In 1911 Samuel Raynes finished ninth in the National Cross-Country Championship, and helped Hallamshire Harriers retain their team title. Two weeks later, he represented England at the International Cross-Country Championships at Caerleon, Wales, and finished a creditable 12th. He competed in the 1912 “Sporting Life” Marathon from Windsor to Stamford Bridge, which was an Olympic trial, and Raynes finished 13th. However, along with Charlie Davenport, George Day, Henry Lewis and Arthur Townsend, Raynes was selected as one of reserves for the 1912 Olympic Marathon. Townsend subsequently got called into the team. Raynes finished second to fellow Olympian Septimus Francom in the 1913 Hull “Marathon”, over 19 miles and 981 yards. In 1919, at the age of 36, Raynes won the Hallamshire Harriers cross-country title.
Great Britain