The Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race was a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 cross-country air race which took place from 1911 until 1914, with prizes donated by the Daily Mail

Daily Mail

The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...

 newspaper. It was one of several races and awards

Daily Mail aviation prizes

Between 1907 and 1925 the Daily Mail newspaper, initially on the initiative of its proprietor Alfred Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Northcliffe, awarded numerous prizes for achievements in aviation. The newspaper would stipulate the amount of a prize for the first aviators to perform a particular task in...

 promoted by the paper between 1906 and 1925.

The 1911 race took place on 22 July and was a 1,010 mile event with 11 compulsory stops and a circular route starting and finishing at Brooklands

Brooklands

Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...

 in Surrey.
The winner was Jean Conneau

Jean Louis Conneau

Jean Louis Conneau , better known under the pseudonym André Beaumont, was a pioneer French aviator, Naval Lieutenant and Flying boat manufacturer.-Flying career:...

 in a Blériot

Blériot

Blériot may refer to:* Louis Blériot, a French aviation pioneer* Blériot Aéronautique, an aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot...

 aircraft who took 22 hours, 28 minutes to complete the course, an average speed of 45 mph (72.4 km/h) and received a first prize of £10,000. The runner up was Emile Vedrines in a Deperdussin

Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés

SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...

 monoplane type with James Valentine

James Valentine

James Valentine is the name of:*James Valentine , Australian; also musician*James Valentine , American*James Valentine , Scottish...

, in another Deperdussin, third.

The 1913 race was for British seaplanes and had a first prize of £5000.

Bad weather caused the postponement of the 1914 race which was to have been held on May 23. It was run in thick fog on 6 June, but only over a 94.5 mile course. The winner was William S. Brock

William S. Brock

William S. Brock, Sr. was an aviation pioneer. With Edward F. Schlee he made the eighth non-stop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.-Biography:...

, in an 80 hp Morane Saulnier at an average speed of 71.9 mph (115.7 km/h), and collected a prize of 300 gold sovereigns. The runner up was R. H. Carr and third was Pierre Verrier, both in in Henry Farman

Henry Farman

Henri Farman Henri Farman Henri Farman (26 May 1874 – 17 July 1958 was a French pilot, aviator and aircraft designer and manufacturer with his brother Maurice Farman. His family was British and he took French nationality in 1937.-Biography:...

 biplanes.

1911 Daily Mail Circuit of Britain

The 1911 Daily Mail Circuit of Britain was a contest for the fastest aviator to complete a course around Great Britain. The proprietors of the Daily Mail offered a £10,000 prize to any aviator to complete a approximately 1,000 miles circuit of Britain in the shortest time. The contest was run by the Royal Aero Club and was held between 22 July 1911 and 5 August 1911. Following the success of the £10,000 competition for the 1910 London to Manchester air race

1910 London to Manchester air race

The 1910 London to Manchester air race took place between two aviators, who each attempted to win a heavier-than-air powered flight challenge between London and Manchester, first proposed by the Daily Mail newspaper in 1906. The £10,000 prize was won in April 1910 by Frenchman Louis Paulhan.The...

, the editor announced that a further £10,000 prize would be awarded, it would either between London and Edinburgh and return or London and Paris and return. It was decided that the competition would be a tour round Great Britain and a committee of the Royal Aero Club was formed to set the rules and organize the competition on behalf of the Daily Mail. For an entrance fee of £100 the event was open to all licensed aviators, as well as the Daily Mail prize a number of smaller prizes were also offered. The circuit was to start and finish at Brooklands

Brooklands

Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...

 with stops at Hendon

Hendon

Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...

, Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

 and Brighton

Brighton

Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...

. Four competitors completed the course, the first and winner of the prize was Frenchman Jean Louis Conneau

Jean Louis Conneau

Jean Louis Conneau , better known under the pseudonym André Beaumont, was a pioneer French aviator, Naval Lieutenant and Flying boat manufacturer.-Flying career:...

.

