Winners: Harold Webster, Athletics

1934 - Feature Story

Harold Webster made his international running debut in 1930 when he finished 10th in the six-mile race at the inaugural British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario.  Four years later, he enjoyed his finest performance with an outstanding victory in the men’s marathon at the 1934 British Empire Games in London. Described in press reports as a “scoutmaster from Hamilton””, Webster scored the win, despite his limited experience competing against international runners. He took the Gold medal in a British Empire Games’ record time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, 36 seconds, entering the stadium to a standing ovation from 40,000 spectators. The field band played The Maple Leaf Forever as he sprinted to the finish, nearly five minutes ahead of his nearest rival.  Webster’s exploits earned him the vote for Canada’s top male athlete of 1934.

Career Highlights

• 1934 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)
• 1934 Gold medal in the marathon event at the British Empire Games in London, England
• 1931, 1936 Canadian Olympic Marathon Trial Winner
• 1930, 1933 Fourth place at the Boston Marathon
• 1929 Set Canadian record in the five mile run at the Ontario Track and Field Championships in Toronto