Harry George Churcher (21 November 1910 – 24 June 1972) was a British

racewalker Race walking, or racewalking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Race judges carefully asses ...

who competed at the

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and officially branded as London 1948, were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus cau ...

Biography

Churcher, a plumber and electrician by trade, finished second in the 1933 Surrey 2-mile walking championship before winning several county title. Churcher and his older brother Charlie both walked for

Belgrave Harriers Belgrave Harriers is an athletics club in London, England, with headquarters located in Wimbledon, close to Wimbledon Common. Belgrave Harriers compete in track and field, road running, racewalking and cross country events, and have traditional ...

. He finished third behind

Bert Cooper Bertram Cooper (January 10, 1966 – May 10, 2019), nicknamed Smokin' Bert Cooper, was an American professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2012. He fought Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd, Ray ...

in the 2 miles walk event at the 1936 AAA Championships, second behind Swede

John Mikaelsson John Frederik Mikaelsson (6 December 1913 – 16 June 1987) was a Swedish race walker who competed at two Olympic Games. Biography Mikaelsson won the British AAA Championships title in the 7 miles event at the 1937 AAA Championships and the 1 ...

(who would later be a double Olympic champion) at the

1937 AAA Championships The 1937 AAA Championships was the 1937 edition of the annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). It was held from 16 to 17 July 1937 at White City Stadium in London, England. The Championsh ...

and third behind Bert Cooper at the

1938 AAA Championships The 1938 AAA Championships was the 1938 edition of the annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA). It was held from 15 to 16 July 1938 at White City Stadium White City Stadium in London, ...

. Churcher finally won two

AAA Championships The AAA Championships was an annual track and field competition organised by the Amateur Athletic Association of England. It was the foremost domestic athletics event in the United Kingdom during its lifetime, despite the existence of the offi ...

titles and became the national 2 miles walk champion and the national 7 miles champion at the 1939 AAA Championships before his career was interrupted by

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He won further two 2 miles walk titles (1948) and four 7 miles walk titles (1947, 1948, 1949) at the prestigious AAA Championships. At the 1948 Olympic Games, Churcher competed in the

10 km walk The 10 kilometres race walk, or 10-kilometer racewalk, is a racewalking event. The event is competed as a road race. Athletes must always keep in contact with the ground and the supporting leg must remain straight until the raised leg passes it ...

References

External links

* 1910 births 1972 deaths British male race walkers Olympic athletes for Great Britain Athletes (track and field) at the 1948 Summer Olympics English male race walkers People from Wandsworth Athletes from the London Borough of Wandsworth 20th-century English sportsmen {{England-racewalk-athletics-bio-stub