Charlie Davenport

A fine cross-country and distance runner in the Midlands area, Charlie Davenport attracted attention nationally in 1911, when he finished sixth in the “Sporting Life” Marathon from Windsor Park to Stamford Bridge. The following year, he could only finish 10th, but came home under three hours in 2-50:44. The race was an Olympic trial, and Davenport, along with Henry Lewis, Samuel Raynes, George Day and Arthur Townsend, were selected as reserves for the 1912 Olympic team. Townsend subsequently got called into the team.

Davenport was a Warwickshire coal miner, and a fine local league footballer. Having joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a private in World War I, he was sent to serve in France but, after six months abroad, was killed in action.