440 Yards Hurdles Championship

Presented By Sir Montague Shearman to the Amateur Athletic Association 1914

By Dr Jane Ainsworth

Story of the Event
While hurdling has a long tradition in the British Isles, it was not until 1920 that the one-lap event for the hurdles became an established discipline with the removal of the Amateur Athletics Association rule that all hurdling should take place on grass. When the event finally appeared on the AAA programme, along with discus and triple jump, it was on probation since the Championship Committee insisted that it would only continue as long as it was included in the Olympic programme, although by this time the event had already been contested in Olympic competition since 1900, including at the 1908 London Games. 

Once Lord Burghley won the first of his five championships in 1926 there was little danger of the event losing its place.

Four time AAA champion John Sherwood took bronze in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, however, the man to finally beat Hemery’s British record, although with possibly the slowest reaction time before celebrating, was Kriss Akabusi on becoming European champion in 1990. Two years later he would take bronze in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. More recently, Dai Green and Rhys Williams have continued Team GB’s success at World and European championships.

The Donor

Without Sir Montague Shearman (1857-1930), athletics in 1880 was in danger of becoming as confusing as modern boxing in its organisation, with at least four different championships planned by different organisations. The challenges of this event may have seemed trifling in comparison to the task of bringing together representatives from the universities, civil service, London clubs, and regional associations, not to mention an influential but very grumpy member of the popular media, especially since Shearman was only 23 years old. Somehow, he achieved it and in April 1880 the Amateur Athletic Association was born. Shearman served as its Honorary Secretary from 1880-1883 and would later serve as Vice-President and finally President from 1916-1930. As an athlete he was a national champion in both 100 and 440 yards and represented England with Wales in the first international match with Ireland in 1876.

Shearman was a practicing barrister, becoming a KC in 1903 before being called to the King’s Bench Division in 1916 and presiding over several high profile cases. He continued to make use of his diplomatic skills and legal knowledge for the AAA until the end of his life. His final act was to start a fund for the creation of a national athletics stadium just before his death in 1930. The plan was not realised until 1971 when Crystal Palace was first used.