkins Warner, who had sponsored the race. In another source, Warner is named as Jack.
Markham opened a bicycle shop at nearby 345 Edgware Road in 1872. He had another in Station Approach, Shepherds Bush, London. Markham listed his occupation as an engineer
in the 1881 census, his sister, Helen D. Markham was aged 23 and listed as a "bicycle maker".
The race was held the day after what is often referred to as the world's first race, in the park at St Cloud west of Paris. It was won by another Englishman, James Moore
. His grandson, John, believes Moore is buried near the reservoir.
Markham used his winnings to take a coach to Bath where on 27 June 1868 he took part in another race and beat a rider called Abrahams, considered the favourite. Markham was a strong swimmer and saved a man from drowning in the river Avon
, although it's not clear if this was on the same trip. The Royal Humane Society
awarded him a parchment in recognition of his bravery, on 21 October 1868.
In 1878 Markham was a co-defendant in a court case about fraudulent velocipede
races. In his summing up of a complex and entertaining case, the Lord Chief Justice said:
Markham has also been described as a professional runner. His son, A. G. Markham, broke the Road Records Association
unpaced tricycle record for 100 miles with 5h 57m 22s in 1903. He was captain of the Bath Road Club in west London.
Biography
Markham won what is said to be the first formal cycle race held in Britain. It was in a meadow at Brent ReservoirBrent Reservoir
The Brent Reservoir is a reservoir which straddles the boundary between the London boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by British Waterways...
, known locally as the Welsh Harp, in north-west London on Whitsun
Whitsun
Whitsun is the name used in the UK for the Christian festival of Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples...
Monday, 1 June 1868. Markham received a silver cup from the licensee of the Old Welsh Harp Hotel, William Perkins Warner, who had sponsored the race. In another source, Warner is named as Jack.
Markham opened a bicycle shop at nearby 345 Edgware Road in 1872. He had another in Station Approach, Shepherds Bush, London. Markham listed his occupation as an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in the 1881 census, his sister, Helen D. Markham was aged 23 and listed as a "bicycle maker".
The race was held the day after what is often referred to as the world's first race, in the park at St Cloud west of Paris. It was won by another Englishman, James Moore
James Moore (cyclist)
James Moore was a bicycle racer. He is popularly regarded as the winner of the first official cycle race in the world in 1868 at St-Cloud, Paris, although there appears to be no verifiable contemporary evidence for this...
. His grandson, John, believes Moore is buried near the reservoir.
Markham used his winnings to take a coach to Bath where on 27 June 1868 he took part in another race and beat a rider called Abrahams, considered the favourite. Markham was a strong swimmer and saved a man from drowning in the river Avon
Avon
-Rivers:*River Avon or Avon River , various rivers*Avon Water, a river in Scotland*Afon, the Welsh word for river, often anglicised to 'avon'-Canada:*Avon, New Brunswick, in the province of New Brunswick...
, although it's not clear if this was on the same trip. The Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
awarded him a parchment in recognition of his bravery, on 21 October 1868.
In 1878 Markham was a co-defendant in a court case about fraudulent velocipede
Velocipede
Velocipede is an umbrella term for any human-powered land vehicle with one or more wheels. The most common type of velocipede today is the bicycle....
races. In his summing up of a complex and entertaining case, the Lord Chief Justice said:
Markham has also been described as a professional runner. His son, A. G. Markham, broke the Road Records Association
Road Records Association
The Road Records Association is a British cycle racing organisation which supervises records on the road but not in conventional races. It is one of the oldest cycle sport organisations in the world, formed in 1888.-Remit:...
unpaced tricycle record for 100 miles with 5h 57m 22s in 1903. He was captain of the Bath Road Club in west London.