The Glover Shield - Australian walking's oldest shield
The trophy was donated by Mr T. Glover and Son on 14 July
1923 and is
still in use today. During the last 80 years, it has undergone many
changes
but still remains a relevant and highly coverted teams race. Nine ‘Australian 7 Mile Championships’ were held
between the
years of
1923 and 1937.
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1929
1931
1933
1937
VAWC
NSW
VAWC
VAWC
NSW
SA
VAWC
VAWC
VAWC
E. Drayton (Capt), V. Dowling, N.
Asker, E. Sunderland,
H. Gardiner, W. Murray, R. Merrick, F. O’Rourke,
E. Winstanley
A. Kitchen (Capt) , G. Parker, E. Smith, J. Parker, W. Pitt,
J.
Heathwood, L. Brown, R. Fostger, J. Batger
E. Drayton (Capt), H. Gardiner, J. Mulcahy, R. Osborne,
G. Isbister, H.
Wilson, V. Dowling, L. Moroney, E. Winstanley
H. Gardiner (Capt), E. Sunderland, W. Morse, R. Osborne,
J. Mulcahy, J.
Merrifield, J. Allen, E. Winstanley, A. Davies
E. Austin (Capt), G. Parker, H. Latham, R. Foster,
E. Chapman, T.
Daintry, J. Richmond, C. Laughton, J. Stancell
P. McCavanagh (Capt), H .Wilson, R., Campbell, A. Miller,
J. Larner, P.
Campbell, V. Cocks, W. Jennings, J. MCcormack
J. Cummins (Capt), J. Cummins, G. Isbister, J. Coffey,
B. Oke, J.
Pretty, F. Scully, F. McGuire, W. Marston
J. Cummins (Capt), J. O’Farrell, W. Marston, J. Gaylor,
B. Oke, L.
Guy, K. McCluskey, L. Bransglove, A. Stafford
J. Cummins (Capt), A. Reid, R. Rogers, J. McCluskey,
J. Gaylor, L.
Bransgrove
The following photo was taken at the presentations for the 1926 Australian 7 Mile Championship which was held in Melbourne. It shows the same Glover Shield which is still in use today – but with many fewer badges!
From left to right are Ted Drayton (Vic), Snowy McCavanagh (SA), unknown, Bill Dickinson (Sec. VAAA), Rex Merrick (Vic Judge), Bill Billsborrow (VAAA Official), Jim Cole (SA), Frank O’Rourke (Judge), Bert Gardiner (Vic Capt), Harry Fitzgerald (SA Judge), Bob Osborne (Vic).
In 1939, the distance was changed from 7 miles to 10,000m but
the Second World War intervened after only one further championship and
the race was not held again until 1946.
| 1939 |
VAWC |
J. Cummins (Capt), G Knott, J.
McCluskey, I. McDougall, B. Blakey, A. Reid, A. Philpotts, C. Lowe, G. Stanley |
In 1946, the race was resurrected but in a new format with
Senior and
Junior sections being contested
| 1946 1947 1949 1951 1954 1956 1958 |
VAWC VAWC NSW VAWC NSW VAWC VAWC VAWC VAWC NSW NSW VAWC NSW NSW |
Senior: A. Reid, A. Philpotts, E.
Allsopp, H. Munro, Junior: E. Allsopp, W. Medcalf, S. Wisby Senior: S. Sheedy, R. Tarte, G. McCabe, G. Kenyon Junior: E. Allsop, R. Smith, J. Pettigrove Senior: A.Stubbs, G. Kenyon, B. Brew, R. Tarte Junior: R. Southee, J. Freeman, G. Williams Senior: E. Allsopp, H. Malpass, R. Smith, G. Williams Junior: R. Gratton, G. Doak, G. Hall Senior: G. Nevitt, K Guyot, R. Field, P. Alsop Junior: L. Irwin, K. Keogh, W. McAllister Senior: K.Keogh, C. Walker, E. Edwards. W.Kirby Junior: H, Summers, R. Gardiner, N. Freeman Senior: K. Keogh, W. Kirby, T, Cichanowski, E. Edwards Junior: E. Cichanowski, R. Nixon, J. Rileigh |
After 1958, major changes were made by the newly formed
Australian Federation of Amateur Walking Clubs. The Glover Shield
became once again a senior event under the auspices of AFAWC and a
separate Federation shield (the Robinson Shield) was contested for
juniors, also over 10 km. The Glover Shield was now alternated
bi-annually with the Alexander Cup which was contested over a 50 km
distance.
| 1960 1962 1965 1966 1967 1968 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1991 |
VAWC NSW NSW NSW VAWC VAWC VAWC SA QLD VAWC VAWC NSW VRWC NSW VRWC VRWC VRWC |
N. Freeman, E. Allsopp, G. Breen, J.
Henderson F. Clark, C. Kirby, L. Irwin, L. Waddell F. Clark, P. Waddell, J. Croft, L. Irwin K. Keogh, C. Walker, E. Edwards, W. Kirby H. Summers, R. Wood, V. Newmark, G. Nicholls H. Summers, R. Haywood, R. Steadman R. Wood, V. Newmark, A. Lucas P. Fullager, D, Faux, D. Bryson B . Cook, C. Kirby, J. Tormey, J. Harris W. Sawall, D. Smith, T.Erickson D. Smith, J. Sheard, B. Cook M. Woods, K. Knox, R. Huxley D. Knox, D. Cash, S Richardson, H. Summers C. Barnett, J. Smith, B. Cullen A. Jachno, P. Copeland, M. Harvey A. Jachno, S. Baker, M. Harvey A. Jachno, M. Donahoo, W. Sawall |
After 1991, the Alexander Cup (now held over 20 km) was
retired and the Glover Shield was changed to the 20 km distance. Since
then, the event has been contested annually over the distance of 20 km.
| 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
VRWC Provincial QLD VRWC VRWC VRWC Regal WARWC VRWC VRWC QRWC REGAL VRWC SAAWC |
C. Jeffrey, M. Donahoo, D. McGrath F. Bertei, M. Harvey, P. Copeland, J. Jardine, M. Kuppler D. Smith, S. Pearsonn, I Jiminez, A. Ludwig, P. Bennett D. Cousins, D. McGrath, M. Thomas, D. Knox N. Deakes, D Cousins, D. McGrath B. Malcolm, M. Dwyer, T. Hawkins L. Adams, C. Bone, T. Sundstrom S. Holloway, J. Mison, J. Back F. Bertei, C. Erickson, M. Donahoo F. Bertei, C. Erickson, T. Erickson S. Pearson, K. Rose, A. Ludwig T. Sundstrom, M. Smith, T. Elms T. Erickson, T. Barnes, A. Jamieson D. Bown, J. Hoare, B. Starr |
This Shield remains the oldest and historically most valuable item of walking history in Australia. We are so lucky that former walking officials had the forsight to institute it and keep it going.