Eddie Webster

Starting as a cross-country runner in 1923, Eddie Webster won the National in 1926 and 1928 and the International in 1925. On the track he won the AAA title at 4 miles (1926) and 10 miles (1925, 1928) and was the Midland Counties Champion at 4 miles (1925-26, 1929) and 10 miles (1924). He was, however, seen at his best in the steeplechase, winning the AAA title for four successive years (1925-28) and the English AAA title twice (1924-25). At the Midland Championships he was the winner of the steeplechase for 11 of 12 years between1925-36, only failing to take the title in 1931 when he was under suspension. After winning his fourth consecutive AAA steeplechase title, he was rated as a likely medalist for the 1928 Olympics, but before he had the opportunity to take on the worlds best he was suspended for a very minor infringement of the rules involving the promotion of a patent medicine. In February 1931, Webster, who earned a modest living as a school caretaker in Wolverhampton, was again in trouble with the authorities and, along with two other Birchfield Harriers, was suspended for life for irregularities over traveling and accommodation expenses involving a meeting in Glasgow. The athletes were reinstated after 12 months but were only permitted to compete in English meetings. These were no more than minor blemishes on Webster’s superb career, the highlight of which was probably his double victory at the 1926 AAAs when he won both the steeplechase and the 4 miles within the space of two hours. He served in the Royal Artillery in the war and saw action in Italy where he was killed in a traffic accident involving military and civilian vehicles after the cessation of hostilities and only one month before he was due to be demobilized.

Personal Bests: Mile – 4:24.9e (1925); 2 miles – 9:26.0 (1927); 3 miles – 14:24.6 (1926); 4 miles – 19:49.0 (1926); 6 miles – 31:28.4 (1925); 10 miles – 52:16.2 (1928).