Competitors

Competition Number	Airman	Aeroplane	Notes
1	Andre Beaumont Jean Louis Conneau Jean Louis Conneau , better known under the pseudonym André Beaumont, was a pioneer French aviator, Naval Lieutenant and Flying boat manufacturer.-Flying career:...	Bleriot XI Blériot XI The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...	Completed course - First to return to Brooklands and winner of the £10,000 prize. Although entered as "Beaumont" he was a Lieutenant Jean Louis Conneau of the French Navy.
2	H.J.D Astley	Universal Aviation Company Birdling monoplane	Landed at Irthlingborough due to sickness.
3	Brindejone des Moulinais	Morane-Borel monoplane Morane-Borel monoplane -External links:* * -See also:...	None starter - in hospital in France due to "a recent accident"
4	R.C. Fenwick	Handley Page Type D Handley Page Type D The Handley Page Type D or H.P.4 was a single seat, single engined tractor monoplane, the first Handley Page design to fly for more than a few hops. Only one was built.-Development:...	Aircraft crashed before the start
5	Lt. J.C. Porte John Cyril Porte Lieutenant Commander John Cyril Porte CMG, DSM, Royal Navy was a flying boat pioneer associated with the World War I Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe.-Biography:... , RN	Deperdussin Type B monoplane	Started but crashed after 400 yards
6	Ronald C. Kemp	Avro Type D Avro Type D -References:* Lewis, P British Aircraft 1809-1914. London, Putnam, 1962* Jackson, A.J. Avro Aircraft Since 1908. London, Putnam, 1965...	Aircraft crashed before the start
7	C. Compton Paterson	Grahame-White Baby Grahame-White Baby |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Lewis, P. British Aircraft 1809-1914 London, Putnam 1962*Taylor M.J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions, 1989* Flugsport 1911*...  biplane	Retired at Hendon
8	O.C. Morison	Bristol Biplane Type 'T' Bristol Biplane Type 'T' The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...	Did not start
9	Jules Vedrines	Morane-Borel monoplane Morane-Borel monoplane -External links:* * -See also:...	Completed course, first to Hendon and was the second to arrive back at Brooklands.
10	James Radley	Antoinette VIII monoplane	Did not start
11	G. Blanchet	Breguet Type III Breguet Type III This article is about the Breguet aircraft of 1910-1913. For the unrelated aircraft of the same designation flown in World War I, see Breguet Bre.4 and Breguet Bre.5.This article is about the Breguet aircraft of 1910-1913...	First stage only completed, damaged aircraft in a forced landing at Streatley. It was repaired but he hit a tree after take off and wrecked the aircraft.
12	Lt. R.A. Cammell, RE	Bleriot XI Blériot XI The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...	First stage only completed, retired after a forced landing east of Wakefield.
13	E. Audemars	Bleriot XI Blériot XI The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...	First stage only completed, retired after two attempts to travel North from Hendon were stopped by fog.
14	James Valentine	Deperdussin Type B monoplane	Completed course, third to arrive back at Brooklands.
15	D. Graham Gilmour	Bristol Biplane Type 'T' Bristol Biplane Type 'T' The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...	Withdrew before start after his aviators license was suspended
16	E.C. Gordon-England Eric Gordon England Eric Cecil Gordon England was a British aviator, racing driver and engineer. E.C. Gordon England was one of the early pioneers of gliding, and his glider flight in 1909 is considered to be the birth of the sport of soaring....	Bristol Biplane Type 'T' Bristol Biplane Type 'T' The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...	Engine problems
17	C.P. Pizey	Bristol Biplane Type 'T' Bristol Biplane Type 'T' The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...	Delayed at Melton Mowbray Melton Mowbray Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...  when starting engine after he stopped to change his propeller. Repaired his machine but it was damaged the next day in another attempt to leave Melton Mowbray
18	Peirre Prier	Bristol Type P1 monoplane	Crashed before the start
19	C. Howard Pixton Howard Pixton Sopwith test pilot C Howard Pixton won the 1914 Schneider Trophy air race held in Monacoflying a Sopwith Tabloid seaplane powered by a 100 hp Gnome 9V rotary engine, completing the race at an average speed of 86.83 miles per hour. The trophy was then moved to the British Royal Aero...	Bristol Biplane Type 'T' Bristol Biplane Type 'T' The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...	Crashed at Spofforth and retired
20	S.F. Cody	Cody Circuit of Britain biplane	Completed course as the fourth and last to finish
21	M.Tabuteau	Bristol Biplane Type 'T' Bristol Biplane Type 'T' The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called the Challenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of the Bristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. It was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft.-Development:...	Did not start
22	F. Conway Jenkins	Blackburn Mercury Blackburn Mercury -References:* *...	Crashed on take-off
23	Olivier de Montalent	Breguet Type III Breguet Type III This article is about the Breguet aircraft of 1910-1913. For the unrelated aircraft of the same designation flown in World War I, see Breguet Bre.4 and Breguet Bre.5.This article is about the Breguet aircraft of 1910-1913...	Retired following a forced landing near Weatherby where he broke his propeller.
24	Gustav W. Hamel	Bleriot XI Blériot XI The Blériot XI is the aircraft in which, on 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot made the first flight across the English Channel made in a heavier-than-air aircraft . This achievement is one of the most famous accomplishments of the early years of aviation, and not only won Blériot a lasting place in...	Reached Thornhill, north of Dumfries before he retired.
25	Lt H R P Reynolds, RE.	Howard Wright 1910 Biplane Howard Wright 1910 Biplane -References:NotesBibliography* Lewis, P. British Aircraft 1809–1914. London: Putnam and Co., 1962.* Penrose, Harald. British Aviation: The Pioneer Years 1903–1914. London: Putnam and Co., 1967....	Retired after aircraft was damaged at Harrogate.
26	Robert Loraine	Nieuport monoplane	Did not start
27	B.C. Hucks	Blackburn Mercury Blackburn Mercury -References:* *...	Landed at Barton near Luton with engine problems.
28	C.T. Weymalen	Nieuport monoplane	Reired following a forced landing north-east of Leeds
29	H. Wijnmalen	Farman HF10 3-Seater Pusher Biplane	Failed to start due to engine problems
30	Lt. H. Bier	Etrich Taube	Aircraft damaged in a landing at Codicote near Hatfield after radiator problems. Only aircraft with a passenger Lt C Banfield.

