Perth Athletic Cup

Perth Athletic Cup

Perth Athletic Cup, 120 yards, won by A B Postle (2013.47)

Arthur Benjamin Postle (8 March 1881 – 21 April 1965) was an Australian professional athlete, one of the country's most renowned sprinters in the early twentieth century. He was born in Queensland and became a professional runner in 1902.

Postle rose to prominence for the defeat of Beauchamp Day – then an Irish world champion – at Kalgoorlie on 5 December 1906.  Known thereafter as 'The Crimson Flash' for his colourful running costume, Postle also acquired the moniker 'The Mighty Postle' for his defeat of English champion runner Bill Growcott two years later in England.

In 1906, in front of a 20,000-strong crowd at Kalgoorlie gold mine, Postle defeated Beauchamp Day, a champion Irish runner sponsored by promoter Rufus Naylor, in a seventy-five-yard sprint. Postle's 7.20-second time was a new world record, and his achievements attracted athlete Jack Todd who became Postle's coach.  He returned to the event a year later in 1907 and, being beaten in the semi-final unexpectedly by J. Condon, immediately proceeded to jump the perimeter fence and run to a local bookmakers to place money on Condon winning the final, an event which passed into folklore and is remembered often in Australian sprinting.

Reference: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/postle-arthur-benjamin-8083

Postle's career took him throughout the United Kingdom and to New Zealand as well as across Australia.  Postle set world records for fifty, sixty, seventy-five, eighty and two-hundred yard sprints during his career, which ended in 1913.

He ventured into business, and then became a farmer until full-retirement during the Second World War. He had four children who all survived him upon his death in Brisbane.   Postle is still considered one of Australia’s greatest sprinters.

Old Kalgoorlie-ites who throw their minds back to April, 1907, when the big pedestrian meetings were held at Kalgoorlie, will remember the deeds of the Australian wonder; anyone who saw the great match on the Boulder racecourse between Postle and the champion Irish runner, Beauchamp Day, would agree that Postle was a marvel among the spike-footed brigade ... It was a clinking start and the Irishman led for most of the way. Fifty yards from home Postle caught his opponent and came on to snatch the verdict.

"Australia's Champion Arthur Postle" The Mirror, Perth, 19 April 1930, p7

Arthur Postle: Fastest Man Alive, University of Southern Queensland, Youtube documentary  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N00-KyAgmw

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