Dr William Gilbert Grace: a silver National Olympian Association medal, 1866, the reverse inscribed NATIONAL OLYMPIAN ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING PHYSICAL EDUCATION, the rim inscribed W. GRACE, LONDON, 1866 FOOTNOTE The founding father of athletics in England was Dr Penny Brooks of Wenlock, Shropshire, who organised the Wenlock Olympian Society who held their first games in 1850. Many of the events were open to allcomers. In 1865 Dr Brooks together with Mr Hulley of Liverpool and Mr Ravenstein of the German Gymnastic Club of London set up the National Olympian Association to promote the benefits of athletics. They held their first games at Crystal Palace, London. Over 10,000 spectators attended and the games were deemed an overwhelming success. The NOA promoted athletics for all, where as the Amateur Athletic Club - which was founded as a direct response - was elitist and restricted membership to students from the public schools & universities. The AAC even boycotted some of the subsequent NOC games. However, the AAC eventually became the ruling body of British athletics, changing its name in 1880 to the Amateur Athletics Association, and adopted the NOC open policies. The NOA went on for another 20 years or so organising competitions but the AAA eventually absorbed this role. At the first National Olympian Association games at Crystal Palace on 1st August 1866, the very promising teenage cricketer by the name of W.G. Grace competed in and won the 440 yards hurdle race. He was presented with this prize medal. Remarkably, Grace had scored 224 not out for England in the match v Surrey at The Oval two days earlier. This medal must surely be one of the earliest sporting awards won by the legendary Gloucestershire & England cricketer.
£5,000 - £7,000
Dr William Gilbert Grace: a silver National Olympian Association medal, 1866, the reverse inscribed NATIONAL OLYMPIAN ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING PHYSICAL EDUCATION, the rim inscribed W. GRACE, LONDON, 1866 FOOTNOTE The founding father of athletics in England was Dr Penny Brooks of Wenlock, Shropshire, who organised the Wenlock Olympian Society who held their first games in 1850. Many of the events were open to allcomers. In 1865 Dr Brooks together with Mr Hulley of Liverpool and Mr Ravenstein of the German Gymnastic Club of London set up the National Olympian Association to promote the benefits of athletics. They held their first games at Crystal Palace, London. Over 10,000 spectators attended and the games were deemed an overwhelming success. The NOA promoted athletics for all, where as the Amateur Athletic Club - which was founded as a direct response - was elitist and restricted membership to students from the public schools & universities. The AAC even boycotted some of the subsequent NOC games. However, the AAC eventually became the ruling body of British athletics, changing its name in 1880 to the Amateur Athletics Association, and adopted the NOC open policies. The NOA went on for another 20 years or so organising competitions but the AAA eventually absorbed this role. At the first National Olympian Association games at Crystal Palace on 1st August 1866, the very promising teenage cricketer by the name of W.G. Grace competed in and won the 440 yards hurdle race. He was presented with this prize medal. Remarkably, Grace had scored 224 not out for England in the match v Surrey at The Oval two days earlier. This medal must surely be one of the earliest sporting awards won by the legendary Gloucestershire & England cricketer.