Tom Arthur (2)

An earlier piece in this blog questions whether Tom Arthur opened the Institute in 1906.  With a swimming pool in the basement and sports facilities in the grounds and nearby park, health and fitness was one of the keystones for the Institute. Whilst his impeccable record would have made Tom an excellent role model for members of the Institute, it opened in 1906 which was right at the beginning of his career.  

I have been unable to find any original documents to support the argument that Tom Arthur opened the Institute. However, I thought you may be interested in this phenomenal athlete...

Tommy Arthur was born in Newport and ran for Newport Harriers early in the twentieth century.     He achieved the title of Welsh Cross-country Champion for four consecutive years between 1906 and 1909.   1906, Wales staged the international cross country championships for the first time at Caerleon Racecourse.  

Below are listed Tom Arthur’s racing results giving the date of the Welsh Championships, the venue and his position in the race.   From the Welsh Championship’s team it was customary at the time to select the International team.   The last column gives the venue and Tom Arthur’s position in the International Championships of that year.    (These are now known as the World Championships.)   We believe 1914 was Arthur’s last race, as he joined the forces in WWI and was killed shortly after.

 Date                         Welsh Venue & Championship position                   Int.  position & Venue   

4th March 1905,                      Caerleon           5^th                                   Dublin         25th                                                                   

3rd March 1906,                      Cardiff              1^st                                   Caerleon     17th                                                                   

2nd March 1907,                     Caerleon           1^st                                    Glasgow     42nd                                                                                 

14th March 1908,                     Swansea          1^st                                    Paris            37th                                               

27th Feb 1909,                         Caerleon           1^st                                   Derby           32nd                                                

19th March 1910,                     Caerleon          4^th                                   Belfast          30th                                                

25th March 1911,                     Cardiff              Not in top 12                  Caerleon                                          

9th March 1912,                       Caerleon           Not in top 10                  Edinburgh                                          

22nd Feb 1913,                        Caerleon            4^th                                 Paris              25th                                                  

21st March 1914,                     Caerleon            4^th                                 Buckingham   16th   

                                               

A press cutting of the 1906 race says:     “Arthur finished with a 50 yards lead in splendid condition at a pace that would have done credit to a runner in a race of half the distance.”

Whilst running mostly for Newport Harriers, he also ran for Llanhilleth in a road race in Cwmbran in 1908 winning the race from over 200 competitors.

Four mile track champion 1908-1909.   He representated Wales in the International Cross Country Championship on 8 occasions 1905-1914.     This record was not equalled for 63 years later until Malcolm Thomas  in 1972.   A photograph of Tommy can be seen (P151), in the History of Welsh Athletics edited by Clive Williams, published 2002.  

This biography of Tom Arthur is from the History of Welsh Athletics, published in 2002, edited by Clive Williams.   Only prominent athletes have been included, and he has nine entries across volumes 1 and 2.    The books include such athletes as Rhodri Morgan, and Alan Currie with a forward by Colin Jackson.