Big freezes

Great Gale Recalled THIS memorable spell of frost, which the older generation of Coventrians no doubt remember, continued until about March 12th, and was followed on Sunday, March 24, by a gale, the violence of which has probably never been exceeded in living memory. Although this article is concerned primarily with cold winters of the past, this storm was so remarkable that a momentary digression regarding it may justifiably be permitted. It struck Coventry about 1.30 p.m., and the wind reached the astonishing velocity of 86 miles an hour. Within a short space of time

It is very rare for a cross country race to be cancelled or a training run to be curtailed because of inclement weather. ~ ~ Dec. 13th. 'Although the weather on Saturday was very bad indeed for cross country running, the Godiva Harriers met as usual in strong force with their friends... and made, considering the state of the ground, the fastest time of the season. The route was by St. John's Church, up the Birmingham Road to Barrass Lane, over Spon End Bridge and down Hearsall Common to Whor Lane, across to Canley, from there over the Warwick Road to Finham Green, down Green Lane to Coat of Arms Bridge Road then Stivichall Common, by the Old Toll Gate down Warwick Road up Hertford Street home.' (Times Dec. 17th.) The hares were J. Miles and J. Jephcott and they ran out from the Lamp Tavern. It was a pack run rather than a paper chase because the cost of coloured paper trimmings was prohibitive at 1/- a bag for a newly formed club. Coloured paper would have been necessary for a paper chase as the usual white paper trail would not have shown up in the snow. This was only 10 weeks after the Coventry Godiva Harriers was founded in 1879. Similar reports can be found for all the other dates mentioned above. Notice in modern times, how the sport of cross country running becomes a popular feature for editors of the sports pages of both the local and national newspapers when the weather is so very bad that most other sports fixtures are cancelled!!!