He retired from running in 1908 at the age of 37, using the money he had made to become a pub landlord. After his death in 1937, his wife Ethel presented his championship belt, which he had won in 1903, to the Road Runners Club, to be awarded to the winning team of 3 runners in each of the subsequent London to Brighton runners races.
Tipton Harriers were the leading ultra distance running club in the 1970s and are pictured here with the Len Hurst Belt. In 1972, partly funded by the Road Runners Club, they travelled to South Africa to compete in the Comrades Marathon. They claimed the Gunga Din Trophy awarded to the winning team and returned to the UK in triumph.
The London to Brighton run was held from 1951-2005, the ‘Len Hurst belt’ was been awarded to the winning team. In 2005, due to the London to Brighton no longer safe for runners the race was stopped. The belt was presented to the Crawley Athletic Club as the team that had won the race the most.
In April 2024, the belt has been presented to Crawley Museum where it remains in our collection for use in future exhibitions and displays.
12 times Team Winners of the London to Brighton, Jeremy Carmichael, Walter Hill and Dave Beattie
Robin Gardner, Tom Glare and Paul Taylor, Woodstock Harriers (4 times winners).
Press cutting from Crawley Athletic Club winning the Len Hurst belt in 2000.
In 2019, the Road Runners Club President Ian Champion presented the belt to Crawley AC, as the most prolific winners of the team award. Ian Champion managed to organise the race until 2005, in the face of increasing problems with road traffic. Several of the Crawley ultra distance squad were present.
Left to right Alastair Matson, Liza Hanson Pete Bennett, Peter Beattie, Jeremy Carmichael, Rob Sharp, Ian Champion, Dave Beattie, Charlie Malsbury, and Jim Parker.
1990 Team Winners at Finish Presentation with the Mayor of Brighton.
Paul Woolger, Dave Beattie, Charlie Malsbury
Crawley AC Squad at the South London Harriers 30 Miles
Trophies include Len Hurst Belt, SLH 30, Woodford 40, Isle of Wight Marathon.
Back: Peter Beattie, Colin Powell, Charlie Malsbury, Dave Beattie, Jim Parker, Rob Sharp. Front: Jimmy Dutch, Paul Woolger, Arthur Waghorn
The Long Hard Road…
During the road race.
At the finish line, Rob Sharp.
At the finish line, Peter Beattie.
