This film is part of Free

Race for the Muratti Cup at Manchester Wheelers' Annual Meet (1901)

Exciting scenes of amateur cycling's 'Race of Champions' at Manchester's Fallowfield track.

Non-Fiction 1901 15 mins Silent

Overview

Cycling was an immensely popular sport in the Edwardian era: some 18,000 spectators attended this day of events held on Saturday 13 July 1901 at Manchester Athletics Ground. We see the start of a 2-mile motor race, together with generous coverage of the day's main competition, the 10-mile cycling race for the Muratti Cup, won by Roland Jenson of London Polytechnic.

The film also gives us a rare glimpse of filmmaker James Kenyon - one half of the Mitchell and Kenyon partnership - who can be seen with beard and hat standing beside Jenson after his victory, encouraging him to engage with the camera and whipping up interest among the surrounding fans.