Stage 1 Brooklands to Hendon

The race began at Brooklands

Brooklands

Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...

 on 22 July 1911 with a short 20 mile section to Hendon Aerodrome

Hendon Aerodrome

Hendon Aerodrome was an aerodrome in Hendon, north London, England that, between 1908 and 1968, was an important centre for aviation.It was situated in Colindale, seven miles north west of Charing Cross. It nearly became "the Charing Cross of the UK's international air routes", but for the...

, only 21 of the 30 competitors started and 19 headed for Hendon of which 17 arrived.

Stage 2 Hendon to Edinburgh

The competitors started to depart from Hendon of the second stage on 24 July 1911 for the 343 miles from Hendon to Edinburgh with two compulsory stops:

• Hendon to Harrogate 182 miles, five made it to Harrogate
• Harrogate to Newcastle 68 miles,
• Newcastle to Edinburgh 92 miles, the same five later reached Edinburgh.

Stage 3 Edinburgh to Bristol

Total distance 383 miles with stops at Stirling, Glasgow, Carlisle, and Manchester.

• Edinburgh to Stirling 31 miles
• Stirling to Glasgow 22 miles
• Glasgow to Carlisle 86 miles
• Carlisle to Manchester 103 miles
• Manchester to Bristol 141 miles

Five started from Edinburgh but only four made it to Bristol, they were all to complete the contest.

Stage 4 Bristol to Brighton

Total distance 224 miles with stops at Exeter, Salisbury Plain.

• Bristol to Exeter 65 miles
• Exeter to Salisbury Plain 83 miles
• Salisbury Plain to Brighton 76 miles

Stage 5 Brighton to Brooklands

All competitors had to complete the last 40 miles to Brooklands before 19:30 on 5 August 1911. Beaumont was the first to arrive back on 26 July 1911 - 1 hour 10 minutes before his fellow Frenchman Jules Vedrines - he had travelled 1,010 miles in 22 hours 28 min 18 sec. Valentine, arrived back on the 4 August 1911 followed the next day by Cody who was the fourth and the last to arrive at Brooklands on 5 August 1911.

Prizes

• Conneau won the £10,000 prize for the first to complete the circuit. He also won the Entente Cordiale
  Entente Cordiale
  The Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom and the French Republic. Beyond the immediate concerns of colonial expansion addressed by the agreement, the signing of the Entente Cordiale marked the end of almost a millennium of intermittent...
  
   prize of 50 guineas
  Guinea (British coin)
  The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
  
   (£52.50) from the proprietors of Perrier table water for the first Frenchman to complete the course.

• Vedrine, Valentine and Cody all equal shares of prizes from Sir George White, the chairman of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (£250 total) and the British Petroleum Company Limited
  BP
  BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
  
   (125 guineas total or £43.75 each) for finishing the course.

• Cody won a £50 prize from the Northumberland and Durham Aero Club for the first British machine to arrive in Newcastle.

• Valentine received a £50 tea service from the Harrogate
  Harrogate
  Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
  
   Chamber of Trade for the first British aviator to reach Harrogate and a 100 guinea gold cup from the Brighton Hotels Association for the first British aviator to reach Brighton. He also won the Entente Cordiale prize of 50 guineas (£52.50) from the proprietors of Perrier table water for the first Englishman to complete the course.

1913 "Race Round Britain"

The 1913 race was for floatplanes.

Entrants included the Cody Waterplane

Cody Floatplane

-References:NotesBibliography...

 and the Sopwith Tractor Waterplane.
Cody was killed during a test flight of his design on 7 August when his aircraft broke up in flight.

External links

• Map of 1913 route published in Flight