These images show the starting line crowded with competitors and the triumphant winner breaking the tape. Despite its grand name, the race was a bit of a misnomer, as it was run over 20 miles, not the traditional 26 miles and 385 yards of a true marathon.
The race ignited the public’s imagination, drawing huge crowds and a sense of shared excitement.
Special excursion trains brought spectators from outside the county, and the streets of Winchester were packed with thousands of people eagerly awaiting the runners who had set off from near the Junction Hotel in Eastleigh.
This grand event was a remarkable triumph for the organizers, who had worked tirelessly under the leadership of R Wilkins, a retired South London Harrier and manager of the London City and Midland Bank.
Despite being conceived just six weeks earlier, the race came together perfectly.
The entire town of Eastleigh marked the occasion by shutting down all shops and even the railway works, making it a true holiday.
Hampshire had a strong tradition in athletics, and though standards had recently slipped, the list of more than 100 entries from towns and villages across the county showed a deep-seated enthusiasm.
The sun shone from a cloudless sky, and conditions were perfect for running, with dry and firm roads.
The course took runners through scenic locations like Allbrook and Twyford, along the canal towing path, over an iron bridge, and into Garnier Road in Winchester.
After streaming through the cathedral city, the runners faced the grueling Otterbourne hill before continuing through Chandler’s Ford and into Southampton.
The finish line was at the home of the Hampshire County Cricket Club.
The race started at a fast pace, with the pack initially tight. However, it soon broke up.
F Webber, a runner from Bournemouth, took a commanding 500-yard lead over J Henney from Southsea. Both looked remarkably fresh as they left Winchester.
Henney was just ahead of R Southwell from Southampton, who in turn had a minute’s lead over the favorites, G Aylmer from Bournemouth and T Whitcher from New Milton, who were running together.
At this point, 77 of the runners were separated by just 12 minutes, though the last straggler was a full 35 minutes behind.
The difficult course had already forced some runners to retire.
The entire race changed at Otterbourne.Henney overtook Webber, who tired dramatically on the punishing hill and dropped out of contention.
Predictably, Aylmer moved into second place, just ahead of J Powell from Farnborough, who had patiently threaded his way through the field. This order held as the trio approached Southampton, but it was here that Powell began to slip back.
Henney was still 100 yards ahead as the pair entered the town, but Aylmer timed his challenge perfectly, overtaking him near the Cowherds.
The race’s outcome was decided in the most unfortunate of circumstances.
Crowds were so large that police on horseback had to marshal spectators down The Avenue, where some 60 officers were stationed between Bassett and Stag Gates.
A young cyclist, desperate for a better view, strayed onto the course and collided with Henney, who crashed to the ground and into the path of a stationary car. Thankfully, he only suffered bruising but was unable to continue and was forced to retire.
This left Aylmer to finish in splendid isolation, crossing the line in two hours, four minutes, and 29 seconds. Whitcher came in second with a time of two hours, seven minutes, and 44 seconds, and L. Heath of Southampton was third, just 25 seconds later.
The organizers were highly sympathetic toward Henney, who received loud cheers and applause when he was presented with a cup. In fact, all competitors who finished the race in under two and a half hours were awarded special Hampshire Marathon medals.
Aylmer, still looking remarkably refreshed after changing into a suit, was lifted onto the shoulders of a bystander and received rapturous applause when he collected his cup.
In a post-race interview, he said, “I feel quite well except for slight stiffness in the knee joints. Of course, I am very pleased with the result and I think I would still have won, even if my nearest rival had not met with the unfortunate accident that befell him. When I passed him, I don’t think he made any effort in response.”
News of Aylmer’s success, along with the Bournemouth police team who won the tug-of-war championship at the same ground, reached their hometown. Despite the late hour, a crowd of some 300 people gathered at the central railway station to greet them as heroes.