Another fine read from Rob Hadgraft

Unfortunately I am still not running as my broken foot slowly heals. However, reading Rob Hadgraft‘s new book ‘Pioneers in Bloomers’ has helped fill in some of my extra spare time.

 The book looks at how Victorian women laid the foundations for women’s sport today and shows how they were also pioneers of women’s rights.

I’ve read a number of books about pedestrianism but they have all tended to concentrate on the feats of men with woman usually at best a footnote. Here Rob Hadgraft details the trials and achievements of the first professional sports women in 19th century Britain and to some extent America.

Concentrating on the specific histories of the most prominent 21 women who participated in the sport in order to, in some cases ‘put food on the table’ and their battle against not only the clock or distance to be covered but also often against the authorities and the prejudice’s of the time.

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From my point of view, as the consumption of beer, particularly by me is something I enjoy and am interested in, the book throws up the interesting fact that the proprietor of the North Woolwich Gardens, William Holland, where some of the events were held, is widely considered to be the person who invented the idea of the beer festival.

It may be to late to add this book to your Christmas list but if Santa doesn’t bring you a copy , it’s definitely worth seeking out.